Good morning, Quiet Corner Swarm! Today is Tuesday 12/23, and that means it’s Festivus! It’s the holiday for the rest of us (you can look into the origins and how to celebrate it here, if you’re curious).
Fair warning, a lot of the events in this week’s newsletter are Xmas Eve Masses (not every single one is in here, so don’t get upset if you don’t see your house of worship in here), but there are some non-holiday events going on too, so don’t just skip over everything if church isn’t your thing!
I hope everyone enjoys this week with family, and if you don’t like your family, with friends, and if you don’t have any friends, you might want to look into our Dinner Club and find some!
In Today’s Quiet Corner Buzz:
QCB Dinner Club
Local Hero Spotlight
7 Events + A Bunch of Xmas Related Services
Let’s dive in!
-Tyler DiGiovanni
DINNER CLUB
Last week I asked if you’d be into a Windham County Dinner Club and 70 plus of you said “yes please.” So now we’ve got the fun problem. We have to pick the town.
Right now the two front-runners are Putnam or the Willimantic area. Both have great spots, both have vibes, and both can handle a group. Now I want to hear from you before we lock it in.
What is the better area to hold the first QCB dinner club on Jan. 15th at 7pm??
PS. If these areas don’t work we will be hosting one in Manchester on Jan.15th at 7pm. Secure your spot!
HIVE SPOTLIGHT:
LOCAL HEROES
This time of year, these groups are the ones standing between our neighbors and a really hard winter, keeping people fed, warm, and seen when it matters most. If you are in a position to help, even a little donation, a shared post, or a few hours of your time goes a long way toward backing the folks who quietly show up for the less fortunate all season long.
Project HOPE of Eastern Connecticut | Willimantic – Year round shelter and housing support hub (formerly the Windham Region No Freeze Project) helping adults move from the street into safe, stable housing.
Holy Family Home and Shelter, Inc. | Willimantic – Family focused shelter that gives parents and kids a safe place to land plus meals, case management, and help finding permanent housing.
Access Overnight Cold Weather Shelter | Danielson – Seasonal no-freeze style overnight shelter giving folks without housing a warm, safe place to sleep during the coldest months.
Covenant Soup Kitchen | Willimantic – Open 365 days a year serving hot meals, pantry groceries, and basic services for anyone in the greater Windham community who needs a hand.
Interfaith Human Services of Putnam (IHSP) | Putnam – Runs the Daily Bread food pantry, diaper bank, rental and fuel assistance to help local families stay fed, housed, and stable.
Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) | Thompson - Grassroots human services agency offering food, utility help, family support, and emergency assistance across the Quiet Corner.
WIND CO TRIVIA🤔
BUZZWORTHY ACTIVITY🐝
NYE (12/31) Speakeasy Night Out (With Childcare!)
Plainfield (Moosup) | New Year’s Eve Speakeasy Celebration + On-Site Childcare | 4:00-8:00 pm $
Parent’s Corner (a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit) is turning Hope Lodge (1 Lake St, Moosup) into a family-friendly speakeasy fundraiser where the adults party upstairs and the kids have their own supervised mini celebration downstairs.
Adult tickets are $75, kids are $40 for the first child (siblings are $20), and the childcare is staffed by the licensed team from Busy Bees Academy with snacks, games, movie time, and crafts. There are also pre-purchase add-ons like cocktails ($12), beer/wine ($6), and an unlimited cannoli bar ($6) if you want to ring in 2026 the correct way. Make sure you register by 12/29 to secure your spot!
The River Room: Willimantic’s cozy living room for grownups who like art, music, and a good drink with a view of the river. Think speakeasy vibes, small-room energy, and a rotating mix of live shows, dance nights, and creative weirdness tucked away at 50 Riverside Drive.
McClintock Roofing: Shingles looking tired or a leak after the last storm? McClintock Roofing is trusted locally for repairs, full replacements, and honest inspections. Quality craftsmanship, clean job sites, and roofs that last. Get a fast, no-pressure quote and protect your home before winter weather hits. Call the pros (860) 815-8746!
East Coast Video: Those old VHS tapes and home movies won’t last forever! With the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect time to turn your family’s vintage videos, slides, and film reels into digital keepsakes. All work is done locally at East Coast Video in Thompson - give memories that actually last. Call now (860) 315-1212!
If you want to be one of our Hive Partners, get in touch!
BEE LINE EVENTS
TUESDAY (12/23)
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Simon Silvia | 7-10pm
WEDNESDAY (12/24) Christmas Eve
Canterbury | Jingle Bell Mass | 6pm - St. Augustine (144 Westminster Rd).
