If I could give Birdie's at the Barn more than five stars, I absolutely would!…read more Finding this shop online was one of those happy accidents that turned into discovering a small business I know I'll continue supporting for a long time. I originally came across Birdie's while searching for something special for my kids, but it didn't take long before I realized they have just as many amazing finds for Mom too. Needless to say, my shopping cart grew pretty quickly! I'm shopping all the way from Texas, and although I've never had the chance to walk through their doors in person, they have treated me with the same warmth and personal attention I would expect if I were a longtime local customer. That really stood out to me. The customer service has been exceptional. They are kind, responsive, accommodating, and genuinely appreciative of their customers. Nothing about the experience feels transactional. You can tell there are real people behind this business who care deeply about their shop, the products they carry, and the people choosing to support them. I LOVE supporting small businesses, and this is exactly why. Birdie's at the Barn offers something a big-box store simply can't replicate: personality, thoughtfully selected products, genuine kindness, and customer service that makes you feel valued. Their selection is incredible too. I love finding unique things for my kids that I don't see everywhere else, while also being able to find beautiful and fun things for myself. It's officially become one of those shops I'll be checking regularly to see what they get in next! It says a lot about a business when someone hundreds of miles away can discover them online and walk away feeling this strongly about the experience. Birdie's at the Barn didn't just gain another online order--they gained a loyal customer in Texas. To everyone behind this wonderful small business: keep doing what you're doing. The care you put into your shop absolutely shows, even from states away. I'm so thankful I found you, and I cannot recommend Birdie's at the Barn enough. very well-deserved stars!

What a wonderful store! My grandchildren love visiting all the wonderful items they carry. Such a…read morespecial place and such a special town!

Cute store that's always fun to browse or pickup a gift at. They have a great selection of candy,…read morefun town-themed merch, some favorite retro items that will satisfy your nostalgic cravings, and greeting cards too.

Outstanding variety of gifts such as wreaths, candles, mugs, dishes, soaps, lotions - colorful and…read morewhimsical. Always outstanding customer service with Margie and her mom. Such a treat to go in and browse to find that special something for your home, body or a friend. Always decorated nicely for the seasons. A super great store to shop in. Thank you. And now ice cream coming, I can't wait. :)

Very cool place. The crystals of all kinds and shapes. Tarot cards of all types. Necklaces, rings…read moreand pendants amazing. The handmade crafts and book selection was grand. Will be back soon.

I am incredibly thankful for the Reiki and hypnotherapy sessions I've had here. It's hard to put…read moreinto words how important and meaningful this business truly is. Erin and Marcel are both exceptionally gifted practitioners, and working with them has been a powerful experience. The moment you step inside, you can feel the positive, nurturing energy of this wonderful space.

I love a market cafe combo! I had the yogurt bowl with a homemade fruit compote and an expertly…read morecrafted scone with a perfectly crunchy exterior and soft interior, barely sweet served with seasonal peach jam and butter. The matcha was also nice and strong. My friend loved her breakfast burrito. I can't wait to go back and try the biscuit egg sandwiches and muffins! The eggs look so fluffy. They also had several gf options.

What a gorgeous space for a leisurely breakfast. We sat in the warm and sunny greenhouse space on…read morethis bright winter day. Long line at the counter moved quickly and efficiently. Name called out and freshly poured coffee picked up at the coffee bar, food announced by buzzer. My americano was smooth and full bodied thoughtfully served in ceramic. My biscuit sandwich was pretty life changing! The bisuit itself was flaky moist and oh so tender. Homemade sausage was seasoned beautifully. Elevating the sandwich was a baked egg, firm but custardy interior and the side of sriracha syrup. Less than a mile off of 91 on our way to Trillium Canton for our son's 30th birthday celebration! Worthy of a detour.

The new store????? LOVE. The expanded space is so perfect and filled with amazing finds…read more The home and cookbook sections have seen me plenty already. I found a Jamaican plant based cookbook that I have to grab next time I'm in. I purchased the heirloom tomato candle because I just could not stop thinking about it. I love how everything in here is so unique. I always recommend stopping in when people ask me where to stop in Hartford. Rory can always get my money haha!

This is such a neat spot on Pratt Street. For me, it's a perfect spot for buying a gift for the…read morecool person in your life. I popped in yesterday and bought some hilarious Birthday and Mother's Day cards as well as a trivia/card game. They have socks, kitchy kitchen stuff, lots of CT and Hartford themed t-shirts and much more. The layout is easy to navigate and the guy who was working on 4/8 was jamming out some sweet Prince tunes and he joked that he appreciated that me and my coworkers were singing along to it. Definitely check it out.

"Well, I did not think the girl could be so cruel And I'm…read morenever going back to my old school" (Steely Dan) Old School and classic- that's the vibe Emrey's does so well. They are a "vintage-chic soda bar" with definite nostalgic vibes from the 1950's, or even earlier. Want an old-fashioned ice cream soda, milkshake, soda floats, ice cream sundae, banana split, or maybe a boozy ice cream or coffee drink? Well, belly up to their long soda counter, hop on a bar stool, and let your inner Fonzie go wild. You'll love their pastel pink, black and white color scheme, and you'll sure love their charm and hospitality. You won't see a zillion ice cream flavors on the menu, just the most basic varieties beyond vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. We ordered two Malt Frappes ($11 each), one Classic Vanilla and one Pistachio. They both came with whipped cream and a cherry, and my Pistachio was garnished with pistachio pieces in the frappe and atop the whipped cream. They were excellent, cold, thick, refreshing, frozen comfort food at its best and oh so nostalgic. Reminded me of the shakes we used to get t Howard Johnson's a lifetime ago. And the portions were pretty big, our server Gwen poured whatever wouldn't fit into our glasses into a plastic cup for us. Definitely worth a stop on your next visit to downtown Hartford.

