Signup cutoff: TONIGHT at 6pm. After that, we close it, match groups, and you’re officially in “maybe next time” territory.

Here’s the deal:

Bonus perk: If you come to the after-dinner meetup, your first welcome drink is on us (draft or well drink)

Why you should do this now:

If you voted for this: don’t ghost your own vote. Sign up before 6pm tonight.

🐶Adopt-a-pal: Meet Eddie, a sweet 1.5-year-old chinchilla who’s shy at first, but once he trusts you he’ll come over for a hand sniff and might even let you scratch between his ears.

🏡House of the week: This 1750 antique colonial in Woodstock has those old-school stenciled details and big-time “restore me and brag about it forever” energy, plus a 0.9-acre yard with garden space, a big backyard, and a shed for all your future DIY ambitions. Have a look!

🕰️Indoor gem of the week: Antiques Marketplace in Putnam is the ultimate “just popping in for 10 minutes” lie. You can wander for an hour and still find a new aisle of weird treasures, vintage signs, and grandma-core furniture you suddenly want in your house.

🔭Sky report: The Moon is heading into new moon on Sunday 1/18, so Fri 1/16 through Mon 1/19 should be your darkest, best stargazing nights.
Look up after sunset for Jupiter (the crazy bright “star” that’s out basically all night), and catch Saturn low in the west early evening before it dips out.
No big meteor shower this week, so aim binoculars at the Beehive Cluster (a little “sparkly swarm” of stars) in the eastern sky after dark.

FRIDAY 1/16

Willimantic | Braiden Sunshine & The Sunshine Collective | 6:30pm $ - The semi-finalist from NBC’s The Voice, will be at the amazing River Room (50 Riverside Dr) this Friday with his 4-piece band, The Sunshine Collective.

The River Room is hooking up CT Buzz readers with a shot to win 2 free tickets.

This show is already looking like it’s going to sell-out quick, so make sure to grab your tickets as soon as you can if you want a guaranteed spot! Tix

We’ll pick a winner soon, so get your vote in and check your email to see if you won!

Last week’s trivia answer is Gertrude Chandler Warner, and the coolest part is she’s basically a Windham County legend: she was born in Putnam, taught school for 32 years, and grew up in a house right across from the railroad station, which makes “kids living in a boxcar” feel way less random. The series is still going strong today, and Putnam even has a Boxcar Children Museum inside an actual vintage boxcar packed with Warner memorabilia and signed books.

Quick follow-up: we put out the bat signal to local shutterbugs and you all delivered. This week’s photo comes from Buzz reader Madisyn Muenchausen.
Want to be featured next? Hit us up and send your best shot.

Willimantic | Open Mic | 6:30-10pm - Have a talent? Songwriter/singing, poetry, comedy, or anything else? Come share your abilities at The River Room (50 Riverside Dr). There’s a non-alcoholic cash bar (by Reframe: A Dry Spot), complimentary snacks. If you do plan on participating, be a mensch and throw in a $5 donation - less than a coffee in most places these days.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Allysen Callery | 8-11pm

Dayville | Snowman Wine Bottle Lantern | 6-8pm $ - Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike) are teaming up with Tunk City Revival for a painted wine bottle craft. Tix

Willimantic | Film Appreciation Series | 3:30-4:45pm - Every week in January the Willimantic Public Library (905 Main St) is holding a film appreciation series. This week, the feature is the Kubrick-classic Dr Strangelove (1964).

TRIVIA

Woodstock Tavern - Woodstock | 6:30-8:30pm
Hank’s - Brooklyn | 6:30-9pm
Bear Hands Brewing - Putnam | 6pm
Stomping Ground - Putnam | 7-11pm
Mill Town Grill - Thompson | 6:30pm

Danielson | Free Story Hour | 9-10am - Bring your littles for a free story hour at Mountain Laurel Floral (98 Main St), hosted by Brittany Clarke. A fun winter craft will take place after the reading.

Woodstock | Senior Social - Jeopardy | 1:30pm - The First Congregational Church (543 Rte 169) is hosting their version of Jeopardy for a little friendly competition. Bring a friend, or go and make some new ones!

Woodstock | Snowman Welcome Slate | 6-8pm $ - Create a fun and festive winter welcome slate at Taylor Brooke Brewery (818 Rte 171). First drink is included with the ticket. Tix

Woodstock | Vinyasa Chakra Flow | 6:30-7:30pm $ - Get your yoga on with a trip through all of the chakras at Roots to Fly Wellness (3 Rte 171). Spots are limited - register.

LIVE MUSIC

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

TRIVIA

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

Ashford | Night Sky Adventure - Jupiter 21+ | 6-9pm - Check out the king of planets (Jupiter) at Westford Hill Distillers (196 Chatey Rd). The gas giant will be at its brightest and closest to earth for 2026. Dress warm, bring some astronomical questions, grab a drink or two of some amazing craft spirits. The Last Green Valley will be also checking out other deep sky objects on this moonless night. There is a family-friendly version on 1/17 as well.

Central Village | Donate Blood - Go to the Super Bowl | 12-5pm - If you donate blood at the Central Village Fire Dept (53 Black Hill Rd), you’ll get a chance to win tickets to this year’s Super Bowl! Travel, airfare, $1,000 gift card, plus more. Sign Up

Putnam | Brews & Ink Tattoo Pop Up | 3pm $ - If you’re in the market for some new ink, and prefer having a little liquid courage in you, stop by Bear Hands Brewing (75 Main St), for an assortment of flash designs to choose from. Tattoos range from $65-$300 (cash or Venmo accepted).