Danielson | Kids Xmas Service | 10:30am - Westfield Church (210 Main St).
Danielson | Victorian Xmas Eve | 7pm - Westfield Church (210 Main St).
Danielson | Xmas Eve Service | 5:30pm - Danielson United Methodist Church (9 Spring St).
Danielson | Xmas Eve Services | 5:30pm - FaithWay Community Church (190 Wauregan Rd) is holding two services, one at 5:30pm and one at 7:00pm.
Eastford | Xmas Eve Candlelight Service | 5pm - The Congregational Church of Eastford will be holding a candlelight service in the Eastford Elementary School Gym (12 Westford Rd).
Moosup | Xmas Eve Mass | 4pm - All Hallows Church (126 Prospect St) is holding their Christmas Eve Mass w/Children’s Nativity Pageant.
Pomfret | Candlelight Service | 5pm - First Congregational Church (13 Church Rd), traditional Christmas carols and “A Parable for Christmas Eve.”
Putnam | Movie Matinee | 2pm $ - The Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St) will be showing The Muppet Christmas Carol for a fun Christmas Eve activity. Tix are $8 at the door.
Putnam | Xmas Eve Service | 5pm - Congregational Church of Putnam (175 Main St).
Thompson | Xmas Eve Service | 4:30pm - Creation Church (47 W Thompson Rd).
Thompson | Xmas Eve Service | 3pm - High Pointe Church (1208 Thompson Rd). Service at 5pm, as well.
Woodstock | Xmas Eve Lessons & Carols | 5:30pm - South Woodstock Baptist Church (23 Roseland Park Rd).
Woodstock | Xmas Eve Lessons & Carols | 7:30pm - First Congregational Church (543 Rt 169).
THURSDAY (12/25) Merry Christmas!
Plainfield | Xmas Day Mass | 10:30am - St. John the Apostle (10 Railroad Ave).
FRIDAY (12/26) - Happy Kwanzaa!
Central Village | Blood Drive | 11am-4pm - Help save lives this holiday season, with a blood donation at Central Village Fire Company Station 97 (53 Black Hill Rd). Make an appointment
Windham | Paint Party | 6-9pm $ - Paint With Pammy will be at the Franco-American Civic & Social Club (116 Club Rd), for an evening of painting a seasonal picture. You’ll get to choose which version of a cardinal and Santa gnome you want to paint. Tix
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ American Cafe - Plainfield | Partyoke | 9-11:55pm
⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Central Village | Partyoke | 9pm-12am
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Rioflow | 8-11pm
TRIVIA
Music Lady Cafe - Central Village | 7-9pm
SATURDAY (12/27)
Thompson | 2nd Annual Gingerbread House Event | 12pm $ - The Robot Barn (157 O’Leary Rd) is holding their 2nd annual gingerbread house building event. Build a house, enjoy some soup and grilled cheese, and go meet the cows! $20/person, call (860) 942-3108 with any questions.
Woodstock | Year-End Karaoke Party | 6:30-10pm - Taylor Brooke (818 Rt 171) is holding a year-end karaoke party, with seasonal drink specials, and of course, some questionable singing. Go sing your heart out!
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ American Cafe - Plainfield | Partyoke | 9-11:55pm
⬢ Black Dog - Putnam | J-Krak & Cario | 8pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Simon Silvia | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Hopeville General Store | 8-11pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Tony Garcia | 2-5pm
SUNDAY (12/28)
Plainfield | Winter Trail of Lights | 5-8pm ($) - Take a drive and visit our friends at Hay Burr Inn Equine Rescue (169 Black Hill Rd) for a twinkly winter adventure amongst some amazing rescue horses and donkeys. Donate what you can, and help this amazing non-profit continue to do amazing work!
Putnam | FROZEN Auditions | 6-8pm - Be a part of the Broadway adaptation of the movie FROZEN at The Bradley Playhouse (30 Front St). More Info
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ 4G’s Restaurant - Dayville | Kt Lay | 5-8pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | The Attractor | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Open Mic | 7-11:30pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Fox and the Dragon | 2-5pm
MONDAY (12/29)
LIVE MUSIC
⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Central Village | Brandt Taylor | 5:30pm
SCRAMBLE ANSWER: WHIPPLE’S CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND
That’s it for this week’s Quiet Corner Buzz. If you got something out of it, please share it with someone who has drank way too much eggnog this year!
See ya next week,
Tyler
