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Wrappers Delight, Christmas Farmers Market, Brewery Holiday Party

Tyler DiGiovanni
December 19, 2024

Good morning, Quiet Corner! Today is Thursday 12/19, and that means it’s National Hard Candy Day! Grab your favorite hard piece of candy and enjoy it guilt-free. Unless it’s ribbon candy (my gums still haven’t forgiven me for subjecting them to it when I was a kid). So, pop in a Werther’s, Life Saver, or whatever your favorite is and find out what’s going on in Windham County this weekend!

In Today’s Quiet Corner Buzz:

It’s a Wrap 🎁
Danielson Christmas Market 🎄
Brewery Holiday Party 🍺

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

BRIEF BITES

Tourism Promotion - The Eastern Regional Tourism District is now accepting applications for its Marketing Grant Program, offering funding to support tourism-related projects. This is a fantastic opportunity for businesses and organizations to boost their visibility and draw visitors to eastern Connecticut. Find out more here.
Grant for Food - Access Community Action Agency has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the M&T Charitable Foundation to support its Mobile Food Pantry program. It served over 3,500 individuals in Windham and Tolland counties last year.
Education Grant - ECSU has secured a three-year grant to support students aiming to improve their academic standing. The PASS program, funded at $50,000 annually from 2024 to 2027, will offer $1,000 in support to up to 50 students each year.
Tractors - A new Tractor Supply Co. is coming to Brooklyn. The new location will be built at 0 Providence Road with construction starting in 2025. The new location is supposedly going to be over 20,000 square feet!

It’s a Wrap 🎁

This is a story that crosses just over the Windham County line, but since it’s done by volunteers from the Mill Museum in Willimantic, I’m still counting it. This is the 26th year that the Mill Museum has provided holiday wrapping at the East Brook Mall (95 Storrs Rd, Mansfield) for those who need it. You can bring items that you purchased at the mall, or anywhere else to be wrapped in exchange for a small donation to the Mill Museum.

This service has been a great reprieve from a point of contention in my household, as the debate of, “whose turn it is to wrap this year” can never be agreed on. The wrapping station is open daily from 1-8pm today and Friday (12/19, 12/20), 2-9pm Saturday and Sunday (12/21, 12/22), 10am-9pm Monday (12/23), and 10am-close Tuesday (12/24). So, if you are terrible at wrapping, or just hate doing it, you can get it done for cheap, and take the credit for it if anyone compliments you on it (I won’t tell).

Danielson Christmas Market 🎄

I don’t know what we’re going to do when Christmas is over, since there have been so many Christmas Markets taking over these events! This one is being thrown by the Farmers’ Market at Westfield and Westfield Church (210 Main St, Killingly) on Saturday 12/21 from 9am-12pm.

There will be a special opportunity for pictures with Santa from 10am-12pm, so bring the kids, or just satisfy your inner child and tell Jolly St. Nick what you’re hoping to get for Christmas. If you’re just going for the shopping, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the options available (beeswax candles shaped like bees? I mean, that’s adorable) and the quality of the goods being sold. Grab some handmade wares, or local dairy and meat, whatever you pick up, it’s bound be to great. And if nothing catches your eye, at least you’ll be down the street from our Hive Pick (more on that down below).

Black Pond Brews Holiday Party 🍺

Image Courtesy of Black Pond Brews

Do you like beer? How about sweaters of questionable fashion sense? Well, I have the event for you! Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike, Dayville) is throwing what’s looking to be a really fun holiday party on Saturday 12/21 from 12-10pm.

The good folks at Black Pond are tapping a special cask just for the occasion (they’re calling it the “Grinch Sour”, a sour ale brewed with Midori - sounds good to me), running food specials (they also run a catering company out of Black Pond, so everything is bound to be delicious), and will be sprinkling surprises in throughout the day to spread the holiday cheer. Ugly sweaters are a must (the tackier, the better), and if you feel so inclined, they are also taking donations of toys for local families.

Swing in to try their popular Double IPA “Big Moves”, or try their Peanut Butter Whoopie Pie Stout (yeah, it’s as good as it sounds). As always, drink responsibly, and remember, Uber is always an option!

BEE LINE EVENTS

12/19

Putnam | Sip and Shop | 5-9pm - Bear Hands Brewery (75 Main St) is holding another Sip and Shop tonight since last month’s went very well. Come grab last minute gifts and enjoy some adult beverages while you’re doing it.

Thompson | Interesting People of Thompson | 6pm - Head to the Thompson Public Library (934 Riverside Dr, N Grosvenordale) to learn about the Count and Countess Vonsiatsky. Even if you’ve been to a previous talk, new details will be shared!

Windham | Coffeehouse and Carols | 6pm $ - Join EASTCONN’s Arts at the Capitol Theater (896 Main St) for an evening of caroling and reading of student work tonight. Admission is $5.

