This place was nice! We went for a group outing of seven people. When I called earlier in the week,…read morethe guy said we didn't need a reservation and could just walk in for Saturday. We all planned to meet there at 5 PM, but when we arrived, they told us we actually needed a reservation and had to come back at 6:45. Thankfully, West Hartford has plenty to do, so we walked around, grabbed some food, and returned for our reservation. One thing to know is that you pick the pottery you want to paint it's not a place where you make the pottery yourself. That has pros and cons, depending on your preferences. I'm honestly not that artistic when it comes to freehand painting, so I picked a simple snowflake design (probably the cheapest option at around $14). My friends picked reindeer, cookie trays, and other fun items. Painting was fun, but you have to leave your piece for 2-3 weeks to be glazed, so don't expect to take it home the same day. The space is small, but I liked the intimate setting. The staff was also very nice, and overall, I had a good experience. I would definitely go back.

I have not had a hand in pottery since high school so this was a nice activity to do and spend…read morequality time with friends and family. Claypen is located on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center between Walden and Dale streets. Lookout for the sessions posted outside if looking for something specific. I was attracted to the Studio Ghibli theme they were having and immediately made a reservation. I honestly didn't know what to expect until I arrived there. Upon check in, we were shown where we'd be seated and were told that we select any ceramic on the shelf and will be provided the paints and can even replenish it ourselves from the shelf. As well as take as much time as we needed to complete our design. My daughter did her own thing and drew Sanrio on different sides while I wanted to paint Haku and my friend, Totoro. I think it all came out really well!! I looked up an image tried to copy it onto the jar. Originally using a pencil and lightly tracing it onto the surface to not affect the image, although I was told that the pencil burns off during the baking process. We were also instructed to paint more than 1 coat so that the paint will show. The whole process was easy enough. When finished, everything can be brought to the counter for payment. Essentially the painting is free, it's the ceramic that needs to be paid for. I would think that the piece is averagely priced. If wanting to be sure, definitely ask before picking a piece. I'd certainly do this again.

There is always something to do here, in the great outdoors! Whether it's strolling by the water,…read morewalking your dog, biking, hiking, or renting a paddle board, it's fun! The staff is friendly and extremely knowledgeable about boats, nature and the history about the lake and the area!! Come visit this gem! You won't regret it!!

***Addendum to my 08/08/2020 review*** completed at 08/10/2020 5pm…read more Wow! I spoke with Casey as indicated in the comment below. Casey is very professional and gave a strong impression that he a man of good ethics and goal-oriented. In our conversation I provided further information to the incident, he listened, acknowledged my issue, then came up with possible solutions that he plans to address to his staff to prevent this type of incident in the future, and then he offered me a second experience on the house. This is more than I expected, and I am impressed!!! To Casey I give 5-stars. I look forward to my second experience with Regatta Point Community Sailing.

We visited recently just to walk the trails and have a picnic. It is quite a marvelous property…read morewith an interesting history. Unfortunately it is only marginally kept up. No surprise as it would require a LOT of manual labor to put the whole farm into very good shape.

Such a peaceful place to step back; stroll, look, quietly listen, and relax. Well maintained by…read morestaff, 4H volunteers, Scouts troops.

I recently attended a wedding at Camp Marshall and what a unique, rustic venue it was! The…read moreceremony, cocktail hour, and reception were held on the grounds across various settings with plenty of parking for guests. The ceremony occurred in a large open field with deep bench seating arranged in a way that made it very easy to view the exchange of vows. A well-manicured lawn and forested backdrop helped set the stage for this country chic, burlap, and lace-themed wedding. A couple of steps up to the lawn itself hid the bride well-enough for the big reveal as she walked arm and arm to the altar. Following the ceremony, guests filtered over to the main barn area of the camp. Not sure who is in charge of signage (the camp or the couple) but a few more/larger signs might have made it easier to determine exactly which barn/outbuilding we were supposed to relocate to. Drive slow because "holy potholes, Batman!". Depending on the car, you could really scrape up your undercarriage on the roads through camp. Hadn't thought about the offroading needs of my car when deciding on a vehicle to bring. In any case, the guests did find their way to the reception area and were greeted by the warmly lit, rustic interior of the Camp Marshall barn. Very large space for tables, chairs, buffet, DJ/dance floor, and bar area. Large barn doors acted as an effective method of temperature control for the fall-like evening. High ceilings made for a dramatic setting. Exposed wood combined with string lighting and flowers was an aesthetic success. (To top it all off, I hear this was an affordable venue to rent out!) Sounds like a winning combination! Looking for a rustic-themed wedding? This may be your venue! From the website, it looks like there are a number of ceremony locations to choose from on the grounds.

