Celebrations at River&#x27;s Bend

(5 reviews)

Debra is a consummate wedding professional. She's extremely well organized, thoughtful and thorough…read morein her preparation. She went above and beyond before the wedding attending our final venue meeting to make sure she was on the same page as the staff at our venue. She also attended the rehearsal, which was not included in our package, but she's just that thorough. She was AMAZING on the day of the wedding helping to set up SO MUCH of our decor. She kept us on schedule all day and was willing to help us with whatever we needed. Our wedding day was as stress free as possible thanks largely to what Debra did for us!

I was lucky enough to be a bridesmaid in a wedding that Deb was the coordinator for. Everything ran…read moreso smoothly! If I want already married I would definitely use Deb for my own wedding!!! Thank you Deb for making my best friend's wedding her dream come true!!!

The Woodwinds Wedding & Events Venue

(49 reviews)

Here for a work conference and I was pleasantly surprised with the food and service. The grounds…read moreand interior are nice but the chairs could be a little bit more comfortable.

My wife, youngest son and his fiancé attended a bridal boutique here April in an effort to find a…read morewedding venue for their upcoming September wedding. We were all pretty impressed with both the food samplings as well as the beautiful grounds both indoor and out. Needless to say, they made the choice of booking their venue very easy.

Divine Vines

1.0

(3 reviews)

Terrible, terrible service. I placed an order through Bloom Nation for this vendor, and asked to…read morereceive a phone call or email to confirm that the order was received. After five hours, no phone call or email was received, so I attempted to call the vendor (phone OUT OF SERVICE) and send an email (no response). I was concerned, having just forked over $200 to a business that I could not get in touch with, so I contacted Bloom Nation, who ALSO tried to get in touch with the vendor, to no avail. Finally a message was sent to me that the flowers were delivered, but no photo of the actual flowers was included, just the photo from the website. I had to call the funeral home and ask for THEM to confirm that the flowers were delivered. I still don't know what the flowers even looked like. Just a very unpleasant experience; I would NEVER use this florist again.

Flowers were ordered through Bloom Nation, sent email that they were delivered however no flowers…read morewere ever received. The phone number doesn't work and Bloom Nation wont do anything about it. Divine Vines does not respond to any of the emails sent either

Dodd Stadium

(13 reviews)

4 Stars because of the Suites and Staff. The suites were quite large, couches TV and pool table…read morewith out door seating as well that have great views of the field and stadium. The wait staff was working very hard! The young lady taking and bringing order was working very hard and we appreciated her. She had a hand held tablet she was able to take orders with quickly. Great tool for the staff. Another Positive was the popcorn and of course the ball game was great! The adults and kids alike had fun. Manager note. Understand times are hard but the details was what brought the number down to 4 vice 5 stars. Mostly because The food that was provided to the Suites, needs to be stepped up a bit. The food wasn't warm. Imagine room temp hotdogs, chicken strips and French fries being served to guests that purchased 2 suites. Also the vegetable tray didn't come out with ranch dressing so I asked about it and they made due with what the had. They put it in a bowl with a ladle. The other thing that bothered me was the electrical within the elevator. Screws missing and open holes. We had quite a few little kids in our group riding up to the suites and it would have only taken one of them to stick their little fingers in and zap.

We've gone to Dodd Stadium several times now for drive thru covid testing. Keep in mind that the…read moreline can get pretty long, so we always plan to get there 1-2hrs before they open. There are 2 different lines, 1 for essential workers, priority and then a standard community line. The staff comes to your window before you go in and radio in the information of those testing with your ID. If you have an appt. they have your information in the system and print out the info on your vile. When it is your turn, you drive into the tent and the staff comes to your window to do the test once you confirm the information on the vile is correct (name, and D.O.B.). They are friendly and the process is quick, so it's not a horrible experience. If needed, they have paperwork to hand you to review the process and information. You don't have to touch anything, just roll your window down and they do the swabbing in your nose and put the swab in a vile and into a separate individual plastic bag for processing. Once you're done, they open the door and you can drive out of the tent. Your results come later via the contact information you provided.

Cambridge Estates

1.8

Terrible! At first it seems great - nice location & they allow dogs no matter the size!... that's…read morewhere the good ends. If you have any issues you have to wait and wait and wait for it to be resolved...that is if they even bother to return your calls. Maintenance will never arrive the day you are told they will. They'll jack up your rent every year on the already overpriced apartments. The "improvements" they make are done poorly and never fully finished. Grass is not cut regularly trees not trimmed back. The exterior lights that light the parking lots are constantly going out and then staying out for weeks at a time. The list could go on and on...

