For free, you can visit this one-room museum and historical society and learn a lot about…read moreGlastonbury as well as Connecticut River Valley. They have an amazing array of artifacts, including outfits, arrow heads, and old maps. They also sell some of the only Glastonbury "swag" I've seen in town at a reasonable price. The people who work here are enthusiastic and super knowledgeable. Definitely worth a visit!

When I moved to the Hartford area, it was at first tough to find communities and ways to connect…read morewith others. I only came across the West Hartford Art League by chance through an event posting, and I have been an avid follower and supporter since. WHAL offers great classes for youth and adults, for beginners and experts. There are also lots of awesome showcases of locals' work - including some of my own photos once or twice - of different media. They always have a nice opening reception - often with free food and drink - which is a really nice touch and a way to meet others. Separately, I have also come here for a few mostly food events, like the CT Eats Out supper club inaugural event. There's really something for everyone here, and I am thankful to have found out about WHAL. Consider yourself now informed!

This is a really neat little venue! I didn't realize it existed so close to me until recently, when…read moreI attended an event through CT Eats Out supper club. I really enjoyed getting the chance to view some local art by some really talented folks! Now that this location is on my radar, I am going to be checking in so see what other events they host. I heard that they also have done photography showings in the past. The venue itself is a tad tough to find just going by google maps, but once you realize where it is, parking is super easy. It's small but cozy, well laid-out, and adorable. I found the atmosphere for the event dinner to be extremely charming, and the staff were amazing. I'll be back, WeHa Art League. Keep doing what you're doing!

Figurines to dinnerware.. choose your pottery, choose your glaze ..get painting. The studio is very…read morelarge, open and clean. It's a super fun activity that you can do with friends...kids or family.. it's a great date night event too. We were a group of 10 moms, kids plus grandma, we each picked out a piece to showcase our creativity.. the instructions were simple, trust me you need no experience, every piece turned out to be a masterpiece. It was such a great activity with good conversations and laughter. We had a grand time! You can Walk-in but if you have a large party reserving a table is probably a good idea. This place is definitely worth it! It can be a little pricey but you can find some cheaper options too! And the price is definitely worth it! Love that they post the day your pottery will be ready when you check out. I can't wait to go back!

This place used to be great but when you're waiting for help and listening to the manager complain…read moreabout the owner and the employees complain about the manager and no one seems to be helping customers it doesn't exactly inspire confidence. We left before we even started painting and I doubt we'll go back again. The way she was talking to her employees gave me the ick.

Surprisingly great little art museum / historical home. It's on the more expensive end of tours at…read more$18, but the previous owners were big art collectors: so you'll see Monet, Manet, Degas, Chippendale, and more. There's a great art range, and the tour guide was very informative to the Pope family and the daughter Theodate who did a lot of the architectural designing. The house has a lot of great things to look at (between the art and furniture in all the rooms) and at the visitor's center there is a small art exhibit. No photos in the house allowed though. There are trails on the property and a sunken garden. On a nice weather day, it's great for walking around the property. It was crowded when I went on a Saturday, and tours are on the hour, so don't show up at the last minute. Overall, a great site to visit!

Came here for a work catered event so cannot speak to the actual museum. Had no idea that this…read morehidden gem was nearby to where I work. The grounds are beautifully kept and well maintained. Great photo ops for all occasions. Plenty of parking available. The event inside space can easily be opened up to the outside to make the venue space bigger for larger groups. Great event space with plenty of privacy for intimate gatherings and parties.

Found this place on Facebook, decided to take a trip to visit with the family on a day trip…read more Although it was not as big as expected, the place was filled with unique merchandise. Cute, whimsical and quaint. There were so many one of a kind merchandise made and sold by their local artisans. Some items were priced a little higher, and some items were reasonably priced. The girl at the front desk when you enter was very personable and greeted us with a smile. She was very informative about the different merchandise being sold. And we even talked about some nearby restaurants that she would or would not recommend.. Overall, I think it would be worth to visit if you're in the local area. I would definitely stop by again if I was in the area.They also host a variety of crafts and games. They also have small café, bar restaurant attached. I had a spiked coffee and it was delicious.

The woman at the checkout counter was SO helpful especially with it being my first time being…read morethere. I was impressed how crafty some people are. I love supporting locally and there was a wide variety of items that were decently priced. I grabbed a coffee next door and walked around and enjoyed browsing.

What a great find!!…read more We hadn't been antiquing in a while and wanted to try some place new. We'd searched a few places by the coast (Old Saybrook area) and some places closer to Hartford (Avon, Canton areas). Definitely recommend heading out to Coventry to check this place out. Great art selection, great pottery, and very reasonable prices. And super friendly service - the owner gave us some history some of the pieces.

My mom has been going here for years to have paintings framed, and Gordon always does a wonderful…read morejob. So when I recently purchased her a painting, I opted to wait and have it framed by Gordon in CT rather than have it done near me in CA. And I'm so glad I did! Gordon is friendly and professional, and his work speaks for itself. My mom selected a beautiful frame that she really likes, and the price was very fair. I highly, highly recommend!!

This is such a cute and cozy bookstore! The River Bend Bookshop is set inside a refurbished old…read morehouse in downtown Gastonbury. It's an adorable New England town that looks like it was plucked straight from a movie. When you go inside, the store is so cozy. It's packed full of books and bookish merch, but so well set, there is plenty of room to explore. There are books in every nook and cranny, sorted by genre, with bookseller recommendations and plenty of signed copies. The booksellers are very knowledgeable and helpful too. If you are looking for a gift for an avid reader, they will definitely be able to help you find the perfect present. This is going to be a permanent stop for me every time I head through Connecticut.

We happened upon this delightful independent bookstore after enjoying a late lunch at the…read moreMediterranean restaurant next door. It's brightly lit and beautifully arranged by theme, with lots of staff pick summaries/comments posted all around. Friendly staff and welcoming vibe. Great book selection of books!