Emrey's had been on my radar for a while. The shop is soo cute perfect for photo ops with the cute…read morepink decor and old school vibes ! Not to mention they have a speakeasy in the back behind the Photobooth ( yes a photobooth !!) I l got the s'mores hot chocolate and it was delicious ( I'm still think about it) Can't wait to go back and try something else !

One of the best places to go in the Hartford area. It has an amazing collection of classic artwork…read moreand rotating collections of modern art. I've been many times and somehow I'm still surprised by some of the pieces on display (Van Gogh, Monet, Dali, etc.). They run various events and community days, and membership costs are very reasonable. Support the Arts!

I was miserable most of my time there. BUT. This was a great museum. I was miserable because the…read moreonly time I could go was on a Saturday, a free Saturday no less, on a day they had a festival, arts and crafts, and a Christmas tree event. So the crowds were INSANE. Like NYC level insane. That being said, I have lots of great things to say about this place, which underwent a huge renovation and modernization several years ago that was so good that the New York Times wrote an article saying it was "a masterpiece of renovation." The great hall is beautiful and though I don't care much for old school colonizer art, I was bummed it was teeming with Christmas trees and families, hindering my ability to take an artful photo to capture that masterpiece. The museum does a great job of mixing colors, styles, appreciating the classical, while also mixing in fun and modern elements. They have European art. Impressionist art. All that gold religious stuff. Modern art that's just some blocks and colors and makes you wonder, "is this really art?" They have a great surrealist section and a huge Dali painting, which is actually the marketing they used to get me here. They have some sculpture, some Greek sculpture and some contemporary art. I enjoyed the art by Black artists and art focusing on Black struggles in the Amistad Center, located on the third floor, though I wish this section was bigger. They had an Islamic art section, Chinese art, American art (most of what I saw was from the 20s through the 90s). I loved how each space was painted a rich, moody color. And the common spaces were full of patterns, stained glass, and multi-colored walls winding up the staircase. The staff were nice and helpful. I paid 20-something bucks for admission, but since I bought a ticket for a free Saturday, the staff was cool enough to contact me and ask me if I wanted a full refund. I told them to take the fee as a donation. I've seen almost all the museums in New York City, which is my favorite place in the world. But this one can hold its own. But if I ever visit again (which I doubt, cus who needs to see Hartford twice?)--I will avoid weekends and free days and definitely the Christmas tree festival!

I have always enjoyed shopping at The Paper Store, but my most recent visit was very disappointing…read more During our visit, one of the employees appeared to single out and profile my sister, following us throughout the store wherever we went. This behavior made us feel extremely uncomfortable and unwelcome, to the point that we decided to leave without completing our shopping. If she was worried we were stealing she could at least be less obvious about it. I hope management addresses this situation so that all customers are treated with respect and made to feel welcome in the future.

I absolutely LOVE this store! There is a massive selection/variety of products. Many are unique…read more I'm not a massive shopper, and I don't shop because I think it's fun. I like to find. I like to find unique/quality things you don't get at Kohl's or Walmart or whatever. This place has the best stuff! Just a coment on a previous review I read recently where the person was complaining that staff offered to bring her stuff to the registers (she felt they thought she was stealing or something). No. They do it to convenience you. I have experienced it. Further, I had an armload of stuff yesterday. A staff member kindly brought me a basket b/c she saw it was a bit of too much to carry. I was pleased. Another great thing is that they let you use MULTIPLE coupons! I had a little over a hundred dollars worth of stuff, and I saved $30!

"Now when he was a young man, He never thought he'd see…read morePeople stand in line to see the boy king. King Tut" (Steve Martin) You all know his name, and maybe that goofy Steve Martin song, but if you want to know more about King Tutankhamun, you have until October 15 to check out this impressive exhibit at the Hartford Convention Center. He became a King at age 9, and served until his death at age 19. He died in 1323 B.C., and in 1922 a team of British archaelogists discovered his tomb with over 5,000 artifacts and displays of over-the-top opulent wealth. What is the National Geographic Beyond King Tut exhibit? Think of it as a cross between a fantastic museum and an IMax theater. Similar to last year's Van Gogh event, this is an "Immersive Experience" with high quality projectors showing imagery on the walls, floor and ceilings. There are nine galleries to stroll through, and some of them are huge, so the super-sized imagery is jaw droppingly cool. The show started off with a short introductory video, but I didn't care at all for the tour guide's shlocky banter. Pricing is on a two-tiered basis with "Peak" and "Off Peak Pricing". The Peak Pricing levels are Adult (Ages 16+) is $39.99, Child (Ages 5-15) is $28.99, Student/Senior/Military is $34.99, Premium Flex (enter whenever you want to) is $53.99, VIP (enter whenever you want to PLUS an VR Experience at the exit) is $79.99. A Family 4 Pack is a flat $34.99 price per ticket. Off Peak pricing is $10 less for adults and $5 less for kids. Of course, parking is extra, and if you haven't spent enough money, no worries because there's a bar and gift shop at the exhibit.

What an incredible experience this is! I've been obsessed with Egypt since I was 5, and being able…read moreto go into an interactive exhibit like this was like a childhood dream come true. Each room is unique, with historical facts, and always something interesting to see or do. The room with the boat and the projections was just absolutely incredible. I could probably just sit there all day if I could just taking everything in that I possibly could. What an amazing adventure, I want to go back already!