🟢 Canton's New Ramen Shop, 7 Months Late

Happy First Day of October!

One of my favorite things about whiskey and tequila is that they bring people together.

I remember waiting outside a liquor store in blistering cold weather just to get a chance at buying a Stagg Jr., but we had fun just hanging out with other degenerates, lol.

It’s either love or insanity.

Regardless, we did something equally as crazy in East Hartford last week.

But before we get into it, let’s get to the fun.

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

— Chris M.
Local Whiskey Nerd, Husband, Dad, Entrepreneur (Fun Tip: I love The Office and Seinfeld. Almost too much…)

I know where I like to go when I need a guaranteed good time… but where do you like to go?

And if it’s none of the places below, reply and let me know!

Does your closet still look like it's stuck in July? Don’t worry, Rayne can fix that in about five minutes.

She's the "Rayne" behind Rayne Can Do That, a local Hartford County mom who started selling cute clothes online to help her stay home with her newborn son.

But what began as a side hustle has turned into a business and Facebook group of almost 400 beautiful women who spend more time laughing and joking together than actually shopping sometimes.

Fall colors are officially in full swing in her store, and with over 1,000 pieces in stock, there's a real chance you will find five things you didn't know you needed.

Here's how easy it is:

If this is your first time shopping with Rayne, claim at least two pieces and she'll send you a pair of buttery-soft leggings on the house, those are usually $25, just let her know your size.

Here's what you'll find:

The leaves are already changing. Might as well let your wardrobe catch up too.

What…. a… NIGHT!

So I was able to get with some friends for a “private bottle share”.

If you are unfamiliar, a bottle share is when a group of people bring specialty bottles to open and sample together! This could be wine/beer/whiskey/etc…

There were no real rules to what to bring. We had an assortment of whiskies. We are talking ryes, bourbons, and scotches.

We did this in a “blind” where we did not know what was in our glasses. This is the best way to figure out great whiskeys because you aren't swayed by the label.

It was about 8 of us doing the hard work of going through a March Madness style bracket of the whiskies you see in the image above.

To ALL of our surprise, the whiskey that won it all was the one at the very end of the line in the picture.

Connecticut Distilling’s own Charred. This particular Charred was finished in ex 5-year Buffalo Trace barrels.

We were surprised to say the least.

The only ones that really gave Connecticut Distilling a run for its money were the Walleye Run (fourth from the left) and the Sagamore Rye (second to last in the picture).

The Sagamore is a store pick from good ole’ Happy Harry’s and he can pick a barrel, believe you me!

I would love to one day do a barrel pick where I can get some of you and choose a barrel that we distribute!

Spring 2026. That was the original plan.

Then it was "spring/summer." Then "later this year." Now the owner says end of October, and I'm choosing to believe it... because I really, REALLY love ramen, lol.

Ramen & Bao is coming to The Shops at Farmington Valley in Canton (110 Albany Tpke), in the courtyard across from Sur La Table where Pure Barre used to be.

So why the wait? Nobody's said officially. But the same owners opened their Cheshire location in July. Problem is, Cheshire is way too far for me!

Is it too far for you, too?

Anyway, they also run spots like Tomo 67 and a few Natural Kitchen franchises around the state. Safe to say they've had a full plate. (Or a full bowl, lol.)

The menu is a big one. Tonkotsu, miso, and shoyu ramen, handmade soup dumplings, bao buns, scallion pancakes, Taiwanese fried chicken, and boba if you'd rather sip than slurp.

Did someone say dumplings?

Ok, enough with the shenanigans.

This will be Ramen & Bao’s third spot after Oxford and Cheshire, and the first one in Hartford County (FINALLY!).

When those doors finally open, I'll probably be the guy in line already holding chopsticks.

See you opening day.

Friday's got range. Apples, oddities, or the blues. I’ll let you choose!

Southington's biggest weekend kicks off tonight. The Southington Apple Harvest Festival opens on the Town Green 5 to 9 PM. There's no shuttle on Friday, so plan on parking and walking a bit.

Before or after, swing by Long View Ciderhouse at Rogers Orchards (36 Long Bottom Rd, open 4 to 8 PM Fridays). They make cider from the same orchard's apples, and the Pumpkin Spice cider is exactly as fall as it sounds.

Over in Manchester, Brews & Boos at Elicit Brewing (165 Adams St) turns the beer hall into a Halloween market, 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Local vendors, oddities, crafts, and yes, tattoos. Order the #psl Pumpkin Spice Lager and maybe sleep on the tattoo, lol.

Or stay downtown for Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave at Black-eyed Sally's (350 Asylum St), 8 to 11 PM. Live blues, ribs, and a slice of bourbon pecan pie to close out the week.

Quite the crazy list! But there's plenty to do!

A craft fair, a dog party, and a festaversary. Saturday's booked.

Morning: the 44th Old Wethersfield Arts & Crafts Fair at Cove Park, 10 AM to 4 PM. 90-plus juried artisans, food, and live music, with free parking along State St. When your arms are full, walk over to Old Town Cafe (187 Main St) for a cold one.

Afternoon: Puptoberfest at Elicit Brewing in Manchester starting at 1 PM. Live music, pet vendors, bandana decorating, and a special menu for the dogs. Your pup gets a bandana, you get their Oktoberfest Märzen. Everybody wins.

Evening: Luppoleto’s Festaversary celebrating 7 years at the East Granby taproom (17 Kripes Rd) starting at 5 PM. The Windsor Locks spot closes for the day so everyone's in one place. Fat City Kid is serving burgers 5 to 9, and the Steinholding Championship goes down at 7:30 PM.

Raise a Luppopils, their Italian-style dry-hopped pils, and hold it out straight as long as you can. Happy Festaversary, Luppoleto.

Sunday is a two-stop kind of day. Pick your morning, then pick your soundtrack.

City festival: start at The Great Pratt Street Autumn Festival in downtown Hartford, 11 AM to 5 PM. There's a vendor market, a pumpkin patch from Brown's Harvest, free face painting from 12 to 4, flash tattoos, pedal pub tours, and live music all day. Duck into Vaughan’s Public House (59 Pratt St) for a pint while you're there.

Farm festival: got kids? Head to Bloomfield for the Fall Festival at Auerfarm (158 Auer Farm Rd), 11 AM to 4 PM. It's $20 a carload, so pack 'em in. Hayrides, goat walks, horse rides, touch-a-truck, a faerie house trail, and live music from Dillon & Cooper. Auerfarm is turning 50 this year, so go wish it a happy birthday too.

Then pick your afternoon soundtrack.

Wine and acoustic: Lost Acres Vineyard in North Granby (80 Lost Acres Rd) has Liam O’Brien playing 1 to 4 PM. Get a glass of the Firehouse Red and find a spot outside.

Beer and classic rock: Lower Valley Guys at CT Valley Brewing in South Windsor, 2 to 5 PM, free. Originals plus Eagles, Beatles, and Dylan. Pair it with a Red Tails red ale.

Either way, that's a Sunday done right.

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!