Everthing seemed great at first. I qualified for $99 deposit, and they accepted dogs. So it cost me…read moreless than $1000 to move in. Rent was $910 for a small, one bedroom apartment with heat/hot water included. The apartment seemed updated, but all "updates" were cheap. The "hardwood" floors were fake plastic wood looking material. Fine, I can live with that. After I signed the lease and did a walkthrough, the closet door in the bedroom came off the hinges and instead of fixing it, the office lady just told me to stick it in the closet and leave it. Fine, whatever. Fast forward a few months, and I noticed mouse droppings in my kitchen. Im not a dirty person and I don't leave food out for extended periods of time. But considering I lived in a basement level apartment in a building with multiple tenants, I was understanding. So I called the office and asked them to send an exterminator. WEEKS later, they finally sent an exterminator who put mouse poison under my stove. It never got rid of the mice. I had mouse droppings all over my stove, inside the burners, and when I lifted the top of the stove, it was COVERED in mouse poop and urine. (I wish I could post pictures) I was disgusted. I cleaned it to the best of my abilities, but could not physically reach all of it. I emailed the office multiple times and asked them to send a professional cleaner to clean inside the stove so it was safe and sanitary for me to use, and they NEVER SENT SOMEONE TO HELP ME. I haven't been able to use my oven in months. Everytime I heat it up, my entire apartment smells like death. Fast forward to the first week of June. It was a Saturday, 90 degrees outside. MY HEAT WAS STILL ON. No matter how many fans I had running, it was sweltering. I had already, at this point, emailed the office prior about turning the heat off and putting an AC in the window. (The windows in the apartment are tall, and do not open like regular windows. Installing a window AC is impossible without maintenance taking the entire window out and fastening the AC in the window and covering the empty space on top with wooden panels. Makes zero sense.) The reply to my initial email stated that they "would be turning the heat off soon." Jump to this day, Saturday, 90 degrees, and heat still on. My only option was to call emergency maintenance. I explained the situation, and the only thing they could offer me was a temporary portable AC until they could "go to the store and buy the proper tools to fix the window for a window AC unit." Ok, fine. They came and installed the portable AC while I was out. I came home to my window being open, with the AC vent resting against the window screen, and childrens blankets nailed to the window frame to keep the cool air from leaking out of the screen. But the heat was, obviously still on. But the portable AC provided some minor relief from the heat, and for that, I was thankful. The heat was fortunately turned off the following week. But maintenance has never come back since then (I am writing this review in August) and I have had this portable AC since June. My electric bill has been sky-high due to the window being open for the portable AC vent, and since the AC is meant for single room and not an apartment, it has been running non-stop to keep the apartment as cool as possible. Between the battle about the mice and the battle with the heat, I am exhausted fighting with the office. I feel, 100% that they do not take tenant concerns seriously. THEN, I get a letter saying they are going to raise my rent +$50 a month! For what?!?! What am I paying for? A tiny apartment that has mice and a leasing office that doesn't provide any tenant support? I will take my money elsewhere! The ONLY positive experience that I had while living here was the neighborhood itself felt safe. I could walk my dog at night and not feel worried or uncomfortable.

Behind Bars Mixology

Jeremy was a fantastic bartender! Highly professional with a great setup, and very efficient at…read moremaking all kinds of delicious drinks for all attendees. It was also great to communicate him beforehand about determining a list of cocktails, and finding the appropriate ingredients ahead of time to minimize day-of stress. Would highly recommend!

From the owner: Abundance of experience in catering, event, and fine dining bartending! Flexible and accommodating,…read moredon’t hesitate to include any and all special requests! Certified and insured!

OzN'Bones BBQ

4.3

(81 reviews)

•$$

The Mac & cheese is to die for! Ribs are 5 star.. outstanding. Was visiting my sister and stopped…read morefor lunch. I'd make the trip fromMA just for the ribs and Mac&Cheese!

