We’re down to the final matchup in Connecticut Buzz Mutt Madness, which means the dog-parent campaigning, shameless bribery, and aggressively enthusiastic voting have officially brought us to the last showdown.

Big love to Pet Supplies Plus for helping make this whole thing more fun and giving our furry finalists something worth barking about, including a $100 gift card for the winner and $50 for second place.

After weeks of chaos and thousands of votes, we’ve officially got our last pups standing Ginger vs Elvis. Now it’s time to crown the champ.

I stopped into The Harp on Church in Willimantic the other week, and it is exactly the kind of place I want more people supporting. It’s a family-owned Irish pub at 69 Church Street that’s been part of the community since 2011, and the whole vibe feels warm, unfussy, and actually local, with locally grown produce and meats showing up on the menu right alongside the Irish-pub comfort-food energy.

If you have not been yet, go change that. Whether you’re in the mood for something hearty like their beef stew or just want to post up with a Guinness, it’s one of those spots that deserves real local love, and supporting places like this is how we keep the good stuff around.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Ruby, a 31-pound Basenji mix with big expressive ears, soulful eyes, and elite cuddle-bug credentials, and after raising seven puppies, it is officially her turn to be the one getting spoiled.

🏡House of the week: This 1977 ranch in Brooklyn brings 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3,048 square feet, and 3.92 wooded acres, which is a pretty strong way to say “you’re getting room to breathe here.” It also has a screened-in porch, vaulted living room, two fireplaces, a wet bar, and a two-car attached garage. Check it out!

🔭Sky report: It’s a solid week to just step outside and look up, with Venus low in the west after sunset and Jupiter shining higher in the evening sky. Before sunrise, the moon moves from Scorpius early in the week toward Sagittarius, hits last quarter on April 10, then reaches Capricornus as a thinning crescent by April 12-13.

he next Connecticut Buzz Dinner Club is officially heading to Wethersfield on Thursday, April 16 at 6:30 pm, because you voted it in. And good news for anyone who does not feel like rolling in solo, you can now bring a plus one. It’s $16 to save your seat, and we’ll handle the matching, the booking, and the little mystery element that makes this a lot more fun than your average “so... what should we do for dinner?” plan.

HOW IT WORKS:

✦ You take a quick quiz about your interests, food preferences, and the kind of people you’d actually want to hang with for a couple hours.

✦ We match you with five other Connecticut Buzz readers based on your answers, so this is not just random dinner roulette.

✦ The morning of the dinner, we’ll text you the restaurant and let you know where your group is headed.

✦ During dinner, everyone gets the secret afterparty location in case you want to keep the night going. Totally optional. If you’re full, peopled-out, or mentally already in sweatpants, you can absolutely call it a night and head home.

Why the "Wait" Might Cost You More

In the current climate, "waiting for rates to drop" is a common mantra. But looking at historical data and the local Connecticut market, the math tells a different story.

Myth: I should wait for 3% rates to return.

Reality: Sub-3% rates were the anomaly, not the rule. Current rates are closer to the 50-year average. Waiting while home prices in Hartford and Tolland counties climb often results in a higher monthly payment due to increased principal costs. The Wall Street Journal named the Hartford region the hottest housing market in America.

The Cost of Waiting: If you wait 12 months for a 1% rate drop, but the home price increases by 5%, you haven’t saved money - you’ve lost equity. In our "walled garden" market, inventory remains tight, keeping competition high.

Last week’s trivia had 51.07% of you get it right: the Petticoat Strike in Willimantic was triggered by a 10% pay cut at the American Thread Company. But that cut was really the match, not the whole fire. The mill had about 2,500 workers, most paid by piece rate, and from 1920 to 1925 production actually rose 21%, meaning people were being pushed to work faster and harder while taking home less. When workers met in early March 1925, they voted to walk, and by March 9 roughly 2,200 workers were out.

What makes the story so wild is how ugly it got. The strike was led largely by women, including union leader Amy Hooker, dragged on for about nine months, and turned into one of the nastiest labor fights in New England. The company brought in about 1,700 replacement workers, reopened the plant in May 1925, evicted some strikers from company housing, and some of those workers ended up living in a tent city on the edge of town. By the time it was over, the union had basically been crushed in Willimantic, which is a huge reason this strike still stands out a century later.

South Windham | Drop-In Spring Craft | 12 PM - Drop in for a fun spring craft project for kids at Guilford Smith Library (17 Main St).

Willimantic | Books & Brews April Edition | 6 PM - Discuss great reads over local brews at Willimantic Brewing Co. (967 Main St).

Woodstock | Senior Walking Group | 10 AM - Join fellow seniors for a scenic group walk at Roseland Park & Golf Course (205 Roseland Park Rd).

Putnam | Red Carpet ~ Hooray for Hollywood Theme | 6 PM - Dress up for a glamorous Hollywood-themed evening at Putnam Lodge of Elks 574 (64 Edmond St).

Woodstock | Chunky Knit Blanket Party | 6 PM | ($) - Create your own cozy chunky knit blanket at Taylor Brooke Brewery (818 Rt 171). Get Crafty

Woodstock | Trivia Wednesdays | 6:30 PM - Team trivia with prizes for winners at Woodstock Tavern (35 Route 171).

Central Village | Thursday Night Karaoke | 8:30 PM - Belt out your favorites every Thursday night at Music Lady Cafe (6 Green Hollow Rd).

