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NCLT: Swann Farm

April 3, 2019 by Steve 2 Comments

My Swann Song (For a Week or Two) Northern Connecticut Land Trust (NCLT): Swann Farm, Ellington 0.5 miles, March 2019 Normally, I would write up a half-mile hike, hit publish, link it at the appropriate places, not really tell anyone, and call it a day. But this half-mile hike, which is certainly not a hike I'd … [Read more...]

CTMQ’s Guide to Pomfret

March 30, 2019 by Steve 1 Comment

Everything Pomfret I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Pomfret CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If … [Read more...]

Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery

March 28, 2019 by Steve 1 Comment

Not a Clown Show Broken Symmetry Gastro Brewery, Bethel December 2018 In this time of wonderfulness on the Connecticut beer front, it seems like every town gets a brewery. I’m talkin’ Colebrook, Salem, Canaan… and Bethel. Now, Bethel does have a much more vibrant and fun “downtown” area than many people think. In … [Read more...]

Hockanum River Trail 23: Windemere Avenue

March 25, 2019 by Steve 2 Comments

That's Some Kinda Bridge Hockanum River Trails: Windemere Avenue, Vernon & Ellington ~1.3 miles one way, March 2019 If you are reading these Hockanum River Trails south to north you have already read... there's no single way to hike the Ellington trails, so I have no idea where you've come from. But you can go … [Read more...]

CTMQ’s Guide to Avon

March 18, 2019 by Steve Leave a Comment

Everything Avon I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Avon CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If I’ve … [Read more...]

CTMQ’s Guide to Southbury

March 17, 2019 by Steve Leave a Comment

Everything Southbury I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Southbury CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If … [Read more...]

Oakes Preserve

March 11, 2019 by Steve Leave a Comment

Annie Are You Oakeskay? Oakes Preserve, Avon Land Trust February 2019 Alright, look. Some trails are not great. That's just the way it is. There's no use beating around the bush here... the Oakes Preserve in Avon is - hey, there is use in beating around bushes here. It's the only way to hike this … [Read more...]

Connecticut BioBlitz

March 10, 2019 by Steve Leave a Comment

"Are you ready Steve? Uh-huh" Multiple Locations (East Hartford for us) (Google Maps location) June 4, 2016 Do you want to know what my favorite part of Sweet's classic "Ballroom Blitz" is? It's how it begins: Are you ready Steve? Uh-huh Andy? Yeah Mick? Okay Alright fellas, let's go! As one named … [Read more...]

Cold Creek Brewery & Tavern (Closed)

March 9, 2019 by Steve 1 Comment

Cold Creek Brewery & Tavern Ellington Multiple 2015-2019 visits Cold Creek called it quits in June 2021, noting it had nothing to do with the pandemic. Many are still scratching their heads why they shut down the brewery and were in fact contracting out of Powder Hollow in Enfield for the year before … [Read more...]

Archer-Gilligan House

March 7, 2019 by Steve Leave a Comment

Arsenic and Old Lace House Archer-Gilligan House, Windsor My son Calvin was with me when I drove by this large and rather bland brick house near the center of Windsor. I had the idea that I’d ask him to hop out of the car and pose in some goofy way in front of the house. You know, to add some flavor to this … [Read more...]