We’re trying to build something special here and grants could help us sprint. I’ve started looking at local opportunities but I’m out of my depth. If you’re a grant pro (or know one), please reach out to me below. We’re looking for intros, tips, fiscal-sponsor ideas, we’ll take it all.

We’re cooking up limited-edition drops (prints, tees, puzzles, the works) and want to build them with hometown talent.

Bonus: we’re launching Local Artist Spotlights in upcoming issues so your work gets real newsletter love. Painters, illustrators, photographers, printmakers - if your style says “Connecticut, but make it cool,” we want to see it.

Hit reply with “ARTIST” + a link/IG handle (or send your recs). We’ll reach out this week.

SATURDAY 9/6

Danielson | Logee’s Rare Plant Day | 9am - If you’re a plant-lover, this is like Christmas-come-early. Logee’s (141 North St) is having their annual Rare Plant Day, featuring rare (I’m sure you’ve figured that out by now) and unusual plants for display and sale. Local artisan vendors will be there, live music, delicious food, and more. Make sure to check out the Plant Sale Tents, with prices as low as $4.95!

*Disclaimer* - Logee’s will not honor the Buzz Card on this day. Just fair warning!

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Maggie, a heart-melter, ready to swap kennel life for couch cuddles and fall hike selfies. If you’ve got patience and snacks, apply now before someone else scoops this cutie.

🏡House of the week: Lake-life flex on Lake Bunggee: 4BR/3BA, 3,480 sq ft with 113′ of private frontage, flat lot, brand-new kitchen, deck, dock, and a fire pit. Bring the kayaks and the pre-approval. Check it out!

🥾Trail of the week: Old Furnace State Park (Killingly) Short, steep, worth it: from the South Frontage Rd lot, a ~0.7–1 mi blue-blazed climb pops you onto Ross’s Cliffs, ~200 ft above Half/Upper Ross Pond with big views into Rhode Island. Loop it to ~2.2–2.3 mi if you’ve got extra legs—rocky in spots, but pure payoff.

🔭Sky report: Big headline: the Full Corn Moon peaks Sun, Sept 7 at ~2:09 pm ET, so expect moon-washed nights all week. There’s a total lunar eclipse then, but it’s not visible from Connecticut (prime viewing is in Europe, Africa, Asia & Australia). Planets: Saturn rides high most of the night and cozies up to the Moon the evenings of Sept 7–8, easy naked-eye pairing. Jupiter and Venus glow in the pre-dawn east; grab binoculars for a cleaner view.

Plainfield | Car Cruise | 5-8pm - Listen to some live music, check out some cool cars, and maybe grab an ice cream at Hank’s Dairy Bar (1006 Norwich Rd).

Putnam | Tuesday Art Club | 4-5pm $ - If you’re looking for something to keep your artistic child busy after school, set them up with a weekly art class at Silver Circle Gallery (134 Main St), run by Tunk City Revival. Register

Putnam | Ebenezer Auditions | 6:30-8:30pm - Here’s your chance to get involved with a production of a Christmas Carol musical at The Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St). You can find info about all the roles here.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hank’s Dairy Bar - Plainfield | T-Ray | 5-8pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Mike Wood | 8-11pm

Woodstock | Sea Glass Windows | 6:30-8pm $ - Make your own sea glass windows at Taylor Brooke Brewery (818 Rt 171). Your first drink is included with the price! Tix

TRIVIA

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

Brooklyn | Back To School BBQ | 5-6pm - The Brooklyn Schools PTO is holding a BBQ at the Brooklyn Elementary School (150 Gorman Rd) for returning students. Meet other students, teachers, and parents.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Straight Up Jazz Series | 5:30-7:30pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Zack Slik | 8-11pm

TRIVIA

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

North Grosvenordale | Crafty Crew | 1-2:30pm - If you’re into fiber arts, you should head to Thompson Public Library (934 Riverside Dr) every Friday to meet and learn from other enthusiasts.

Willimantic | Olli Soikkeli Trio | 8-10pm $ - If you’re a fan of Django Reinhardt, this is a can’t-miss event. If you don’t know who that is, search him up on YouTube and prepare to be amazed. This is a no-brainer for lovers of music and musicianship. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hank’s Dairy Bar - Plainfield | Rob Brannon | 6:30pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Orb Melon | 8-11pm
⬢ The Black Dog - Putnam | The Peet Trio | 8pm

TRIVIA

Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | 6:30pm

Ashford | Vol Fire Dept 75th Anniversary Celebration | 10am-6pm - Celebrate 75 years of the Ashford Volunteer Fire Department at the Hole In The Wall Gang Camp (565 Ashford Center Rd). Kicking off with a parade, there will also be hands-on demos, K9 exhibitions, live music, food, raffles, mini golf, and a whole lot more!