There was more right here than wrong, so it gets the fourth star. I'll try to compliment sandwich…read morethis review. The first thing you notice when you come in is the vibe. Warm colors, wood accents, friendly staff. Not an overwhelming menu, I always like to see a place that is focusing on core foods and not trying to do too much. The blues may be a little too loud, but blues music is the soundtrack to BBQ food, especially Memphis style, so it's a good fit. I got a two meat combo plate, with ribs, burnt endz, bacon mac and cheese, and dill potato salad. Let's address the lesser aspects so we can end on a high note. The burnt endz. I assume they're spelled with a z in the same way spray can cheese is cheez. I know that there are only going to be so many true burnt ends with bark and tender meat inside per brisket, and so a restaurant is likely going to supplement with chopped point. However, there should not be huge fat caps on most of the cubes, or just cubes of fat. At least having some true burnt ends in an order would be nice too. The mac and cheese I received was delivered lukewarm, and I'm not sure what was up with that, so I didn't eat much of it. Now for the high point finisher! Those ribs man. These things were spectacular, and the light slap of sauce on them was just right to deliver the brown sugar flavor to your mouth without being excessive, or drown out the meat itself. When all these other reviews rave about the ribs being worth a drive, they mean it. Also, the dill potato salad is a win. Not heavy, not slap you with vinegar or mustard, but flavorful with dill and bacon. I scraped the bottom of my bowl to get it all. All in all, worth a visit, and another joint in Colchester that adds to the prestigious food scene that town is building.

Mystic River Cruises

(45 reviews)

This was an amazing day! Captain Eric was great and very knowledgeable about the area. I would…read morehighly recommend!

Captain Erick was Fabulous.. very knowledgeable. Very…read morehelpful a pleasure. Would highly recommend any cruise with Captain Erick ..... If you book a cruise with Captain Eric, you will not be disappointed..

Argia Mystic Cruises

4.5

(60 reviews)

My husband and I had planned a two hour cruise in Mystic on the Argia on the day we were…read morecelebrating with our family visiting from California. We were looking for an activity that would be fun for a multigenerational group of 23 people with toddlers, seniors, and everyone in between. We had been in communication with Oliver for months in advance. About two weeks before the big day, we saw that the forecast called for showers throughout Memorial Day weekend, particularly the Sunday of our planned cruise. We monitored the weather and decided to make a decision closer to the day. Throughout the entire process of planning, Oliver was responsive, reliable, accommodating, and kind. On the morning of the trip, Oliver gave us multiple options and worked with us to make sure that we could cancel and get a full refund due to the inclement weather. He provided us with agency up to the last hour of decision making. On a day that could have been really stressful, Oliver alleviated some of that stress. That is exceptional customer service, and that is the reason we will be coming back to the Argia for another special occasion. Highly recommend working with Oliver and his team if you get the chance!

Boat owner/captain was very friendly and knowledgeable. Because he grew up in Mystic he had answers…read moreto all of our questions. We really enjoyed the ride.

Joyride Charters

4.8

(16 reviews)

Joy was very accommodating, the boat was a perfect sale and we enjoyed ourselves on a beautiful…read moreafternoon. Would definitely recommend.

I always wanted to go to Greece and this experience to visit Athens and the Saronic Islands were…read moreamazing! Despite the weather not being the best, May 2025, the islands were not crowded which is why it was arranged to go at this time! Greek cuisine deserves its own spotlight. Whether dining at a seaside taverna or exploring bustling markets, I was treated to flavors that celebrated freshness and tradition. Imagine biting into tomatoes so sweet they taste like candy, or savoring seafood caught hours before it landed on your plate. I will always savor the Feta cheese and the Ouzo! Joy recommended several high quality restaurants and we weren't disappointed! Joy did her very best to give us many options of activities or to go it alone! The captain and host, assistant to the captain couldn't have been more accommodating on my boat, The Full House! I will never forget this experience! Thank you Joy!

Sail-Works

My mom, husband, and I wanted to go on an impromptu sailing charter and we were so lucky that Eric…read morewas available to take us for a tour to The Thimble Islands on his beautiful boat. Eric is a wonderful host and tremendous human being. He made us all beautiful espressos and let us use his glorious boat hammock. It was a truly memorable day and can't wait to do it again soon!

We sailed in Branford around the Thimbles for my husband's 70th with our children. It was nothing…read moreshort of fabulous! I highly recommend Eric and his magic sailboat. Clean, safe and just great. Will do this again and again. Maria

Sail Trim Again

Jack is a truly amazing captain. The experience on his boats are incredible and fun and full of…read morehistory as well! We have been out with Captain Jack 4 times now over the past 10 years and would do it every day if we could! He is a great captain and teaches you so much about the history of the area (and even if you think you don't like history, he will make it fun and interesting). We cannot say enough amazing things about Jack. On top of it all, he is really an amazing human being. Do NOT go to Watch Hill without going on a boat with Jack Spratt!

Awesome history and 7 lighthouse tour of Fishers Island Sound!! Out of Mystic Seaport, Capt…read moreSpratt's knowledge of the nautical and land history held us spell bound for 3 hours! The harbor seals were an adorable addition.