Camp Marshall has really gone down hill in the past few years, as other reviewers have correctly…read morestated. Our daughter has attended camp for the past 8 years but this will be her last. Chronic staffing shortages plague the camp. Counselors are all new and are only there for a summer job so their interest in and commitment to the job is not genuine and their attitude and care and concern for the campers is lacking. Many of the counselors are not much older than our daughter. I get that staffing shortages are a problem everywhere, especially at summer camps. But camp management and the Board of Directors really need to step up recruitment efforts to get some quality staff. The last straw was being informed by our daughter that a long time director left, and when I inquired about this to a member of camp management, the response was vague which has me even more concerned. This director was well liked by campers and was very responsive to my complaints and with an issue our daughter had. I get that I'm not entitled to know exactly why a member of the management team left but to not have some sort of announcement is really unprofessional and not transparent at all.

The gym rocks! Very helpful staff and great group of locals. Highly recommend checking it out!read more

Came here with a few coworkers and had a blast!…read more Although it's been decades since I've rock climbed, I wasn't too rusty.

My higher grade is more for the art center itself rather than the performances. There's always a…read moresmall exhibition at the center of the building and it's nice to see artists can work on their projects late into the night. The facilities look clean and orderly, including the bathrooms and artist studios. I liked seeing all pottery made by the various artists. I also enjoyed the theater itself. While the seating itself isn't all that special, the acoustics are quality. If you expect something significantly higher than community theater here, you may be disappointed. While the performances were fine, they're not really all that polished and feel rather barebones (two actors playing one role in a production was rather strange). If you want a more grander theater experience but without going into Boston, consider Reagle in Waltham. (For all you Yelp police out there, yes, I paid $ here for tickets so I can review)

My first time back to The Umbrella Arts Center since the pandemic happened…read more I saw that they had a dinner and a show option on Thursday nights and the menu looked appealing, so I purchased the meal for $21. Dinner was available for pick up at the concession stand beginning at 6pm, while the show was scheduled for 7:30pm that evening. Traffic delayed me, so I arrived closer to 6:30pm. There was a game going on at the playground the next block over, so there were a lot of cars parked on the street, but parking was still not an issue. Dinner came in a brown paper tote and came nicely packaged and of a good portion size, so I even had some leftover. They had a vegetarian alternative (Nag's Head Roasted Yam, Grilled Zucchini and Squash, Caramelized Onions on Wild Rice (V)), but I opted for the meat - Starter: Hush Puppies with Maple Butter Entree: Pulled Pork Platter with Coleslaw and Collard Greens Dessert: Chocolate Flourless Brownie (GF) Catered by Nosh restaurant and the Concord Market. I was pleased with my meal. Sure the collared greens were a bit plain, but I was just glad to get a decent portion of vegetables with my meat and they were not overcooked. The brownie was individually sealed, and a little messy to eat, but quite good. And I had no trouble finding a seat at a table. In fact I had options. I could have grabbed a small high top for myself, but I decided to sit at an empty spot at the end of one of the 3 long tablecloth covered tables just beyond the concessions and ended up chatting with the pair beside me. I had a great experience at the Umbrella Arts Center! Quotes from the website regarding the show being performed that evening: A heartwarming musical that lifts up the beauty in second chances and the transformative nature of friendship. Percy Talbott is a spirited young woman seeking redemption. But in the small town of Gilead, she finds so much more. Based on the beloved film that took home the Audience Award at The Sundance Film Festival, the musical's rich score is marked by Americana folk rhythms, soaring melodies, and irresistible charm. It reminds us all about the resilience of the human spirit, the magic of new beginnings, and the power of community.

My niece and my nephew attend GLC for gymnastic classes. The facility is nice. The bathrooms are…read morealways clean and the "snack cart" is always well stocked. The prices are a little steep but when it comes to gymnastic you kind of already have to assume that you are going to be paying a good amount of money. There is ample seating to sit and watch the children during class (whether they are in the large gym (next to the office) or in the back gym (the smaller gym that you can see from the cafe)). The parking lot is in two sections (the lower lot as you come in off the street and the upper lot) and is large enough for all the vehicles. Class sizes are small to medium. Classes seem to accommodate all age and skill levels. The instructors are all kind and patient with the kids who seem to range 1.5 to 18 years.

GLC has a wonderful staff. My son went to day camp here two summers in a row and he loved it!…read more They teach swimming, and have activities that are great for anyone. They are fantastic and caring, and it is a testament to the staff when the last day a child has camp, they hug the counselors and some of the kids get teary-eyed because they loved camp so much. I would recommend GLC any day. They are wonderful there. Thank you so much everyone for the great staff and dedication you have to your students and campers.

MA Audubon's oldest wildlife preserve with over 2000 acres to explore. I had a little time prior…read moreto a concert and decided to take a quick walk in the woods to enjoy a little peace prior to the madness! Ample parking and clearly marked trails made it easy to navigate. I didn't get a chance to stop in the center as the doors were locked, but the facilities look great for all Audubon does. I did forget my spray and like a novice hiker went on the vernal pool loop which had average level of bugs that accompanied me during the loop. Great place to stretch your legs, leashed pets were a no go here for planning purposes, but don't fret they are allowed at neighboring Moose Hill Farm.

We had a lovely walk here! And my son really enjoyed the outdoor play area and the "path of books."…read more I don't love that they allow deer hunting, but I understand why (deer are destroying the plant life, and it's bows/arrows, not guns). If you're looking for a nice nature walk in the area, go here!!