Canterbury | Prudence Crandall Books | 10am-4pm - Take a self-guided tour around the Prudence Crandall Museum (1 S Canterbury Rd), and discover the newly acquired books owned and signed by Prudence Crandall herself. Email [email protected] for more info.

Chaplin | Fin Fur & Feather Fall Shoot | 8am $ - Shoot some clay targets at the Fin, Fur & Feather Club (213 Chewink Rd). Fee covers shoot registration, Ducks Unlimited membership, and lunch. Must bring your own ammo. Sign Up

East Woodstock | Pick-ur-own-Sunflowers | 11am-4pm $ - Find and pick your perfect bundle of sunshine at Westview Farm (209 Prospect St). No pets allowed.

Plainfield | Owl Meet and Greet | 10am-12pm - Ever wanted to meet an owl in the flesh/feathers? Crystal Visions (40 Railroad Rd) has invited Freedom First Wildlife Rehab for a late morning of all things owls. The event is free, but donations to FFWR are appreciated. Pre-register by calling (860) 317-1018.

Pomfret | Natural Dye Workshop | 10am-12:30pm $ - This popular workshop is back again at Windsong Farm (54 Tull Ln). Learn how to use natural ingredients to create unique dyes - you’ll even leave with two items to bring home. Tix

Putnam | Can and Bottle Drive | 12-3pm - Help offset some costs for the wonderful Paws Cat Shelter (74 School St) with drop-offs of cans, bottles, or food and monetary donations. Anything helps!

Putnam | Poetry Open Mic | 5pm - Share your poetry or just come down to Wolperdinger Bookends (112 Main St) and listen.

South Windham | Build A Bouquet | 10am - Who doesn’t love a vibrant bouquet? Contact Guilford Smith Memorial Library (17 Main St) at (860) 423-5159 to register.

Willimantic | Farmers Market | 8am-12pm - Swing by 28 Bridge St for the Willimantic Farmers Market. Fresh produce and other goodies to be found.

Willimantic | Anti-Bully Workshop | 10am-11:30am - Send your kids back to school with the confidence in being able to stand up to bullies. This is a free non-fighting class offered by 360 Defense Martial Arts (351 Boston Post Rd). Sign Up

Windham | FACSC Annual Picnic | 1pm $ - The Franco American Civic & Social Club (116 Club Rd) is holding their annual picnic. Food, raffles, live music, and tons of fun.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Adelaide Fay | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Ben Shaw | 8-11pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Katie Perkins | 2-5pm
⬢ Triple Raven Brewing - Thompson | Karaoke | 6-10pm
⬢ Broken Crust - Putnam | John Rodgers | 5:30-7:30pm

Dayville | Adoption Event | 10am-1pm - Of course we have to put the dog adoption event happening at Petco (1086 Killingly Commons) on the newsletter. If you want to bring one home that day, you need to be pre-approved here.

Plainfield | Roller Derby Recruitment Night | 6:30-8:30pm $ - Head to Skate Inn (14 Kate Downing Rd) to learn more about Shoreline Roller Derby. Whether you’re looking to be a skater, or get involved in non-skating aspects, this is the night to do so. Questions? Email [email protected]

Putnam | Gallery Exhibit Opening | 2:30pm - The Silver Circle Gallery (134 Main St) is launching their almost 2-month exhibition of works by John Pagano and Dominic Malizia. Free & open to the public.

Putnam | Savor The Flavor: Peach | 12-2pm $ - If you love peaches, then you need to grab tix to this event thrown by Discover Putnam. Participating restaurants will be pumping out special peach-centric dishes for you to try (and vote on). Check-in will be at the Kazantzis Real Estate Office on Main St.

Thompson | Half Day Mindfulness Retreat | 9am-1pm $ - Get a little inner peace with a day focused on rejuvenating activities, from yoga and hikes to meditation and provided lunch at the West Thompson Dam (449 Reardon Rd). Tix

Woodstock | Poetry at Roseland Park | 2-4pm - Come listen to some spoken word poetry by John Hodgen and Catherine DeNunzio, in the barn at Roseland Park (205 Roseland Park Rd).

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Hank’s Dairy Bar - Plainfield | Phil Smith | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Alpaca Lunch | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Open Mic | 7-11:30pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Joe Macey | 2-5pm

LIVE MUSIC

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