This review is only for the edifice. It is a beautiful neoclassic building the way that they were…read morebuilt in industrial New England during the 1860s to the early 1900s, during the waves of Irish and Italian immigrants to staff the industrial might of the growth of the US. For many of these poor Catholic immigrants, their church was the center of life in an otherwise unfriendly environment and they built grandiose churches and schools as their communal legacy. This wonderful building, dating to 1890, is a testament to the desires and dreams of generations gone by and it is magnificent. The bright colors of its stained glass windows match the bright blue trim of the neo-Corinthian columns, evoking ties to Mediterranean scenes. The large nave has seating for about 600 people and a height of about 100 feet. A wonderful historical architectural relic in old New England.

This synagogue is NOT closed, as it is currently being reported by Yelp. In fact, it has been a…read morecontinuous congregation since 1898 it contains a thriving Conservative Jewish community. Though services contain elements of its once-orthodox membership, if you have ideas for tunes to the prayers, the Rabbi welcomes them and is always willing to try out something new to shake things up. He makes a fantastic effort to meet the needs of a diverse congregation. There are quite a number of mixed-marriage families. Non-Jewish spouses/partners are welcomed and never made to feel as if they are not part of the family. There is also a thriving Hebrew School program with some dedicated and passionate teachers who love the kids, and activities throughout the year (Purim carnival, Passover seder, decorating the sukkah, etc.). The synagogue hosts a Friday night family service every other month, which culminates in a dinner. Great way to start the Sabbath with family, unwind, eat and relax with friends. There are also family Saturday services every few months. Lots of activities throughout the year: kosher chicken BBQ, community Passover seder, Purim party/dance). The Rabbi has been with Ahavath Achim for 13+ years. He's a mainstay of the congregation and the community, approachable, friendly, and a great comfort when family is under stress. Visitors to services are always welcome. http://www.congregationahavathachim.org/

I'm surprised this will be a "first to review", although All Saints is listed in Yelp as a Catholic…read moreEducation Center (I doubt if the school still exists). Anyway, attended morning Mass here this past Wednesday w 4 friends. Fr. Kirby officiated. From the outside, the building and grounds are in need of some upkeep. Inside, however, it is awe-inspiring. Erected in 1888, the architecture is beautiful... vaulted ceilings, lots of oak and marble, and beautiful stained glass. Like many churches in rural New England, attendance has declined over the years. All Saints is no exception, I imagine. I would encourage locals to visit this church. Ok, off my pulpit now.

Shirley Reaback Preschool here is fantastic! All the staff, facilities and resources are among the…read morebest (if not THE BEST) in Glastonbury. This is not a pseudo-daycare/preschool. This is a true preschool, kindergarten and kindergarten enrichment program. I am so thankful that we found Valerie and were able to join this community. I am not a member of the congregation, so I cannot speak to the religious services offered here.

The square, the cube is a divine shape, and walking into this house of G-d, this "home of Israel,"…read morethis majestic edifice - will put you in direct contact with the divine. Count the 12 segments around the main worship space, gaze upon the beautifully detailed ceiling, relax in peace. The oldest Jewish congregation in West Hartford, second oldest in the state, has a rich history to go along with its magnificent architecture. They're welcoming and invite tradition while living up to their Reform orientation with an open spirit.

Its website says this is the only Baroque church in CT. While there is no way I would have known…read morethat, there is one thing I do know. The interior of this church is absolutely beautiful. I attended a First Communion Mass today and stared in wonderment at the beauty and splendor of Saint Sebastian. Gold leaf, murals, sculptures, stained glass, and artwork are everywhere. What an amazing sight.

Emanuel Synagogue is a really welcoming, friendly and comfortable place for the first-time or…read moreseasoned synagogue-goer. The rabbi, who is now on leave I do believe, was incredibly welcoming to the boyfriend and I on our first several visits. New faces are always exciting for frequent goers, but the treatment we got was what I hope for when heading to new synagogues. I'm not big on guitars or organs, so those are the few things that I'm not big on at this shul. The High Holidays services were wonderful, excepting for some curious musical choices at times. I try to avoid the guitar-style services because it's a little too new-age for me, and it works out well. If you're looking for a nice, cozy place with beautiful artwork and a welcoming, friendly community, then Emanuel is probably right up your alley.

I grew up in New Jersey and always went to a Jewish day school and a Jewish camp. To me services…read morewere just something that was always there. When I went to college I continued the trend and went every Friday night to services at our Hillel. After college I tried a couple of places but never found somewhere I felt comfortable. Recently after years of not going, I decided to try Emanuel, and I loved it. The Rabbi is extremely nice and the building is beautiful. This is a place I definitely felt comfortable. The Rabbi one of the first times me and my girlfriend went in there asked us if we had somewhere to go to for the High Holidays, which I did not. He said that if we wanted to, to call the office on Monday and tell them to give us two passes for services and we are more than welcome as his guest, which we took him up on. Unfortunately I was unable to make Rosh Hashana service, but when we went for Yom Kippur it was very nice. The cantor did a great job and the envirnment was great and what I was used to.

Went to this retreat center over a weekend in August. It is tucked away down a side street…read moreabutting some nice wooded areas. Very peaceful location. The amenities were very good. The rooms were spacious enough. They each had a sink, a chair, a desk, and a twin size bed. The center provided you with linens for the bed and towels. There is also air conditioning in each room. Rooms were clean and tidy. The bathrooms were community bathrooms. They each had three stalls and a couple of showers. Plenty spacious and also very clean and tidy. The grounds are well kept and very peaceful. There is a screened gazebo tucked away in a secluded corner of the property. A great place to meditate, contemplate, pray, or whatever. There is also an outdoor Stations of the Cross. The facilities are clean and well kept. The dining hall is well laid out and comfortable. Meals were served buffet style. The menu was simple. Nothing "gourmet" but everything was well prepared and tasty. Being served buffet style, you will not leave hungry. The conference area was large and had plenty of seating for talks. It was well equipped with things you would need for your talks. It overlooks the grounds with a huge wall of windows that practically brings the outdoors in. The staff are great. The chef and all the kitchen staff were very accommodating with special requests and had some great personalities. The facility manager also was great. She was very attentive and ready to jump in if there was anything we needed. This is a very peaceful and well run facility. I highly recommend it for your retreat needs. Great job all around!