Putnam | Needle Felted Bookmark Class | 12:30-2:30pm $ - Learn how to needle felt at Woolworks Ltd Yarn Shop (154 Main St). Who knows? It could be your next little side hustle. Give them a ring at (860) 963-1228 to book your spot.

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ The American Cafe - Plainfield | Partyoke | 9pm-1am
⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Moosup | Partyoke | 9-11:55pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Oneal Armstrong | 8-11pm

TRIVIA

Music Lady Cafe - Moosup | 7pm
Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | 6:30-8:30pm

Ashford | Jonathan The Husky Meet & Greet | 10am - Local author Bethany O’Brien will be at Babcock Library (25 Pompey Hollow Rd) with Jonathan The Husky to promote her name book The Lucky Husky. Come meet a local legend!

Central Village | Bald Eagle Walk | 8am - Take advantage of this nature walk at the Quinebaug Fish Hatchery (141 Trout Hatchery Rd) to possibly spot some bald eagles, and other fantastic bird species. The Last Green Valley will be leading the tour, contact Cassidy at [email protected] or call (860) 774-3300. The walk will be repeated on 1/18 as well.

Danielson | Book Signing | 11am-1pm - Author Jill Norris will be at Pourings and Passages (103 Main St), signing copies of her book Room 1210. If you’re a fan of paranormal fiction, you should definitely swing by. Her books will be available for purchase there.

Danielson | Pressed Flower/House Plant Leaf Print | 1-3pm $ - Use your own houseplant leaves to create several detailed prints at Mountain Laurel Floral (98 Main St). Tix

Dayville | 4th Annual Killingly Robotics Championship | 7am-5pm - Teams from all over CT will battle it out at Killingly High School (226 Putnam Pike) to see who reigns supreme in the world of high school robotics (the winner will earn a spot at the CT State Championship). They are always looking for volunteers or donations.

Dayville | Boozy Book Fair | 12-5pm - Wolperdinger Bookends will be holding a book fair at Black Pond Brews (1001 Hartford Pike). Grab a drink and browse through all sorts of books, including some from local authors.

Eastford | Author Talk | 1pm - Rhode Island Gothic Horror novelist Christa Carmen will be at Eastford Public Library (179 Eastford Rd) to discuss her books (which will be available for purchase and a signing). Register by calling (860) 974-0125 or emailing [email protected].

Putnam | Comedy Show | 8pm $ - Enjoy some laughs at Montana Nights (44 Providence Pike). No drink minimum, just bring a good attitude, and enjoy the show. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ Music Lady Cafe - Moosup | Partyoke | 8-11:55pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Joe Macey | 2-5pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Turas | 8-11pm

Brooklyn | Bingo at the Farm | 1-3pm $ - Brooklyn Parks and Rec is holding a Bingo game at Little Dipper Farm (499 Wolf Den Rd) as part of their America 250 series. A variety of prizes and activities for kids will be available as well. Sign Up

Canterbury | Winter Sound Ceremony | 6pm $ - A Winter Sound Ceremony will be taking place with Lavieenrose (40 Kerr Rd). $25 prepayment required to book your spot. Send a message for deets.

Danielson | Soup Cookoff | 12pm $ - Think you can out-soup the competition? $10 gets you entry to put your best soup on the line and taste what others are bringing to the table. If cooking isn’t your thing, you can also pay $10 to taste and judge. See if you have what it takes to be crowned the ultimate soup-er star at the Elks Lodge (13 Center St).

Danielson | Shuffleboard Sunday | 1pm $ - The Elks Lodge (13 Center St) is inviting you to show your stuff in some friendly shuffleboard games. Bring $5, a walk up song, and your best aim.

Pomfret | Sugarcane Movie Screening | 2pm - Christ Church (527 Pomfret St) is holding the screening of the documentary Sugarcane, a look into the abuse and hardships inflicted on Indigenous children by the Church (not this one) and government. While it is a tough subject, it also shows the resilience of Native people, as they overcome intergenerational trauma. Free Tix

Putnam | Free Community Paint Event | 1-3pm - Block 134 (134 Main St) is holding another free afternoon of creativity. No prior art experience is needed, all materials and canvases are provided. Artist-in-residence Roland Comtois will be there to assist in whatever way possible. Email [email protected] if you’re interested in participating.

Thompson | Card Show | 9am-3pm $ - Find some treasures at the American Legion (17 Thompson Hill Rd) with a card show thrown by Roy’s Cards. Admission is $3, 12 and under get in free. Raffles, prizes, food, and more. Tix

LIVE MUSIC

⬢ 4G’s Restaurant - Dayville | Jeremy Haddad | 2-5pm
⬢ Taylor Brooke - Woodstock | Curvet | 2-5pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Jesse Desorcy | 1-4pm
⬢ Stomping Ground - Putnam | Open Mic | 7-11:30pm

Dayville | Basic Photography Class | 5:30-7pm $ - Aspiring to step your photography game up a level? Charleen’s Portrait Studio (145 Country Club Rd) is offering that chance. More deets/sign up.

LIVE MUSIC

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