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A Discount At A Legendary Location🎭

A Discount At A Legendary Location🎭

Sci-Fi/Comic Event, WindCo History, Plus 46 Events

Tyler DiGiovanni
April 22, 2025

Good morning, Quiet Corner! Today is Tuesday 4/22, and that means it’s National Jellybean Day (also, in a close second, Earth Day)! Grab a bag of your favorite concentrated sugar sweets (I prefer Belly Flops), and check out what’s going on in Windham County this week.

I also wanted to ask another favor of everyone, next time you’re in one of your favorite local businesses, give us a little shoutout. It’ll help us continue to grow and develop relationships with all these amazing places!

In Today’s Quiet Corner Buzz:

A Trip To The Theater
WindCo History
46 Events

Let’s dive in!

-Tyler DiGiovanni

BRIEF BITES

Grants - The Willimantic Public Library has been awarded a $15,000 grant to enhance its programs and services for the community. This funding will support initiatives aimed at expanding educational resources and fostering community engagement. Windham Preservation will also receive a grant of $250,000 from the state to help restore and repurpose the historical Windham Inn.

THE HIVE’S PICK

Our friends at The Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St) have graciously decided to offer a special deal to QCB subscribers. For opening night only of their production of The Diary of Anne Frank on Friday 4/25 at 7:30pm, they are offering buy one, get one half-off on tickets. While the subject matter isn’t the most upbeat topic, you can be sure it will be well done in this historic theater (it’s over 100 years old!).

If you’re interested in going to this performance, give The Bradley Playhouse a call to make sure you get the discount! You can reach them at (860) 928-7887.

Introducing Aerial 51 Fitness

Want to redefine fitness and have some fun?

Aerial 51 recently opened in Danielson (544 Main Street), bringing a unique Sign up for a pole, hammock or Lyra class. Aerial 51 Fitness has classes that cater to anyone trying aerials for the first time.

Use code BUZZ for 25% off a single class!

Wind Co Trivia🤔

Which ambitious 19th-century railroad aimed to be the shortest path between New York and Boston

BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITY🐝

This one might not be for everyone, but I’m a sucker for Sci-Fi and comics, so here it is anyway. The Quiet Corner Sci-Fi & Comic Experience is celebrating its 6th year of bringing all things sci-fi and comic related to Woodstock (281 Rte 169, to be exact).

This two-day experience is starting on 4/26 from 10am-5pm and continuing on 4/27 with the same hours. If you have any “nerds” (the organization uses the hashtag NERDLIFE, so I don’t feel bad about using that term) in your life, you should let them know this is going on this weekend.

Plus, tickets are less than $20 for the whole weekend! You can check out tickets options and planned guests here.

Stagecoaches, Taverns, and Tipsy Preachers: Thompson Hill’s Colorful Past

Alright, folks, buckle up for a quick ride through Thompson Hill's lively past—back when it evolved from a sleepy settlement into a bustling hotspot. In the late 1700s, this village had little more than a few homes and a blacksmith clustered around a humble meetinghouse. But things took off big-time around 1800 when two major turnpikes intersected here. Soon enough, iconic landmarks popped up—like Joseph Watson’s house, Wickham’s store, and the famous Keith’s tavern. In 1813, local big shot George Larned got savvy and divided the northern section of the hill into building lots, kicking off a construction boom.

With all that fresh energy, Thompson Hill attracted quite the talented crowd. Hezekiah Olney made hats, Noadiah Comins was busy crafting harnesses, and shoemaker Obadiah Stone kept everyone looking sharp. Stores flourished under Nichols and Tefft, and legal advice was just a stroll away thanks to Esquire Davis. The place to be? That was Theodore Dwight’s bustling turnpike tavern, a favorite hangout spot for locals and weary travelers alike, thanks to the constant flow of stagecoaches and teamsters.

But hey, all that hustle came with some colorful moments. Taverns overflowing with rum led to some pretty wild celebrations. After one particularly rowdy housewarming, the village pastor fired off a passionate temperance sermon, dramatically quoting, "Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions?...They that tarry long at the wine!" The kicker? The very next day, locals caught sight of the same pastor enjoying a casual glass of wine at a parishioner's home. Just another day of contradictions and charm on historic Thompson Hill!

BEE LINE EVENTS

TUESDAY (4/22)

South Windham | Herb Planter Make & Take | 6:30pm $ - Guilford Smith Memorial Library (17 Main St) is holding a fundraiser to benefit the library. You’ll be getting a workshop on common herbs and planting in your own planter. Registration gets you the planter and 4 plants. Call (860) 423-5159 or email [email protected] to register.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Pete Vendettuoil | 8-11pm

WEDNESDAY (4/23)

Hampton | Fundraising Concert | 7pm $ - The Finnish American Heritage Society of Canterbury is holding a fundraising concert at StoneHurst at Hampton Valley (119 Providence Tpke) featuring Hannu Makkupuri and his All-Star band. Call/text (703) 817-6227 or email [email protected] for tickets.

