The Circle of Life Concentric Brewing Company, Portland August 2021 A financial planner, a firefighter, and a physical therapist walk in a bar. "What's it gonna be?" asked the bartender. "I'm gonna open a new brewery in Berlin, one of the world's great beer cities!" said the physical therapist. "I'm … [Read more...]
NHL: Portland Brownstone Quarries
CT National Historic Landmark Portland Brownstone Quarries Portland Many of us Connecticut residents who hit the museum circuit have heard apocryphal stories about Portland brownstone being pretty much the most important building material of the 19th century. Or something like that. While that's not remotely true, … [Read more...]
Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park
Mr. Brownstone Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park, Portland July 2019 This place is also called Brownstone Adventure Park which is a much better name. I'll say it: Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park is probably the most fun place in Connecticut on a hot and sunny summer day. As long as you know how to … [Read more...]
Meshomasic State Forest Intro
Meshomasic State Forest Colchester, East Hampton, Portland, Glastonbury, Hebron, & Marlborough I can't promise you that this page will ever be complete. Yes, I like to be thorough and almost always am, but when it comes to the Mesh... it's tough. It's big and it's sprawling, sure, but most importantly it contains … [Read more...]
Air Line State Park Trail Intro
Air Line... NOT "Airline!" 58.5 Miles, Portland, East Hampton, Colchester, Hebron, Columbia, Lebanon, Windham, Chaplin, Hampton, Pomfret, Portland, Putnam, Thompson My title above is for one Mr. Peter Marteka who is enamored with this particular trail to an unhealthy degree. Envisioned as a high speed passenger … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Portland
Everything Portland 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” Portland CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If … [Read more...]
Portland’s Town Trails Intro
Portland’s Town Trails I don’t know how many Portlands there are in America, but everyone is familiar with the big two in Maine and Oregon; two states known for fantastic hiking and backwoods experiences. Our own little Portland also has a lot of hiking and backwoods to experience. A huge swath of the town is … [Read more...]
Middlesex Land Trust Trails
Middlesex Land Trust Trails Cromwell, Durham, East Hampton, Middlefield, Middletown, Portland and Haddam Hoo boy. This one’s a doozy. While I completely understand that it is nigh impossible for little land trusts to keep and maintain a nice website that allows the few who care to easily tease out the trailed … [Read more...]
228. Ruth Callander House Museum of Portland History
The Callander Says April Fools, But I’m Not Kidding Around Portland (Google Maps location) April 1, 2012 This is it, folks. I'm done. There are just far too many town history museums in historic houses in Connecticut. I quit. Checks "Callander" visit date... April Fools! C'mon, now. With our … [Read more...]
Portland’s Brownstone Arch
Where Weather is the Arch Enemy Portland's Brownstone Arch May 18, 2011 Way back in 2011, I did a full CTMQ Day down the Connecticut River Valley. From Middletown to Old Saybrook, I hit several museums and other “stuff” for this website. Now, five years later, I’m going through those pictures and seeing some … [Read more...]