Poet's Lounge Sailing Charters

4.3

(11 reviews)

Forgetta-bout it! Best charter I've ever booked. 10/10. Will sail Poet's Lounge again!!read more

What an unforgettable experience! Our crew loved our time on the water with Darin. He was an…read moreexcellent host, wonderful to chat with and very attentive when he realized one of us was feeling seasick. Two of us had been out with him before for a sunset cruise and we upped it to 3 hrs this time. Truly a great experience - highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Celebrations at River's Bend - venues - Updated August 2026

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Mystic Yachting Center

(9 reviews)

Can't say enough wonderful things about the MYC and Ocean Blue Catering…read more We had our wedding here this past Saturday and my husband and our parents were thrilled with our day. Katie was a delight to work with in the months and weeks leading up to our wedding and the banquet manager Ashley was accessible and helpful the few days before and day of our reception. We were surprised by the quality of the food- my husband and I ate our entire dinners and had a couple apps during cocktail hour! Unheard of, right? It was so yummy I insisted we sit for a few minutes, enjoy each others' company, and eat our meals. Thankfully the weather cooperated so our guests could fully enjoy the view, but even had it rained, the wrap around porch is protected by an overhang so I think guests could still be outside. If you're looking to hold an event that feels classy but NOT STUFFY consider the Mystic Yachting Center. It has a New England nautical vibe that will appear to locals and your out of town guests. Thank you for making our wedding day the loveliest exper

Beautiful venue and views for a wedding ceremony and reception. Please pave the "aisle" you're…read moreusing for outdoor ceremonies. Walking down that gravel "aisle" was absolutely brutal in heels. Otherwise, it was a really nice experience.

Brooksides Hall

Had my daughters Sweet 16 party there! Very accommodating, and just great experience all around!read more

Silver Oak Mystic

(3 reviews)

This event space is beautiful! I attended a BNI Meeting here the other day and was shocked I had…read moreno idea this place existed. It is a smaller event space, but it could be a great place to have a small wedding, meeting, or party. The fireplace and rustic feel make it so warm and welcoming. There is a cute bar area off to the side. I now really want to know more about this space and have a reason to have an event here.

We hosted our wedding welcome party at Silver Oak in July, 2019 and were thrilled with how…read moreeverything turned out. Maggie, Hannah and Tim were all a delight to work with and were super helpful throughout the process. We loved the vibe of Silver Oak - it is comfortable, yet sophisticated. The beer and wine on top were high quality and we enjoyed that some of the beers were local. I really liked the set up - there are separate areas (couches by the fireplace, dining tables for eating, bar area and outdoor patio) and people could move around easily to socialize. We also hired Luigi's pizza (recommended by Silver Oak) and enjoyed delicious food all night. Everything about the night turned out perfectly and we were thrilled with our event. We highly recommend this spot - it is a hidden gem.

Cold Spring Farm

4.5

(2 reviews)

I only heard about the winter market because I've been stalking Fat Orange Cat, one of my favorite…read moreConnecticut breweries who only sells at this market during the winter. I was very surprised to see how many vendors there were and how popular the event was. Most of the vendors are in a small barn area, though on this warm day, there are even some outside. The vendors I could see include bakeries, popcorn vendor, some jewelry, and some soaps. There isn't a lot of parking on the grounds, but plenty of people park on the roads.

A beautiful working farm and family. Jeff and Jess are heavily involved in their community. They…read morework hard to support other small Ct businesses by running the local farm markets. They continually strive to educate customers and neighbors about environmentally responsible farming and ways to help other makers.

Tamarack Lodge & Glamping Resort

(21 reviews)

Following a Yelp event on the spacious and serene grounds, I had dinner at the restaurant. Inside…read morethe lodge is gorgeous--filled with lots of charming pieces and taxidermy game on the wall and mantle (look for the rooster) which I was told was part of the owner's collection. Everyone was most friendly and welcoming. It was a relaxing atmosphere. The dinner menu is on the small side, with a few specials offered. I chose the fish and chips--which I thoroughly enjoyed. The fish was perfectly battered and fried and tasted fresh. I also got to watch a live cooking comedy show in the dining room and they gave out dessert! A bit corny but all quite entertaining. Great nearby place to eat, drink, and be entertained while glamping!

We had a great time at the tamarack lodge! The owners and staff are fantastic people and do a great…read morejob of hosting all that come to this wonderful property. We stayed for the night and were upgraded to a room in the main house for the same price as the cabin. The rooms were very clean and updated. Be prepared that there are no TVs in the rooms...just like camping! We stayed on a Saturday night in September and there is a restaurant in the lodge with live entertainment (comedians on this particular night). There is a full bar with several cocktails on the drink menu. The grounds have an obstacle course, horse shoes pits, stage for a concert, access to beach pond, trails, and cabins for camping. There was a fire provided during the day, but we didn't see one at night. It would be nice if each cabin had its own fire ring to have a camp fire/cook in and a large fire pit for community bon fires. I'm sure the new owners have lots of cool plans and will make it happen as they are open to suggestions. This can definitely be s hot spot to have some fun and not worry about driving home.