Willimantic | Willi Empty Bowls | 5-7pm $ - Windham Senior Center (80 Valley St) is holding an empty bowl event. Buy a hand-crafted bowl from Spiral Studio Arts and enjoy a soup dinner (soup provided by local restaurants), listen to live music, and even take a shot at bidding on some raffle prizes. All proceeds go to supporting the Covenant Soup Kitchen.

TRIVIA

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

THURSDAY (4/24)

Eastford | GriefShare | 6:30-8pm - Head to the Congregational Church of Eastford (4 County Rd) for some support in trying times. Register

Woodstock | Wine & Design | 6pm $ - Enjoy a lovely glass of wine (or several) and design a wood flower arrangement at Taylor Brooke Winery (818 Rte 171). Your first glass is included in the price. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

TRIVIA

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

FRIDAY (4/25)

Brooklyn | Family Fun Night | 5:30-7pm - Families of children in Brooklyn schools are invited for an evening of popcorn, dancing, a bounce house, and more at Brooklyn Middle School (150 Gorman Rd).

Danielson | Spring Family Hike | 10am - Killingly Public Library is inviting you to join Miss Allison and Miss Carol for a nature walk at Phaiah’s Dog Park (94 Quinebaug Dr).

Danielson | Teen Lock-In | 4:30pm - Killingly Public Library (25 Westcott Rd) is hosting an after-hours event for teens 13-18. Dinner, laser tag, games, and more await your teenager. You must register.

Dayville | Whiskey Dinner | 6pm $ - Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike) is hosting a special dinner paired with four different whiskeys (the menu looks phenomenal). Whiskey/food lovers should not miss this! Tix and Info

Pomfret | Spring Social | 6:30-8pm $ - Pomfret Rec Department is holding an evening of games and music for kids in grades 3-5 at Pomfret Community School (20 Pomfret St). Registration is strongly recommended.

Putnam | Meetup For Remote Workers | 3-4pm - Working from home can feel extremely isolating, which is why The Prosperity Practice is inviting remote workers to Little Falls Nutrition (6 Pomfret St) for a walk to the Putnam Dog Park. Come meet some new friends! Let them know you’re coming.

Sterling | Sound Healing & Fire Ceremony | 7-9pm $ - Wild Ride (130 Old Cranston Rd) is holding a night of sound healing and a shamanic fire ceremony. Tix

Thompson | Drifting Weekend | 3pm-Weekend $ - Lock City Drift is holding a weekend of drifting and motorsports at Thompson Motor Speedway (205 E Thompson Rd). Lock in a spot.

Willimantic | Broadway Chorus Concert | 7:30-9:30pm $ - Windham Theater Guild (779 Main St) is holding a Once Upon a Dream concert consisting of songs from Broadway shows. See if they sing one of your favorites! Tix

Willimantic | Grand Opening Event | 8-10:30pm $ - The River Room (50 Riverside Dr) is celebrating opening night with a concert from The Gray Sargent Trio (guitar player for the late Tony Bennett). Enjoy some great music and support this new local business. More info

Windham | Bundt Cake Bingo | 3pm - Greater Windham area seniors are invited to St. Joseph’s Living Center (14 Club Rd) for a chance to walk away with some homemade Bundt cake. RSVP by calling (860) 456-1107.

LIVE MUSIC

TRIVIA

Taylor Brooke Brewery - Woodstock | 6:30pm

SATURDAY (4/26)

Ashford | Joshua’s Trust Meeting | 4-6pm - Meet the new Executive Director, David McCarthy, enjoy a talk about beavers by speaker Michael Soares, and meet other people interested in nature preservation at Knowlton Memorial Hall (33 Pompey Hollow Rd).

Brooklyn | Watercolor Workshop | 11am-2pm $ - Our friends at Little Dipper Farm (499 Wolf Den Rd) are holding another one of their extremely popular (they sell out every time) workshop events. Paint a beautiful landscape scene while enjoying light refreshments in a gorgeous location. Register

Canterbury | Horsemanship Class 2 | 1-3pm $ - Blue Sky Farm and Sanctuary (208 Brooklyn Rd) is offering a class for teens about basic horse care. Spots are limited

Danielson | Low Cost Rabies Clinic | 2-3pm $ - Pet Pals Northeast is hosting a Rabies clinic at Quinebaug Valley Vet Hospital (616 Wauregan Rd). Call (860) 317-1720 to register your pet. NO WALK-INS!

Dayville | NE Regional Breed Eval | 8am-4/27 5pm $ - Quinebaug Schutzhund Club (370 State Ave) is holding a breed evaluation event. More deets

Dayville | Craft & Vendor Fair | 11am-3pm - 4G’s Restaurant (305 Hartford Pike) is holding a vendor and craft fair. Come do a little shopping and grab some food while you’re there.

