🟢 South Windsor Loses a 40-Year Favorite

Mid-week check in, Hartford!

Pretty wet weekend, huh? But that didn’t stop us from going to the WeHa Whiskey festival Saturday night.

I’ll hopefully have a little write up on it later this week, but depends on how much time I get.

Anyways, stay dry and on to the good stuff!

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

— Chris M.
Local Whiskey Nerd, Husband, Dad, Entrepreneur (Fun Tip: I used to work in IT, now I hate IT)

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Honestly, it’s a lot faster than I had even dreamed and it’s showing that there is a real appetite for what we provide in our weekly emails.

To that, I am eternally grateful!

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Did I ever tell you we have a bunny?

Yes, like a certified, living, breathing, rabbit and OMG he’s way more maintenance than we expected, so we may be rethinking having one.

I don’t know, but it got me to thinking…

I’ve driven past 655 John Fitch Boulevard more times than I can count. I spend a LOT of time in South Windsor, and Lena’s Restaurant was always right there on Route 5, doing its thing.

I never once pulled in. Not one time.

And now I can’t. Lena’s served its last plates this past Saturday, September 26, after more than 40 years in town.

The story goes back to 1982, when Pasquilina “Lena” and Giuseppe “Joe” Lonero bought a little pizza and grinder shop called Pizzarama. By 1992 it was Lena’s, named after Mama Lena herself. It stayed in the family for decades before passing to former regulars who wanted to keep it going.

In the end, the owners said ongoing kitchen staffing challenges made it too tough to keep running at the standard they expected.

Here’s the part that stings. I went digging through the reviews, and people LOVED this place. Mama’s Famous Lasagna gets called one of the best folks have ever had. The eggplant fries with marinara come up again and again. Big portions, friendly faces, the whole deal.

Four decades of chicken parm, and I missed every single one of them. That one’s on me, lol.

So I’ve gotta ask: did you ever eat at Lena’s? What did you order? Maybe you ate at somewhere they catered?

Hit reply and tell me what I missed. Consider this me pouring one out for Mama Lena.

It's regular drip coffee. That's it. No pour-over, no single-origin anything, nobody explaining tasting notes to me.

And yet I, being a certified coffee snob, keep going back to Lox Stock & Bagels at 1393 Blue Hills Ave in Bloomfield for it. I don't know what they're doing back there, but I'm going with love.

Mrs. Hartford Pour has her own reason: the handmade mango smoothie. She doesn't even look at the menu anymore. Smoothie plus a bacon, egg and cheese on a cheddar bagel, every time.

Then there are the bagels.

Fresh every day, and something like 30 different kinds, so if you can't find one you like, that's a you problem, lol. The one in the picture is my sausage, egg and cheese on a jalapeño bagel.

Fresh out of the toaster it's warm and doughy and gone way faster than I'd like to admit.

Honestly though, the best part is the staff. Go enough times and they'll remember your order. That's either great customer service or a sign I'm there too much.

Probably a little of both.

I'm sure the other locations are just as good, but this one's in my backyard, so it's my spot.

Tell them The Hartford Pour sent you.

Tuesday nights are usually leftovers and whatever's on Netflix, but not this week.

Start downtown at Max Downtown (185 Asylum St) for Buck-a-Shuck Tuesday. That's $1 oysters in one of the nicest rooms in Hartford. Grab a seat by the whiskey bar and pair a few with a rye Manhattan. Oysters and rye are an underrated power couple, I will die on this hill.

Then head east to Murphy’s Pub & Sports Bar in Manchester (103 Tolland Tpke) for Dinner and a Movie Under the Stars. It's $5 at 7 PM on the patio, and this week's feature is The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Order off the fall drink specials and get the Irish Nachos, which are fries, corned beef AND beer cheese. So, yes.

Oysters, then Jack Skellington. Honestly? Pretty perfect Tuesday.

Pick one, or be a hero and do two.

Feeling crafty: Paint & Sip at Crystal Ridge Winery, 257 Belltown Rd in South Glastonbury, 5 to 8 PM. Canvas, a glass of their wine, and that hilltop view over the valley.

Worst case, your painting is bad and you're still at a winery.

Feeling spooky: the Potions Class Workshop at CT Valley Brewing (765 Sullivan Ave, South Windsor), 6 to 7:30 PM, $30. You'll learn the basics of brewing potions and leave with a Goldenrod Cordial.

Grab a pour of their Oktoberfest Märzen first. You know, for courage.

Feeling smooth: Jazz Wednesdays at Black-Eyed Sally’s, 350 Asylum St in Hartford, 7 to 10 PM. Live jazz, barbecue, and the house cocktail, the rum-loaded Hurricane Sally.

That's a Wednesday that acts like a Friday. You’re welcome.

Two very different Thursdays, depending on how artsy you're feeling.

Want to make something with your hands? Witchdoctor Brewing in Southington (168 Center St) is hosting a Crow Kinusaiga Workshop, 6 to 8 PM. Kinusaiga is the Japanese art of tucking kimono silk into a carved panel, and you'll walk out with a crow just in time for spooky season.

Buy tickets ahead of time, and keep a Butcher’s Broom Oktoberfest (5.7% Märzen) within arm's reach.

Want something a little fancier? First Thursdays at the Wadsworth, 600 Main St in Hartford, 5 to 8 PM.

This month's theme is Diamonds + Deception. Trade clues, crack a mystery, and wander the galleries with a cash bar drink in hand, plus nibbles and live music.

Stick around for the free 8 PM screening of "The Sheep Detectives." A flock of sheep playing detective. But it’s not weird at all!

A crow or a caper. Either way, you're off the couch.

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!