Today's lunch at Gather 55, the latest Hands on Hartford food experience, offered up a truly…read morewonderful meal. The place was packed but the front of the house rep found us a perfect table against the rear wall with a view of the dining room. The gentleman who fixed/adjusted our table did a super job; hate those wobbly tables I always manage to find. The menus were clear and the ordering was super easy. The end product went way above our expectations. My dining partner ordered the Chicken Salad plate with a pasta side included. The chicken was fresh, tender and delicious [I stole a piece] and the penne pasta was just right while the celery and walnuts added crunch. I had the Salmon Wrap with spinach, avocado and ginger vinaigrette. The wrap was huge and the salmon perfectly cooked while the added ingredients made the dish even better. The crowd was lively and the atmosphere was full of love. We will return! Want to try the breakfast.

The food and service were very good and the service was great. I had a walnut cranberry salad that…read morewas fresh a d tasteful with a light vinegrette dressing. I took what was left from lunch home and had two more meals from it.

Annually, the town of Windsor Locks holds a food drive on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It's a…read morecoordinated effort that involves WL Social Services, the Lions Club, local Boys Scouts, town businesses, and over 100 volunteers. Kudos to hard-working Heidi, WL town director of Social Services, and Wonderful Wendy, director of Youth Serices. Heidi puts her heart and soul into the effort, spending many late nights in preparation. Wendy assists with many other tasks. The goal is to obtain Thanksgiving food (turkeys, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, fresh veggies, etc, etc) for over 200 families who qualify for assistance, and also to replenish shelves in the pantry to help in the months to come. The Lions Club arranges for pickups in all neighborhoods in town between 9AM and noon (Boy Scouts collect the bags from porches). All items are dropped off in front of town hall and ferried inside by runners. Once inside, in the old gym, a veritable army of mostly teens check dates and sort products by type. I liken it to organized chaos more than synchronized swimming. Non-Thanksgiving products are then shuttled to the pantry where Heidi's asst, Darling Debbie, as well as Gracious Gabby, Affable Anne, and Cool Kristen work their magic. By 3 PM, most of the work is done, w some teen volunteers making up approx 200 bags of non-perishable Thanksgiving items. All for pickup Sunday between 2 and 4 PM by a conga line of vehicles that snake thru the parking lot. Special thanks also to Foodshare who donated large quantities of carrots, onions, and potatoes (sweet and white), as well as 32 turkeys and 20 chickens!! Overall, a success, as over 200 families get to enjoy all the trimmings of a holiday meal. 5 rewarding stars AND PLEASE READ THE ATTACHED POEM THAT HEIDI WROTE AND POSTED ON THE TOWN'S FACEBOOK PAGE THE EVE OF THE EVENT.

Definitely follow Riverfront Recapture on Facebook for tons of great free events. Jerk festivals,…read moreAsian Dragon Boat Races, Free concerts, Food trucks, Fireworks, etc. It's always a well organized, safe good time.

I finally visited the Hartford waterfront today thanks to the Dragon Boat and Asian Festival. I…read morecan't say enough about how impressed I was! It was as scenic and as pleasant as can be. It was jam packed with couples and families and folks of all ages enjoying the sun, the scenery, and a perfect summer day. Hartford has really come a long way since I moved here in 1987. The Science Center, the Convention Center, a re-invigorated downtown, the Lincoln Sculpture Art Walk, and the beautiful Riverfront. I can't wait to see what the future brings.

Imagine Nation is a learning. Center and children's museum. There are three levels and exhibits for…read morekids from toddlers and up to elementary aged. There is a parking lot and street parking. There were so many interactive and hands on play areas. They even had an animal exhibit. There is a water play, music, engineering, area (and more). My kids enjoyed it and we were there for a couple of hours. If you have kids, I highly recommend.

ImagiNation constantly updates their facilities and we have been going to this place for years…read more They adjust their rooms and facility for changing child interests. They have a lot of Open Ended play and they offer some real cool opportunities to let your child explore their imagination. They have an Art room, a Animal exhibit room, a doctors office area that looks EXACTLY like a doctors office, an kitchen area built to look like a kitchen, a place to put on a play with stage lights and so much more. We loved the new changes so much we got a family season pass. This is not only the perfect place to bring kids on a weekend but a cool place for parties. They are a non-profit Childrens Museum but put ALOT of thought into making it more like an experience than anything else. Bring your kid (s) and you wont regret it. Just be aware though that parking is accessed from the street behind the museum so it might be confusing at first. Enjoy

The Whigville Grange is slightly off the path. Said path is pretty well beaten, there are houses…read morescattered all over the place, but it's far from the main road. It's a cute standalone building with a good sized parking lot on the side, although one can also park on the side of the road. There's a field behind the building, and a field across the street. There is a main entrance in the front. Inside is primarily one large room with a stage. The stage has painted backdrops that look vintage, which are very cool. There is a downstairs, but it's closed off to the general public. The Grange has a fair once a year in August. Participants are able to submit baked goods, fruits, vegetables, flower arrangements, etc for judging. There are hot dogs and hamburgers available to order inside, cooked on a barbecue outside, and seating available inside and outside.

Kind people. Everyone is welcome. The choir is EXCEPTIONAL.!!! Hours are a bit unpredictable, but…read morethe choir makes up for lack of services and the schedule is always accurate, online.

This is not your typical church and has been my place to raise my children, meet great people, and…read morefeed my spiritual side. It helps you search for truths and values without denying your own past. It has a lifespan education program for all ages along with different social services and social justice projects for the community around us. You're welcome to visit us a few times to see if it's a place for you, too.

The West Htfd store is sadly closing its business on June 22, 2024. All merch is 50% until then…read more The vibe however is depressing. I went there this past week and got some cute purchases. I shopped a couple days later at the Newington store, first time. I was impressed with the size and condition of this store. So much more merch than other Salv Army stores in Greater Hartford. I found a lot of excellent items and my bill was under $20. Keep it up Newington store crew!

This historic farm is located in West Granby and is over 300 acres. The land has been farmed on…read moresince 1756. There are trails on the property open to the public, they also offer CSAs (community supported agriculture). They sometimes hosts classes and events. There is a seasonal farm store onsite. The store was lovely; I enjoyed shopping there. There were fresh produce as well as some dairy products, cookies, pickles, and more. They were offering free samples of watermelon in the summer. It's definitely worth a visit once they open again for the season!

Jamie and the entire team at Holcomb Farm are AMAZING!! They were so on top of planning, details,…read moreday of coordination, the list goes on. We did our rehearsal dinner, get ready, ceremony, and cocktail hour at Holcomb Farm. The venue is absolutely breathtaking from every angle. It's beautiful while still being rustic and charming. The prices are so reasonable for what you're getting and I couldn't have imagined a better place to get married. Jamie was helpful the entire time, even fluffing my train before I walked down the aisle! I cannot recommend the location, venue, and staff enough. If you're looking for the perfect wedding/reunion/shower/party location possible, look no further!