Hampton | Kid’s Running Club | 8:30-9:30am - Hampton Rec is offering a free running club for kids in grades K-6. They will meet at the Hampton Town Hall Pavilion (178 Main St). Register your child by emailing [email protected]

Killingly | Benefit Gospel Concert | 7pm $ - Killingly Grange (801 Hartford Pike) is holding a Gospel/Hymn sing concert to benefit the Killingly Grange Roof Fund and Friends of Assisi Food Pantry.

North Grosvenordale | Breaking Down a Chicken | 5-8pm $ - Learn how to break down a whole chicken, make stock, and cook chicken marsala at New Boston Beef (17 Fabyan Woodstock Rd). Tix

Plainfield | Healing With Color | 10:30am-12:30pm $ - Marie’s Fitness & Massage Center (661 Norwich Rd) is integrating color into a spiritual healing session. Call (860) 564-7760 or message them on Facebook to register.

Plainfield | Fairy Tale Scavenger Hunt | 1-4pm - Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue & Sanctuary (169 Black Hill Rd) is inviting families for a magical day with their rescue horses and donkeys. Just make sure to wear close-toed shoes you don’t mind getting a little muddy. This event is free, but donations are graciously welcomed. Call (860) 932-2092 with any questions.

Pomfret | Chicken Cordon Bleu Dinner/Silent Auction | 6pm $ - Pomfret Community School (20 Pomfret St) is holding a dinner and silent auction. For more info/tickets, call Bev Champany (860) 974-1202 or Michelle Lengyl (860) 974-2405.

Pomfret | Test & Tune | 10am-4pm $ - Pomfret Speedway (36 Jackson Rd) is holding an open practice session.

Putnam | Beautification Day | 8:30am - The town of Putnam is looking for some able-bodied volunteers to to help clean up Rotary Park (196 Kennedy Dr). Volunteers will be treated to lunch at 11am.

Putnam | Movement Magic Grand Opening | 7-10pm $ - Help Movement Magic (112 Main St) celebrate the grand opening of their new ballroom dance studio. Tix/more info

Putnam | Spring Foraging | 1pm - Putnam Public Library (225 Kennedy Dr) is holding a presentation by The 3 Foragers on how to identify, harvest, and prepare the wild foods appearing during spring.

Thompson | Car Cruise | 10am - The students in Thompson Public Schools (785 Riverside Dr) have organized a charity car show with all proceeds going to the Community Fire Department.

Woodstock | Woodstock Marathon | 8am $ - It’s time again for the Woodstock Marathon! If you’d like to participate (hopefully, you’ve been doing some training), you can find out all the info you need here.

LIVE MUSIC

SUNDAY (4/27)

East Killingly | Spring Open House | 11am-2pm - Double Trouble Acres (110 Bear Hill Rd) is holding an open house to meet their new fur babies, shop their products, and check out some other local vendors.

North Grosvenordale | Trout Opening Weekend | 9am-1pm - No, this isn’t a typo, this is on here again. Thompson Rec and Red Beards Bait & More are holding a day of fishing and learning at Riverside Park (815 Riverside Dr).

Plainfield | Holistic Healing Open House | 11am-3pm - Take a trip to Crystal Visions (40 Railroad Ave) to get your questions about Reiki, reflexology, massage, and holistic healing answered. Get a free sample healing (although practitioners won’t say no to a donation).

Pomfret | HKRS | 3-4pm $ - Pomfret Rec is continuing their Healthy Kids Running Series at Pomfret Rec Park (576 Hampton Rd). Register

Putnam | Artisan Craft Fair | 10am-4pm - Sparrow Soaps (350 Kennedy Dr) has transformed their rear parking lot in a marketplace featuring local artists and crafters. Support local!

Putnam | Spring Craft Class | 1-3pm $ - Paws Cat Shelter is holding a benefit at Murphy Park Rec Building (Keech St). You’ll be creating a spring shelf sitter. Sign up

Thompson | Car Meet-Up | 4pm - Head to Drafters (1017 Riverside Dr) for a car culture meet up. Attendees are asked to park below.

Windham | Athletic Hall of Fame Induction | 2-5pm - Windham High School (355 High St) is celebrating their inaugural Hall of Fame induction for outstanding athletes and coaches that have gone through Windham HS. Tix

Willimantic | Make Your Own Planter | 10am $ - Spiral Arts Studio (750 Main St) wants to help you create a unique Mother’s Day present with a hand-built and personalized planter. More info

Woodstock | Woodstock Fair April Show | 7am-4pm - Woodstock Fair Horse Shows is holding a show for their Circuit Awards at Woodstock Fair Grounds.

LIVE MUSIC

MONDAY (4/28)

Putnam | Auditions | 6-9pm - The Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St) is holding auditions for their production of The Prom. More details about roles and expectations here.

Willimantic | Concert Chorale/Chamber Singer Alumni Concert | 7:30pm $ - ECSU is holding a concert celebrating at an alumni concert at the Fine Arts Instructional Center (306 High St).

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Central Village | Brandt Taylor | 5:30pm

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