Visit Western CT

22/03/2025

“The Beauty of the World Is Around Us and In the Artist’s Soul” at the Geary Gallery in Darien is a special retrospective of symbolic and enigmatic paintings by Ukranian-born Lev Meshberg (1933-2007). The exhibition honors the life of this internationally known Darien resident, whose autobiographical works blend recognizable objects with dream-like, ethereal light and color. Free admission through March 29th. https://gearygallery.com/?exhibitions=lev-meshberg-the-beauty-of-the-world-is-around-us-and-in-the-artists-soul

21/03/2025

Vive le pain – it’s National French Bread Day! Also called a baguette (makes sense – that’s French), these long, thin loaves made from basic dough are defined by their crisp crust and elongated shape – made that way to bake quickly and evenly, convenient for slicing and storing. French bread adds taste and class to any sandwich, elevates soup to a meal, and provides the anchor for sensational French Toast. Lots of local bakeries bake French bread; two winners (according to Food & Wine Magazine) are:
🥖 Bantam Bread http://www.bantambread.com/
🥖 Wave Hill Breads in Norwalk http://www.wavehillbreads.com/
Do YOU have a favorite, mon ami?

20/03/2025

All aboard! Spring has sprung in Western CT. 🌼🌺🌸💐 Follow us for tons of things to do and see with the entire family!

20/03/2025

Litchfield Restaurant Week returns for a third delicious year from March 21st-28th, featuring more than 20 tasty venues (including three new restaurants), ranging from bakery cafes, delis, pizza joints, and gourmet shops to fine dining establishments, each offering special discounts, prix fixe menus, and more. It’s a great way to discover new local favorites. Visit https://visitlitchfieldct.com/litchfield-restaurant-week-is-coming-march-21-28/ for participating eateries and offers.

19/03/2025

Aquila’s Nest Vineyards in Sandy Hook kicks off the season at their Spring Jazz Fest (March 21st-23rd) – a memorable weekend of live jazz, fine wine, and gourmet food. Enjoy an extraordinary lineup of talented musicians while sipping handcrafted wines and indulging in delicious offerings from local food trucks. Grape deal: your $20 admission provides access to all five performances throughout the weekend. For tickets and lineup visit https://www.aquilasnestvineyards.com/service-page/aquila-s-spring-jazz-fest?referral=service_list_widget

18/03/2025

Two Roads Brewing in Stratford takes craft beer to the next level at their 5th Annual Cask Fest on Friday, March 21st with a video game-themed lineup of over 25 exclusive casks. Inspired by legendary games like Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda, and Space Invaders, each cask has been uniquely crafted and named after the games and consoles we all know and love. Whether you’re a retro arcade fan or a next-gen gamer, there’s a brew waiting to power up your taste buds! https://tworoadsbrewing.com/event/cask-fest-2025/

17/03/2025

St. Patty’s Day AND National Corned Beef & Cabbage Day on the same date – what are the odds? 🇮🇪 Celebrate the first Green Day with this hearty and satisfying Irish-American meal, whose traditional recipe hasn’t changed much over the centuries: a salt pork joint braised slowly, partnered on a plate with cabbage and potatoes. Or you can hold the taters and enjoy corned beef between two slices of rye bread, topped with melted Swiss, sauerkraut, and spicy mustard. Fancy? Nope. Savory and delicious? You bet. No matter how you take it, here are a few places that will have everybody feeling the Luck O’ the Irish:
🍀 Tigin Irish Pub in Stamford https://www.tiginirishpub.com/

🍀 Tiernan’sBar & Restaurant in Stamford https://www.tiernansbar.com/

🍀 O’Neill’s Irish Pub in Norwalk https://www.oneillsono.com/

🍀 The Castle Black Rock in Bridgeport https://www.thecastleblackrock.com/

🍀 Molly Darcy’s in Danbury https://www.mollydarcy.com/mollysdanburyct

🍀 Maggie McFly’s in Brookfield, Southbury and Middlebury
https://www.maggiemcflys.com/

🍀 The White Horse Country Pub & Restaurant in New Preston
https://www.whitehorsecountrypub.com/

15/03/2025

Connect with inspiring women, explore new opportunities, and celebrate all things female at the Women's Better Living Expo Connecticut at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport on March 15th & 16th (10 am-3 pm). Gain valuable insights on health and beauty from local experts at this free event, enjoy free health screenings, and enter to win amazing prizes. https://ctvisit.com/events/womens-better-living-expo-connecticut

14/03/2025

Oh joy – it’s National Pi Day, the annual celebration of Pi, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter that nobody cares about. It is observed on March 14 (the third month) since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three significant digits. OMG – are you STILL reading this? Then let’s go another route – visit https://ctvisit.com/pizzatrailvote, where you can celebrate Connecticut’s newfound status as the Pizza Capital of America (yep; it’s true) and cast a vote for YOUR favorite…pi. The Pizza Capital Pizza Trail is being created by fans and critics alike starting today; so, here’s your chance to give some love and recognition to great but lesser-known pizza joints that may deserve a spot on the list. There are hundreds to choose from, but only the top 100 will make the final trail. So cast your vote today, Archimedes!