Lebanon Fair Grounds

4.0

The Lebanon Fair brings great selection of food vendors to enjoy as you walk around or sit & relax…read morewhile you watch the band perform, local dance performers or join in on the fun with rides & games. A true country fair with cattle showing competition, chickens of all breeds, bunnies, pigs, oh my gosh the goats! (So cute)! Cows and more cows! Demolishing derby was thrilling! Routing for our favorite driver. Many activities thru the weekend to keep us busy while supporting local. Arts & crafts by local artists are on display, judged and awarded ribbons. A nice selection of garden vegetables & quilts as well. Favorite food Lions lemonade, homemade pierogi with kielbasa & FFA milkshakes! Plenty of vendors to see without feeling pressured to purchase anything. Fireworks were fantastic, didn't expect such a great show! Looking forward to new season.

Who doesn't love a rural country fair? This fair is fun while still focusing on the community by…read morehaving many booths hosted by local organizations and clubs. It is always fun to see the animals in the barns, enjoy the different competitions, look at the submissions in the exhibition building, see the demolition derby and enjoy all of the fair food and interesting things to bring home. I also love that this fair is a Lions Club fair which means that the funds raised go back into the community.

Calabrese Club

3.0

We come here for our kids' football banquet every year. It seems outdated but it serves its…read morepurpose. I suppose you could have other functions here and rent it out. Maybe like a family reunion or a birthday party. It's not too big so keep that in mind. There's a bar and the kitchen is in a back room. on the other side of the building is a bar/lounge. I think its members only but I could be wrong.

The Art House Of Norwich

This is such a unique and fun way to spend the evening out with your girlfriends or an educational…read moreday for the kiddos! Owner Carrie puts a lot of love and attention into each class and it shows. Her classes are by appointment only and you can book adult paint and sip classes, charity events, and kid-friendly weekly activities alike. If you're looking for great ideas for a bachelorette party, birthday, or just something a little different from the norm- check this place out! She gives step-by-step instructions on how to make your very own gallery-worthy piece of art. (BYOB for paint and sips) Another cool thing? You can actually purchase some of the pieces you see on display! I love that Carrie's unique style shines through each of her canvases. So much so that I've hired her to make a few special paintings for my family and gave them as precious gifts. Lastly, she does events at The Art House or you can hire her to do private parties. I've seen her at bars, restaurants, fairs, and even campgrounds! I HIGHLY recommend Carrie and The Art House. Prices are reasonable and it will definitely be a day to remember. Spots book fast so reserve yours before someone snaps it up. Have fun!

Wrights Mill Farm

4.6

(8 reviews)

I definitely didn't go to a wedding over the weekend with the intention of writing a Yelp review,…read morebut after seeing how great the venue was and even more so how hilarious the staff was, this place definitely earned the five star review. I showed up here on Friday at around 5pm and was immediately impressed with the beautiful building surrounded by tons of trees and just how New England this place seemed. After a nice ceremony in the woods (they are able to drive you around on golf carts which is sick) we spent the remainder of the night in the massive building where everything else took place. The main room itself looks amazing and the wood work is certainly something to gawk at. The washrooms were large and clean, all of the food I ate (which I'm pretty sure was handled by the venue) was much better then what I've had at previous weddings, and the staff....oh the staff. From being genuinely charming and funny during very single step of the night to hitting the dance floor for a song and blending in way better then I ever could, it's always nice to see every single person there at least pretending to have fun. Overall, I may not live in Connecticut, but if someone ever got some random reason needed an eastern Connecticut venue recommendation, well, this is the place I'm telling them to pick. Thanks for giving a whole lot of people such an unforgettable night.

From former tree farm to event venue, Wright's is the epitome of bucolic beauty. Winding roads,…read morewaterfalls, stone walls - the best of eastern CT. I came here for a friend's wedding last weekend and it couldn't have been a more perfect setting (OR weather). I didn't see nearly enough of the grounds but what I did see was lovely. They hosted the ceremony in a spectacularly lush wooded area, followed by the reception in a rustic, yet well appointed pavilion. Actual bathrooms instead of portable which was sooo much better! Appreciated the ample parking and quick walk between the parking lot, ceremony site, and reception area. Not sure if all of the weddings are required to use the venue's catering, but the food was solid too!

Issa catering