12/20

Plainfield | Meet Santa | 4:30pm - Santa will be at Crystal Visions (40 Railroad Ave) handing out small gifts bags to children. Pictures are welcome.

Putnam | Pet Food Drive | 7-11am - PAWS Cat Shelter is holding a food drive for donations of cat food. They’ll be in front of WINY Radio (45 Pomfret St) if you would like to drop off any food.

Windham | Paint Party | 6-9pm $ - Get ready for an evening of painting fun while you create a holiday themed Gnome piece at the American Legion Post 19 (339 Brick Top Rd). All skill levels are welcome and everything you need is included with the purchase of your ticket.

12/21

Chaplin | Breakfast With Santa | 8:30-10:30am $ - Little Treasures Farm (22 North Bear Hill Rd) is hosting a breakfast with St. Nick featuring pancakes, bacon, eggs, coffee, and hot chocolate. Following the breakfast, there will be crafts, pictures with Santa, and caroling down Chaplin St. $10/adult, $7/senior, $7/children 3-11, $40/ families of 5+, $0/kids 2 & under.

Pomfret | Winter Solstice Celebration | 3-5pm - Celebrate the shortest day of the year at the Lyon Preserve (Wrights Crossing Rd) with a scavenger hunt and yummy snacks! A great activity for all ages to make memories. The parking lot is located at the driveway entrance.

Sterling | Winter Solstice Winter Hike | 5-6:30pm $ - Get back to nature with a walk through the Wild Ride Sanctuary (130 Old Cranston Rd). During this moonlight hike, you’ll traverse terrain alongside wild mustangs (the horse, not the car), and enjoy the serene setting, with cocoa by a fire after the walk. Please wear hiking boots with ankle support and dress warm. Tickets

Woodstock | Breakfast With Santa | 8-10am - Mosey down to the Woodstock Trading Post (688 Rte. 169) to enjoy a morning meal with Santa. Children’s breakfasts are free (limit two per family).

Woodstock | Pop-Up Coffee Shop | 10am-2pm - The Farm To Table Market at Elm Farm (324 Woodstock Rd) is having a pop-up coffee shop on their grounds where you can also purchase eggnog, bacon, hams, roasts, and other farm goodies. Sister Sourdough and KM Ceramics will also be in attendance.

12/22

Danielson | Auditions | 12-2pm - The Little Theater on Broad Street (185 Broad St) is holding auditions of actors 16+ for a production called “A Hollywood Romance.” Actors should have 32 bars of a love song of their choosing ready. You can find more details on their Facebook page.

Putnam | Santa and Suds | 12-2pm - Bear Hands Brewing Company (75 Main St) is hosting Santa for photos and a meet and greet for the little ones. Enjoy one of their many brews while you wait.

Thompson | Meet and Greet With Santa & Mrs. Claus | 1-3pm - In the mood for a beer, but also need to get pictures with Santa done? Triple Raven Brewing (27 Main St) has got you covered. Grab a pint and take a mini-photoshoot. No reservations necessary, first come, first served.

Live Music

12/19

12/20

12/21

12/22

Trivia

12/19 - Trolley Pub - Windham | 7:30pm
12/19 - Chubby Dog - Danielson | 7pm
12/20 - Taylor Brooke Winery - Woodstock | 6:30-8:30pm

THE HIVE’S PICKS

Image Courtesy of Wicked Sinister Smokehouse Facebook

We’re never going to put a business or event in our Hive Pick that we don’t really like. But there are some that we’re going to feel downright passionate about. This is one of them. If you haven’t tried Wicked Sinister Smokehouse (14 Central St, Danielson), you are missing out. Situated right off of Main St, don’t try looking for a storefront (I made that mistake my first visit, and thought I had the wrong address), instead search for the bright orange shipping container (you’ll also see some signs that will let you know you’re in the right place).

When you see the behemoth of a smoker, you’ll understand these guys mean business. Serving brisket, burnt ends, pulled pork, homemade sausage (they had sausage made from the brisket last time I was there), and a whole heckuva alot more. I mean, you can check out their website to see the menu, it’s tough to pick out just one thing. They also open for breakfast most days (on the same days that they’re open for lunch and dinner), but to keep track of what’s going on, you should follow their Facebook page.

Because Wicked Sinister is so awesome, they’ve also agreed to offer Quiet Corner Buzz subscribers a special deal until the end of the year. For your first visit to them (after this newsletter goes out, that means you regulars are still included), mention the Quiet Corner Buzz and you’ll get 10% off your order. This deal is limited to one time per person and can only be used in person. Stop in before 12/31 to take advantage!

If you like barbeque, do yourself a favor and make the drive!

Thanks for reading today’s Quiet Corner Buzz! Due to the holiday, next week we’re only releasing one newsletter on Monday. If you enjoyed what you read, share it with someone who always backs into a parking space.

Tyler

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