13/03/2025

Feeling lucky this St. Patrick’s Day? Then don’t miss two days filled with good feelings and fortune at the Luck of the Irish Weekend at Sunset Meadow Vineyards in Goshen on March 15th & 16th. Test your luck and knowledge at Bingo on Saturday and Disney Trivia on Sunday for great prizes as you enjoy wonderful wine while visiting one of the 101 Best Wineries in America. https://www.facebook.com/events/1346994096307175

12/03/2025

Celebrate the New World’s first natural sweetener during Maple Sugar Weekend (March 15th & 16th) and enjoy maple sugaring demonstrations, pancake breakfasts, bake sales, and more at sugarhouses throughout Western Connecticut. This annual rite of spring remains faithful to the methods developed by Connecticut Native Americans in the 1600s when the still-frosty nights and warmer, sunny days of March create the ideal conditions for robust maple syrup yields. Learn how sap is collected, boiled down, and turned into delicious candy, fudge, confections, and everybody’s favorite pancake topping. So, if you’re looking for a sweet weekend outing – and a huge family favorite – visit a local sugarhouse and join in the fun (some require pre-registration):

• Maple Sugaring Open House at Ambler Farm in Wilton (March 15, 11 am-12 pm) https://amblerfarm.org/event/maple-sugaring-open-house/

• Pancake & PJs Party at New Canaan Nature Center (March 15, 8:30-11:30 am) https://newcanaannature.org/syrup-saturday/

• Sharon Audubon MapleFest & Maple Bake Sale (March 15, 11 am-4 pm) https://sharon.audubon.org/events/maplefest-maple-bake-sale

• Sweet Wind Farm in East Hartland Maple Weekend (March 15, 10 am-4 pm & March 16, 12-4 pm) https://sweetwindfarm.net/events%2Fclasses

• Stamford Museum & Nature Center Maple Sugar Fest (the adorable Teacup Piggies are back, March 16, 10 am-2 pm) https://www.stamfordmuseum.org/maple-sugar-festival/

11/03/2025

This upcoming weekend in Western Connecticut is "springing" with events the whole family can enjoy (March 15th & 16th). Plan ahead and be sure to check out:

🥞 Maple Sugar Weekend
https://ctvisit.com/articles/maple-sugaring-litchfield-hills
https://ctvisit.com/articles/maple-sugaring-fairfield-county

🍀 Luck of the Irish Festival at Sunset Meadow Vineyards
https://www.facebook.com/events/1346994096307175

👠 Women’s Better Living Expo Connecticut at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport
https://ctvisit.com/events/womens-better-living-expo-connecticut

11/03/2025

Dress warmly and meet up at the Overbrook Nature Center in Stamford for the Full Moon Rise Night Hike on Friday, March 14th (7-8 pm). Embark on a brisk, moonlit journey through the almost-spring woods as the sun sets and the full March Worm Moon rises. It’s a unique opportunity to take in the new signs of spring and watch for emerging wildlife as you bid farewell to this long, cold winter. Limited to 16 participants, registration is required. https://www.stamfordmuseum.org/event/full-moon-rise-night-hike/

11/03/2025

“Color Me…” at the Silvermine Arts Center in New Canaan (through March 13th) invites visitors to experience an artist’s inner world through the lens of color and form in this Director’s Choice Guild Exhibition. Each piece (more than 80 artists are represented) visually captures a distinct feeling or moment, using carefully crafted colors and subject matter to guide viewers on an introspective journey, offering fascinating insights into the emotional landscape behind each creation. Free admission. https://www.silvermineart.org/online-exhibition/color-me

09/03/2025

What’s round(ish), scrumptious, and can be enjoyed as an app, main dish, or side? There’s only one real answer...meatballs! Give these irresistible flavor bombs their due on National Meatball Day! Most are made with beef, pork, veal, or a combination of the three; but these days, recipes using leaner turkey and chicken plus vegetarian and vegan recipes have grown in popularity. Whatever the base ball, it’s the other savory ingredients and spices that elevate them to irresistible status. So, spare your spaghetti from heart-breaking loneliness and your grinders from that empty feeling inside – and add a meatball or two (or three!) Here are a few great spots to go meatballs to the wall:

• Jim Barbarie’s in Danbury https://www.barbaries.com/

• Vazzy’s in Bridgeport, Monroe, and Stratford
https://www.theoriginalvazzys.com/ http://vazzysct.com/ https://vazzysosteria.com/

• Osteria Romana in Norwalk & Monroe https://www.osteriaromana.com/

• DaCapo of Litchfield https://dacapolitchfield.com/

• Milestone in Georgetown https://www.milestonect.com/

• Biagio Osteria in Stratford https://www.biagiososteria.com/

08/03/2025

More cheese, please. Congratulations to Arethusa Farm!👏🧀😋

We’ve done it again!!! 🥇🧀🥇🧀

For the second time in a row, Arethusa Farm Dairy’s Europa Cheese has been named the Best Entry in the U.S. Championship Cheese Contest. This win is historic for the contest, as we are the first creamery, in forty years, to ever win two consecutive Best in Show awards.

We’re incredibly thankful for our entire Cheese Team for everything they’ve done. It can’t be overstated how humbled and honored we are. Our goal has always been to produce cheese that is remembered for its richness, purity and excellent taste. To be recognized twice in this category just means the world to us, and it only further reassures us that our hard work truly has paid off.

Thank you, everyone, for your continued support for Arethusa Farm Dairy, and for allowing us to continue in creating the things we’re so passionate about. We’re proud to represent a Connecticut Dairy Industry that continues to innovate and prosper.

Here’s to the cheese! 🧀🐄

08/03/2025

All aboard the Naugatuck Railroad for their St. Patty's Day-themed Leprechaun Express on Friday, March 14th at 6 pm & Saturday, March 15th at 5 pm. Departing from the Thomaston Station, passengers will be whisked away to Bad Dog Brewing Company for a hearty meal (choice of three, including traditional Corned Beef), trivia on Friday and live music on Saturday, plus delicious fudge from the Nutmeg Fudge Company on the return trip. 🍀 https://www.rmne.org/excursions/leprechaun-express