Discounted Blues Fest Tickets

Good morning, Quiet Corner! Today is Tuesday 2/18, and that means it’s National Drink Wine Day! Celebrate with a bottle of red, a bottle of white, or perhaps a bottle of rosé instead (thank you Billy Joel).

Don’t worry, you don’t need to be in an Italian restaurant to enjoy some, although it probably wouldn’t hurt. Uncork a bottle, unscrew a bag (we’re not judging), and enjoy some adult grape juice. Now, let’s see what’s going on in Windham County this week.

In Today’s Quiet Corner Buzz:

• Winter Blues Fest 🎷

• As Good As It Sweats 🧖

• Peeping Peckers 🐦

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

BRIEF BITES

• Clean Up - The DEEP has awarded $400,000 in grants for 12 projects aimed at preserving healthy aquatic ecosystems across Connecticut. The Little Pond Improvement Association in Thompson will receive $13,790.73 for Milfoil removal in Little Pond, helping to maintain water quality and recreational opportunities.

• State Grant - Governor Ned Lamont has announced $12.8 million in Small Cities Grants to help eight municipalities modernize and rehabilitate housing for low and moderate-income residents. Ashford will receive $2 million to renovate Pompey Hollow Senior Housing, including extensive upgrades to interiors, ADA compliance, and energy-efficient improvements.

• Support - The Neighbor Fund in Willimantic has been awarded a $100,000 grant to support immigrants and their families in the Windham area. Funded by the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut’s Fund for Racial Justice, the grant will help provide essential legal and support services.

• Town Names - Three Windham County towns (Willimantic, Killingly, Pomfret) made WorldAtlas’ 8 Bizarrely Named Towns In Connecticut. Learn more about how these towns got their names here.

THE HIVE’S PICK

Now, I was going to wait until it was a little bit closer, but since tickets are starting to go quick, I wanted to make sure you had the chance to grab one before they’re gone. The Winter Blues Fest 2025 is taking place on Saturday March 8th from 7-10pm. If you’re a fan of blues music, you should really think about grabbing a ticket to see The Kingpins and Ed Peabody & The Big Blue Thang (no, that’s not a typo).

Being held at the Franco-American Club (116 Club Rd, North Windham), this promises to be an evening of blues, dancing, door-prizes, and more (I’m looking forward to hearing local saxophone legend Chris Beaudry tear it up with The Kingpins).

The proceeds from the show will go to support 3rd Thursday (an amazing street festival held on every third Thursday in Willimantic. If you haven’t been, you’re missing out!). There will be a cash bar (their prices are really good), and it’s lining up to be an amazing evening.

To sweeten the deal even more, we’re offering QCB readers a $5 discount off the ticket price if you use the code: BUZZ5 here.

Wind Co Trivia🤔

BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITIES🐝

As Good As It Sweats 🧖

Did you know that Canterbury has one of the highest Finnish populations in the state? And what better way to celebrate that heritage, than learning about one of their greatest contributions to the world: the sauna.

Greg Smiley, a member of the Finnish American Heritage Society (76 N Canterbury Rd, Canterbury), is going to be presenting a lecture on the steamy world of saunas, including how to build your own! While most think that sauna is just a place to sweat it out, it can be a way to create peace, happiness, and relaxation in your life.

If you want to learn about saunas, or are interested in Finnish culture, head to the FAHS on Saturday 2/22 at 1pm.

Pecker Peeking 🐦

No, not that kind. Wyndham Land Trust wants to take you on a walk around the Three Bs Preserve (22 Wright’s Crossing Rd, Pomfret) on Sunday 2/23 at 1pm to learn all about woodpeckers. Hopefully, it includes how they fly around without TBIs after bashing their heads repeatedly into trees.

You’ll also get to learn about the trees that they tend to gravitate toward. This is a 100% free event, and let’s be real, you’ve been in the house way too much this winter. Get outside, search for some birds, and learn some things. Really, what else do you have going on at 1pm on a Sunday?

For parking: Drive into Kenneth Lane off of Wrights Crossings Rd. There will be a WLT sign.

BEE LINE EVENTS

Dayville | Whiskey Tasting | 2-8pm $ - Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike) is holding an at-cost whiskey tasting for Yellowstone 101 Bourbon 2024 edition. Limit two pours per customer.

Plainfield | Past Life Regression Sign-Up | Until 2/19 $ - This is a warning that you have until 2/19 to register for a past life regression class at Marie’s Fitness & Massage Center (661 Norwich Rd). Actual class date is 2/22 at 1:30pm. Email [email protected] or call (860) 564-7760 for more info and to register.

Woodstock | Bonsai Tree Workshop | 6:30pm $ - Make a bonsai jade plant at Taylor Brooke Brewery (818 Rte 171). Learn how to trim, plant, and take care of a bonsai plant. Tickets

Plainfield | 1st Yoga Class | 6:30-7:30pm $ - This is a beginner-friendly and wallet-friendly yoga class. This will be the first of many (hopefully!) yoga classes held at Plainfield Rec Center ( 482 Norwich Rd). Register here

South Windham | Cookbook Club | 6pm - Guilford Smith Memorial Library (17 Main St) is hosting a cookbook club. Recipes will be from 100 Days of Real Food by Lisa Leake. Sign-up is required - (860) 423-5159 or [email protected]

Ashford | Equestrian Advice | 7-9pm $ - Narnia Stables (210 Wormwood Hill Rd) is holding a discussion on turning setbacks into opportunities for growth and learning. Tickets

Thompson | Winter Clinic | 5:30-8:30pm - Head to the Putnam Middle School Gym (35 Wicker St) for a free clinic for baseball and softball players. T-ball/Coach pitch 5:30-6:30pm, Softball 6:30-7:30pm, Minors/Majors Baseball 7:30-8:30pm.

