Summer Season at Connecticut Repertory

I am a season ticket holder at the Connecticut Repertory. I saw my last show of the season Saturday, Spamalot  with Richard Kline as King Arthur. (He was Larry on Three's  Company). It was a wonderful show filled with great songs and lots of laughs.

If you are looking for something fun to do this summer, consider The Nutmeg Summer Series with three shows, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Peter and the Starcatcher and West Side Story. 

We have found that every show we have seen has been spectacular. I highly recommend them. 

The shows are presented on the campus at UCONN in Storrs. Check out their website for more information. 

Wethersfield Farmers Market to open

As the days get longer and the air gets warmer thoughts turn to fresh produce and the things that Connecticut is known for. One of our favorite farmer's market is located in Wethersfield. 

It will open to the public again on Thursday May 12, 2016. It is located on the grounds of the Solomon Welles House and is open from 6 to 8 p.m.

The market is CT GROWN certified which means everything must be grown or produced in Connecticut. It is a great way to support our own Connecticut vendors. 

Come and enjoy the more than 40 vendors who come every week and stay to enjoy the food trucks and the great atmosphere. 

Red Fox Restaurant Middletown

Red Fox Restaurant is located on Smith Street in the Westfield section of Middletown. It is in the building formerly housing Fong's Restaurant. Several people have recommended this restaurant to me so I went here with very high expectations. We had lunch this past Sunday and I would have to say my meal was just okay but Al really liked his. 

The lunch menu includes appetizers, salads, sandwiches and entrees. I was not sure what to expect and given the name, I didn't expect an Italian inspired menu. I ordered the Philly Steak Panini and Al ordered the Fettuccine Pasta. 

We did say yes to bread and it is served with butter and tapenade which was very good. The problem was the steak in my panini. It was not really shaved and some of the pieces were large and chewy. The flavor was good and the onions, peppers and mushrooms were well cooked plus the roll was a real hit with me but the steak, was in my opinion a loser and I would never order this again. I was tempted to take the steak off the roll and probably should have. 

Al enjoyed his fettuccine and would order it again. I tasted the chicken that was served with it and it was full of flavor. 

I did have a delicious cappuccino which to me was the saving grace. I forgot to tell them no cinnamon so that is what can be seen on the side of my saucer. Service was attentive and the restaurant has a great atmosphere. Would I come here again, sure I would but I would order something else. 

Spring Outdoors Happenings in the Green Valley

If you are looking for some great family outdoor activities, here are a few being offered in eastern Connecticut. 

CT Audubon's Beginners Bird Walk Sunday, 5/1/2016, 8-10 am Difficulty: Easy Address: CT Audubon Center at Pomfret, 218 Day Rd., Pomfret Center, CT Expect this! If you are new to bird watching this is a good weekend to start! 

Some of the colorful spring birds are back and the leaves aren't out yet. Expect to see Yellow warblers, Blue-winged warblers, and Black and white warblers. *NOTE: Fees apply - $5 CAS members, $10 non-members. Questions? 860-928-4948 Time/Distance: 2 hours, 2 miles Sponsored by: CT Audubon Center at Pomfret, ctaudubon.org/center-atpomfr

Tobiasson Forest Hike 

Saturday, 5/7/2016, 10-11 am Difficulty: Moderate Keys: Dogs, leashed Address: Noah Lane, Tolland, CT Directions/Parking: Park at end of cul-de-sac at Noah Lane, off Grant Hill Rd., near Tolland/Coventry border. Expect this! A short but interesting ramble through a winding forest trail, crossing seasonal brooks and passing several vernal pools. Great bird and wildlife habitats, and possibility of spotting a resident owl! No rain date, we'll walk in showers, but heavy rain cancels. 

*This property is in the Thames Watershed, along with the 35 towns in The Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. Our conservation efforts and goals are similar throughout the region. Questions? 860-871-7592 Time/Distance: 1 hour, 1.5 miles Sponsored by: Joshua's Trust, joshuastrust.org

To see the full schedule check out their website 

Printable Museum Pass at Portland Conn. Library

Printable Museum Passes Now Available at the Portland Library!


Portland Library now offers more convenience to its popular museum pass service.  Fifteen of its 20 passes are now printable passes.  When you reserve a pass online, a printable pass may be generated at that point.  You take the printable pass to the participating museum or zoo for entrance or to receive a discount.  The printable pass does not need to be returned to the Portland Library.


The remaining passes will be checked out using the standard procedures.  These nonprintable passes must be returned by midnight of the reservation day (the day of your visit to the museum) since other patrons may be waiting to use the pass the next day.

Printable passes: Children’s Museum/Roaring Brook Nature Center, Connecticut’s Old State House, Connecticut River Museum, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Florence Griswold Museum, Imagine Nation Children’s Museum, Lutz Children’s Museum, Mark Twain House, Mystic Seaport, New Britain Museum of American Art, New England Air Museum, New Haven Museum, Peabody Museum of Natural History, Roger Williams Park Zoo, and Wadsworth Atheneum

Nonprintable passes:  Beardsley Zoo, KidCity Children’s Museum, Maritime Aquarium & Imax, Mystic Aquarium, and No Child Left Inside/State Parks & Forests’ Day Pass

Coupon: Connecticut Science Center
Reserve passes at online or request that staff reserve the pass for you at the Library’s Information Desk.  

Instructions are given on the web page.  

The Friends of the Portland Library supports the museum pass service.

Please contact the Portland Library at 860-342-6770 for additional information.

Portland Townwide Tag Sale

It's time again for the Townwide Tag Sale in Portland 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 7, 2016 rain or shine. The free map will be available on Wednesday, May 4, at the Portland Historical Society Museum on Main Street 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. 

There will be a bake and tag sale at the Hemlock Grange at 17 Sage Hollow Road with coffee, soda and hotdogs for sale as well. 

Sarah's on Main Portland, Conn.

I think everyone knows by now that I am a Foodie. I love good food. I don't need a heaping plate of food, I need food I want to eat until the last bite. I have found it at Sarah's on Main. 

Until today, I have only eaten breakfast here. Breakfast is really good, they make delicious crispy home fries from two different kinds of potatoes,fluffy scrambled eggs that can be had with a large variety of additions, omelettes cooked perfectly and lots more. 

My hash and bacon scrambler

We arrived after 11 a.m.and I had planned to have breakfast but when I heard the lunch specials, the Cajun fish sandwich with pineapple salsa called my name. It was served with a choice of french fries or coleslaw. I asked if I could have both so I got a smaller portion of each. 

The beautifully cooked cod was served on a brioche bun with lettuce and tomato in addition to the pineapple salsa. The coleslaw is really fresh tasting and the French fries are real, homemade  and fried twice. Even the pickle spear was special. The spice level was high, it cleared my sinuses but this is something that can be adjusted to personal taste. 

Al had a cheese omelette. He chose cheddar but there are several choices. Toast are really good too, he had the rye. 

I was very impressed with the quality of the food at Sarah's on Main. Everything is freshly made and the portion was generous but not overwhelming. I think I may just have found my new favorite local restaurant.