The Big E meets my big expectations

The Big E, one of the largest country fairs in the nation (next to Texas and Minnesota), is a force to be reckoned with. From sculptures made of butter to bear exhibits, this giant fair gathers all the best and beautiful parts of New England and displays it in a style only us "Northeasterners" know …

Pizza pies by the train tracks

"Choo-choo" on some heavenly slices at this local hidden gem I'm not sure how I've lived my whole existence (a whopping 22 years) in Wallingford and NOT know about Trackside Brick Oven Pizzeria. This little hole-in-the-wall spot on Dudley Ave., has been dishing up some delicious brick oven pies since 2001. What makes this restaurant …

Hikes and spiked shakes

~*~ Friday nights are for friendship and exploring ~*~ I'm so glad I was able to kick-off my Memorial weekend by spending time with some old college friends in West Hartford. I absolutely love West Hartford; from it's beautiful parks and gardens to it's lively nightlife and diverse cuisines, I adore all the activities one …

In search for the perfect summer

A photo tour of the Connecticut Shoreline First beach trip of the season! Shout out to New England for finally being warm enough for the sandy adventure... While it's not officially the summer solstice, any day where there is sun and temps are over 65 is a good day for me! Ever since I was …

Steady Habit Brewing Company

A wise person once said "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." I couldn't agree with this statement more, but hey, listen... if God loves beer, then that means God must love Connecticut's beer trail. Makes sense, right? Tucked away in the tiny town of Haddam, CT is …

Front Porch Brewing

Tucked away on an industrial road is one of Wallingford's hidden gems. Front Porch Brewing, like most Connecticut breweries, is designed like an industrial-factory type setting. Perfectly equipped with deck lights, a variety of games and puzzles, couches, TVs and benches, Front Porch Brewing offers a cozy atmosphere to just relax and enjoy a brew. …

~*~ Mountains, Pubs and Football ~*~

The Sunday afternoon adventures continue with the good friend of mine.  Anyway, this past Sunday's adventure was a hike up Talcott Mountain in Simsbury. The hike was relatively easy, however it was very wet and muddy due to the rain from earlier Friday and Saturday. There's a slight hill during the first part of the …

~*~ Roses and diners on a fall Sunday afternoon ~*~

"Take time to smell the roses" Cliched, I know, but the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden in West Hartford is something out of a whimsical fairy tale. So, recently I've been blessed with finding a friend who enjoys adventuring and trying new things as much as I do. Every Sunday we seem to explore something new. This …

~*~The Best Empanadas Of My Life~*~

The other day I went to get my “basic” pumpkin spice coffee at the Dunkin Donuts on North Main St. in Bristol. But as I stepped outside into the crisp fall air, I smelled this DELICIOUSLY WARM AND SPICY AROMA. It smelled soooo tantalizing! I knew I just HAD to go back and explore that …

~*~ Apple Harvest Festival and Night Life~*~

From fritters and pies to beers and shots, the Apple Harvest Festival has everything one could hope to find in America's favorite fall fruit. The festival is the apple of Southington's eye as it celebrates it's 50th Anniversary! While driving and finding parking can be a bit rotten, the festival itself is now one of …