🟢 Bloomfield Gets a Sneaky-Good Happy Hour

Happy Tuesday, Hartford!

I don’ t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of hearing about these lantern flies. Don’t worry, they don’t bite, but they apparently kill everything else around you like trees and plants.

If you see one, knock it on the ground and kill it, then IMMEDIATLY drink a cocktail because Chris from The Hartford Pour told you so, 🤣!

You’ll forget about those whatyoumacallits in no time…

In today’s edition of The Hartford Pour, we’ll get into:

— Chris M.
Local Whiskey Nerd, Husband, Dad, Entrepreneur (Fun Tip: I write every word of this newsletter, that’s why you see so many typo’s … 🤣)

Thank you for your input on the latest questions regarding the content in this very email.

I’m taking it all to heart and glad to see that you really enjoy reading my rambling every week, 🤣!

But this is part two, please answer and let me know in the notes if there is anything more specific you’d like to see in the newsletter.

(Golf, anyone?)

I'll be honest, I walked into Ridge Kitchen at Gillette Ridge in Bloomfield expecting typical golf course food. Rubbery wings, a hot dog that's been rolling around since 2019, that kind of thing.

Then the House Sliders showed up. I’m talking gorgonzola, bacon, scallions, dripping enough that I needed a second napkin before I'd even finished one.

I had 10 of the 75-cent happy hour wings alongside them, plain, no sauce, because sometimes you don't need one.

The chips on the side were a little hard, honestly, but somebody in that kitchen knows their way around a seasoning shaker, because I kept eating them anyway.

I washed it all down with a “Spiked” Arnold Palmer, Tito's, lemonade, and iced tea, and it was every bit as light and refreshing as you'd hope.

I did not expect a golf course to have an appetizer game like this. Kind of changes how I think about the 19th hole.

Now I'm wondering how many other course restaurants around here are hiding food this good and the reviews say the same.

Might be worth finding out, one clubhouse at a time…

(I think I’m in love)

The wife and I didn't even have plans one night last week and then some friends we don't see enough just called and said get in the car, we're going to Uncle Jack’s Thai Restaurant.

Six of us walked into this tiny BYOB Thai spot in Plantsville (its own little corner of Southington, don't ask me to explain New England towns) but we walked in with zero expectations.

My wife got the Thai rice and shrimp at spice level 2 because she's not about that life. I got the drunken noodles at spice level 4 because, I don't know, ego I guess.

We swapped bites halfway through and hers was barely spicy but was still just as good as mine. I was shocked, honestly.

That's when it clicked, the heat wasn't even the flex, Uncle Jack can COOK. In Louisiana, we say he put his “foot” in it (Don’t ask)

Uncle Jack does everything himself back there and his wife Nina handles the customers. So with six of us it took a minute for the food to land.

Nobody minded, it was delicious. My BYOB was a chocolate stout from Thomas Hooker Brewing and now I’m plotting my return!

The reviews back me up, too,

(Need something to do?)

Today is a choose-your-own-adventure kind of night.

Let’s start at the Glastonbury Farmers Market at Hubbard Green (18 Hubbard St), running 3:30-6:30pm. There will be live music! Featuring Mary Crombie and then 77 Apes closing it out.

After you grab some goods, Grab your tomatoes, a few minutes drive away is Hops on the Hill Farm Brewery (275 Dug Road, South Glastonbury). I’d recommend the Sunset IPA. It’s light and refreshing for an IPA and basically dessert, but hoppier (or happier depending on your perspective).

From there, you have a couple options in Manchester

If you are feeling brave, Urban Lodge Brewing (47 Purnell Pl) is hosting a 50+ Speed Dating from 7-9pm (Tickets are $37.51). Thankfully since it’s a brewery, there will be plenty of liquid courage.

If that is not your speed (or age group), Elicit Brewing Co. (165 Adams St) runs 80's Movies Music Bingo at 6:30pm. I’m sure there will be some Dirty Dancing and Top Gun references all night.

Grab a Total Juicebag Hazy IPA while you are there, it’s one of my favorites.

Wednesday has a "sip first, sing later" energy to it.

Swing by Parkville Market (1400 Park St, Hartford) any time between 11am and 9pm for Wine Down Wednesdays. What makes it “Wine down”? It’s the pricing…

$4 glasses and $15 bottles at the wine bar. It’s practically a public service.

Then head to Manchester for Elicit Brewing Co. (165 Adams St), where Taylor Swift Trivia Night kicks off at 7pm.

Your “Eras” knowledge will be required and there will probably be a "name that bridge" round (I made that up, but it should be a category, since she invented them… kinda).

Official reminder… I told you about Max Chef to Farm: Heirloom & Heritage last week, and I'm telling you again because it's genuinely one of the best nights on the calendar.

Rosedale Farms & Vineyards (25 East Weatogue St, Simsbury) hosts this from-scratch dinner at 6pm, built around heirloom veggies, heritage grains, and rare-breed meats.

Tickets run $129 and there is plenty of wine available. Local dinner, local wine, loads of good times.

If that isn’t your jam, Back East Brewing Company (1296 Blue Hills Ave, Bloomfield) from 6-9pm, there will be live music from Shout. With school around the corner, Educators get $2 off every pint all day (Teacher Appreciation Day, lol, teachers deserve/need it).

It’s turning fall, so Ice Cream Man Double Scoop is my go-to of choice.

Do you know of an AWESOME restaurant or bar? Or something not included in this email you’d like to see?

REPLY to this email and let me know!