What a Long Strange Trip It's Been Coles Road Brewing Company, Berlin June 2021 The married couple who own and brew at Coles Road Brewing in Berlin, Paul and Lea Marchinkoski have slowly built up and improved upon a pretty well respected little central Connecticut brewery. Sure, we have other husband and wife … [Read more...]
Pistol Creek
A Bang-Bang Hike Pistol Creek Berlin & Middletown Way back in the day, I worked for Aetna in Middletown. Very near there, on the border with Berlin, up sprang the Pistol Creek golf course in 2001. I'm not a golfer, nor will I ever be, but I do recall people being fairly impressed with the course. It looked nice … [Read more...]
StanChem Fishway
Fishway Stan StanChem Fishway, Berlin Why did I ever begin documenting fishways and fish ladders and lifts? I honestly don't remember. In my defense, a couple of them here and there act as sort of outdoor museums and have displays and open houses and stuff. But that doesn't explain why I went beyond them to … [Read more...]
Sage Park
Not the Wisest Place to Hike Sage Park, Berlin January 2022 The town of Berlin has plenty of great places to hike. From Ragged Mountain to Hatchery Brook and all the Metacomet Miles in between. Berlin also has a few not so great places to hike. Sage Park is one of those places, but since someone (and I may know … [Read more...]
The Kensington Soldiers’ Monument
The Berlin Tall The Oldest US Civil War Monument, Berlin Here we are again, at another "oldest in the US" that isn't truly totally verifiable. Although in the case of the Kensington Soldiers' Monument in Berlin, the locals did convince the federal whomevers at the National Register of Historic Places that the claim … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Berlin
Everything Berlin 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” Berlin 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...]
Berlin’s Town Trails
Berlin’s Town Trails BURR-lin. Bur-LIN. I never get it right, but I’m hardly a native Nutmegger, so please forgive me. I’m pretty good with all the other localisms in the state though... I think. And even though my wife grew up in New Britain (or, “New Bri’in,” which I do get right) corrects me all the time, I … [Read more...]
193. Berlin Agricultural Lions Museum
This is What A-Tractored Her To Me! Berlin (Google Maps location) October 3, 2010 This museum is open only at the Berlin Fair As many of you know, I’m not from these parts. In addition to not having grown up with town agricultural fairs (and frankly not really understanding their appeal), it has taken me many … [Read more...]
192. Berlin Historical Museum at the Berlin Fair
Berlin, It's Just Not Fair! Berlin (Google Maps location) October 3, 2010 This museum is only open during the Berlin Fair. Remember way back when… Back when my hair was mostly still dark and Damian was not yet even 18 months old? Back when silly ol’ me thought there were only a few hundred museums in … [Read more...]
Berlin Fair
Berlin Fair October 2010 2019 Note: As a general rule, I don't write up town fairs. However, once in a while I will. Usually this will be for CTMQ-worthy reasons, but Berlin doesn't really have that. But it does have two museums, so I guess that qualifies. Attended: Sunday Afternoon Parking: Free Distance … [Read more...]