Putnam | Spring Shopping Pop-Up | 3 PM - Shop local vendors at this spring pop-up market (93 Front St). Shop Local

Putnam | Patchwork Family | 8-11 PM - Patchwork Family takes over The Stomping Ground (132 Main St).

Willimantic | FREE Health & Wellness Event | 8:30 AM - Free wellness screenings and health info at Windham Senior Center (1 Jillson Square).

Danielson | Finding Neverland the Musical | 7 PM | ($) - See the magical story of Peter Pan's origins come to life at The Little Theatre on Broad Street (185 Broad St). See the Show. Runs all weekend.

Thompson | Thompson Speedway Opening Weekend | April 10-12 $ - Opening weekend brings practice on Friday, racing on Saturday, and Sunday’s NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Icebreaker 150. More details

Willimantic | Beginner Stained Glass Class | 6 PM | ($) - Learn to create a beautiful spring tulip in stained glass at Spiral Arts Studio (750 Main St). Get Crafty

Brooklyn | Homestead Bros Opening Day | 9 AM - 7 PM - Kick off the season at Homestead Bros' grand opening (177 Windham Rd).

Central Village | Don't Tell Lisa | 8 PM - Catch Don't Tell Lisa performing live at Music Lady Cafe (6 Green Hollow Rd).

Dayville | Boozy Book Fair | 12 - 5 PM - Browse books while sipping drinks at Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike).

North Grosvenordale | Puzzle and Board Game Swap | 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM - Trade puzzles and board games with fellow enthusiasts Thompson Public Library (934 Riverside Dr).

North Grosvenordale | First Annual Cornhole Fundraiser | 11 AM - Compete in cornhole for a good cause at this inaugural fundraiser at American Legion Post 67 (17 Thompson Hill Rd).

North Windham | Spring Paint Class | 3 PM | ($) - Paint a cheerful spring scene—all supplies included at Franco-American Club (116 Club Rd). Get Crafty

Oneco | Fisherman's Breakfast | 7-11 AM - Fuel up for fishing season with a hearty firehouse breakfast at Oneco Fire Dept (1146 Plainfield Pike).

Plainfield | Broom Making Class (Stage 2) | 10 AM | ($) - Continue your broom-making journey in this second-stage workshop (40 Railroad Ave). Make

Pomfret | Afterlife: Re-Imagining 18th Century Grave Carvings | 1 PM - The Pomfret Historical Society kicks off its America 250 programming at the Old Town House (11 Town House Dr).

Pomfret | TSKC Track Opening & Pit Lottery | 9 AM - Kick off racing season with track opening and pit lottery Pomfret Speedway (36 Jackson Rd).

Pomfret | Mark & Raianne | 7 PM - Enjoy live acoustic music from the beloved duo at The Vanilla Bean Cafe (450 Deerfield Rd).

Pomfret | Farmwicks Scent Bar | 11 AM | ($) - Blend your own custom candle scents at this hands-on workshop at The Farmwicks Scent Bar. Get Crafty

Putnam | QV Multisport Icebreaker 2026 | 10 AM - Start the season with this multisport challenge event (165 Kennedy Dr).

Putnam | Back to the 90's | 6 PM - Dance the night away to your favorite 90s hits at Charlee Bravos (7 Grove St).

Thompson | il Cibo e Amore - Food is Love | 5 PM | ($) - Savor authentic Italian cuisine celebrating the love of food (17 Fabyan Woodstock Rd). Dig In

Thompson | Moo-ving into Spring with Eggs-tra Fun | 12 PM - Family fun with farm animals and spring activities at The Robot Barn (157 O'Leary Rd).

Willimantic | Natalie Cressman & Ian Faquini Duo | 7:30 PM | ($) - Brazilian jazz duo brings soulful sounds to The River Room (50 Riverside Dr). Listen Up

Woodstock | Vudu Sister at Taylor Brooke | 2 PM - Catch Vudu Sister's funky vibes at Taylor Brooke Brewery (818 Route 171).

Woodstock | Karaoke Saturdays | 8 PM - Grab the mic and sing your heart out at Woodstock Tavern (35 Somers Tpke).

Canterbury | Sharing Our Roots Coffee & Social Hour | 2 PM - Connect with neighbors over coffee and conversation at Finnish American Society (76 N Canterbury Rd).

North Grosvenordale | Roy's Cards at the American Legion | 9 AM - 3 PM | ($) - Browse and trade sports cards with collectors at American Legion Post #67 (17 Thompson Hill Rd).

Plainfield | Taverns and Tavern Life in Early New England | 2 PM - Discover the fascinating history of colonial taverns at Plainfield VFW (7 Winsor Ave).

Putnam | Calendar Girls Auditions | 6:30 PM - Audition for the heartwarming comedy Calendar Girls at Bradley Playhouse (6 Livery St).

Putnam | Polished, Petals & Permanent Jewelry | 12:30 PM - Custom welded bracelets, anklets, and more at Emily Louise Esthetics (112 Main St Unit 7).

Putnam | Bonsai Creative Workshop | 1 PM - Learn the art of bonsai in this hands-on workshop at Montana Nights (50 Providence Pike, #2).

Woodstock | Turas at Taylor Brooke Brewery | 2 PM - Irish tunes from Turas at Taylor Brooke Brewery (818 Route 171).

🦗🦗🦗