Thompson | Senior Health and Wellness Fair | 12-2pm - The Thompson Public Library (934 N Riverside Dr) is holding a fair featuring the services available to seniors in CT.

Dayville | Comedy Show | 8-9:30pm $ - Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike) is holding another comedy show presented by Next Stop Comedy. Tickets

Thompson | Book Swap | 12-2pm - Triple Raven Brewing (27 Main St) is holding a book swap to help renew your home libraries at no cost. Bring up to 10 books and swap out as many as you brought.

Willimantic | Cold Weather Ride | 11am - MFC Motorcycle Club is holding a cold weather ride to support keeping veterans warm this winter season. The ride starts at Willimantic VFW (630 Valley St), and finishes at Hops 44 in Storrs. Donations are welcome.

Dayville | Pet Adoption | 10am-1pm - Paws Rescue League is holding an adoption event at Killingly Petco (1086 Killingly Commons). Come grab your next fur baby! Pre-register to be able to take a dog home that day!

Dayville | Galentine’s Day Event | 12-2pm $ - Create a lavish floral centerpiece, take home a mini-cake, enjoy sweets by Cora’s Cakes, and snap Insta-worth pictures in front of their floral wall at Evergreen Farms (204 Hartford Pike). Email [email protected] or call (860) 377-8757 for more information.

Plainfield | Holistic Open House | 11am - Stop by Crystal Visions (40 Railroad Ave) to learn about Reiki, Reflexology, Holistic Healing, and more. Get a free sample healing (donations are accepted though).

Putnam | Pasta Dinner Benefit | 5-6:30pm $ - Help support Paws Cat Shelter with a pasta dinner at the Knights of Columbus (68 Providence St). Eat in, or take out. Tickets can be purchased at the shelter, Joseph Jewelers in Putnam, or Knights of Columbus. Raffle baskets will also be there.

Putnam | Permanent Jewelry Course | 11am-5pm $ - Smoke & Mirrors (171 Providence St) is giving you a chance to learn how to create, source, and market permanent jewelry. Contact (401) 837-0051 or (401) 473-8087 for more information.

North Grosvenordale | Slightly Off-Beat Poets | 1-4pm $ - Head to 112 Fabyan-Woodstock Rd for an afternoon of poetry. Featured poets with read for 20 minutes, followed by open mic.

Willimantic | Beetlejuice Jr. Audition | 5-7pm - The Windham Theater Guild (779 Main St) is holding auditions for Beetlejuice Jr. More info about roles/vocal ranges can be found here.

Willimantic | Papa Gino’s Fundraiser | 11am-8pm - Help support Flying Free (a therapeutic riding center) by ordering from Papa Gino’s (95 Storrs Rd) on Sunday. 20% of their sales will go to this good cause.

Willimantic | Beetlejuice Jr. Auditions | 5-7pm - Day 2 of auditions.

LIVE MUSIC

Tuesday - 2/18

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Daniel Gay | 8-11pm

Thursday - 2/20

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Straight Jazz Series | 5:30-7:30pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Zack Slik | 8-11pm
⬢ Corleone’s - Willimantic | Open Mic | 8:30pm-12:30am

Friday - 2/21

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Lovewhip | 8-11pm

Saturday - 2/22

⬢ The Little Theater on Broad St - Danielson | Catnip Junkies | 7pm Tickets
⬢ Killingly Grange No. 112 - Dayville | Tex’s Troubadours/Nick Anderson and Shady Creek | 7-9:30pm $
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | The Cannibal Ramblers | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Turas | 8-11pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke Brewery - Woodstock | Josh Kerwin | 2-5pm
⬢ Broken Crust - Putnam | Becky Prior | 5:30-7:30pm

Sunday - 2/23

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | B3 Kings | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Open Mic | 7-11:30pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke Brewery - Woodstock | Curvet | 2-5pm
⬢ 4G’s - Dayville | Brian Malone | 2-5pm
⬢ Bread Box Theater - Willimantic | Lara Herscovitch & The Highway Philosophers w/Seat Of Our Pants | 4pm Tickets

Monday - 2/24

⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Central Village | Brandt Taylor Band | 5pm

TRIVIA

Wednesday 2/19

Hank’s - Brooklyn | 6:30-9pm
Stomping Ground - Putnam | 7-11pm
Bear Hands Brewing - Putnam | 6pm
Mid Town Grill - North Grosvenordale | 6:30pm

Thursday 2/20

Trolley Pub - Willimantic | 7:30pm
Midway Restaurant - Ashford | 7pm

Friday 2/21

Taylor Brooke Brewery - Woodstock | 6:30-8:30pm

ECSU SPORTS

2/19 - Women’s Basketball vs. Rhode Island College | 5pm
2/19 - Men’s Basketball vs. Rhode Island College | 7pm

2/22 - Men’s and Women’s Track & Field @ Little East Championship | 11am
2/22 - Women’s Basketball @ Plymouth State U | 12:30pm
2/22 - Men’s Basketball @ Plymouth State U | 2:30pm
2/22 - Men’s Lacrosse @ Gordon College | 3pm

That’s it for this week’s Quiet Corner Buzz. If you got something out of it, please share it with someone that loves Blues music!

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