- Connecticut Lifestyles
- Posts
- 🛍️ Support Local: Winter Market, Artisan Crafts & Dog Adoption Day!
🛍️ Support Local: Winter Market, Artisan Crafts & Dog Adoption Day!
In Partnership With
Good morning, Connecticut! 🍂There’s plenty to enjoy this week — from local makers and artisan crafters to winter markets and wagging tails waiting for a home. Whether you’re shopping handmade, supporting local farmers, or meeting a new furry friend, there’s something special happening across the state.
Here’s what’s inside:
🧣 Durham’s Winter Market returns for the season
🎨 60+ artisans gather for the Slater Memorial Museum Craft Show
🐶 Find your new best friend at Lyman Orchards’ dog adoption event
📗 This Month in CT History: A Parkway for a Beloved Governor
📰 Local headlines you might’ve missed
The holiday season is upon us, and this deal from Shutterfly makes it easy to give something personal, practical, and memorable. Design your own 12-month photo wall calendar—with space to mark special dates and layouts for every style.
Perfect for parents, grandparents, or anyone who’d love a gift that lasts all year.
🗓️ Choose one, two, or five calendars—starting at just $9.99 on Groupon.
📸 Bring your favorite memories to life and start the new year with something truly special.
This is an advertisement. Looking to partner with Connecticut Lifestyles? Just reply to this email or click here to learn how we can promote your brand to thousands of interested locals!
Support local makers, farmers, and foodies all season long
The Durham Winter Market is back, running select Saturdays from October 25, 2025 through March 7, 2026, at the Durham Community Center. From farm-fresh produce and homemade baked goods to crafts and seasonal treats, it’s a wonderful way to keep that farmers market spirit alive through the colder months.
The market runs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with free admission and plenty of local charm. Follow the signs from Main Street and come support the vendors who make Connecticut’s local economy thrive.
📍 Durham Community Center, 144 Pickett Lane, Durham
🗓️ Saturdays, Oct 25 – Mar 7 | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
🎟️ Free Admission
This is not an advertisement.
A celebration of creativity featuring 60+ local artisans
On Saturday, November 8, the Slater Memorial Museum Artisan Craft Show welcomes over 60 jury-selected vendors from across Connecticut and Rhode Island. Discover unique, handmade goods in every medium — perfect for early holiday shopping or a weekend outing with friends.
Admission to both the craft show and museum is free, with donations benefiting the Norwich Free Academy Food Pantry. The museum will also be open, showcasing “Current and Former NFA Art Faculty.”
📍 Norwich Free Academy, 108 Crescent Street, Norwich
🗓️ Saturday, Nov 8 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
🎟️ Free Admission
Adopt, foster, or support rescue dogs looking for a forever home
Head to Lyman Orchards in Middlefield on Saturday, November 8, for a heartwarming adoption event with Dog Star Rescue. From 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., meet adorable rescue dogs ready to join loving homes — and chat with volunteers about fostering, donating, or helping out.
While you’re there, stop by the Apple Barrel Farm Market for coffee, lunch, and bakery goodies. Admission is free, so come enjoy a feel-good day that could change a pup’s life — and yours!
📍 Lyman Orchards, 32 Reeds Gap Road, Middlefield
🗓️ Saturday, Nov 8 | 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
🎟️ Free Admission
Our Place makes non-toxic cookware that never compromises on performance. From the iconic Always Pan that redefined nonstick, to the multifunctional Wonder Oven that bakes, roasts, steams, and air-fries in one, every product is designed to make cooking easier, healthier, and more joyful.
Built on the belief that the tools we use every day should reflect the same care we put into the meals we cook, Our Place creates pieces that save space, cut clutter, and look beautiful in any kitchen – without sacrificing serious performance.
Designed in Los Angeles with over 200 patents, trusted by Michelin-starred chefs, and loved by home cooks with more than 80,000 five-star reviews, Our Place proves
that cookware can be safe, functional, and design-forward all at once.
Switch to Our Place today and get 10% off with code NEWSLETTER10 at fromourplace.com. Free shipping and free returns make it easy to upgrade your kitchen with cookware you can trust.
This is an advertisement.
Experience the ultimate tribute to Led Zeppelin this November
Get ready — Get the Led Out: A Celebration of “The Mighty Zep” is coming to the Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford on November 22 at 8 p.m. This powerhouse tribute band captures the timeless sound, energy, and magic of Led Zeppelin, delivering hits like Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, and Kashmir with incredible authenticity.
This Black Friday, score a limited-time Groupon deal and save big — tickets are just $25 (regularly $41.25) for select seating. Whether you’re reliving the glory days or introducing someone new to rock’s golden era, this show promises an unforgettable night of music and nostalgia.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., so come early, grab your seat, and get ready to rock out with one of the best Zeppelin tributes in the country.
📍 Toyota Oakdale Theatre, 95 South Turnpike Road, Wallingford
🗓️ Saturday, Nov 22 | 8 p.m.
🎟️ Tickets from $25 via Groupon
TOP EVENTS TODAY YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
Bridgeport Islanders vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Total Mortgage Arena (Bridgeport) - Don’t miss the excitement as the Islanders take on the Phantoms.
Sketching Dreams: Photography and the Imagination at Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven) - Engage in an open conversation about the dreams depicted in Grete Stern's photomontages.
Film Screening of Pakachoag: Where the River Bends and Live Q&A with Filmmakers at Fairfield University (Fairfield) - Watch a film exploring indigenous history and engage in a Q&A with experts.
Senior Mornings at Mattatuck Museum (Waterbury) - Senior Mornings offers a peaceful opportunity to enjoy the Mattatuck Museum’s collection and special exhibitions in a quiet, comfortable setting before regular opening hours.
Want to have your event listed above? Click here to learn how we can promote your event to thousands of interested locals!
HAVE YOU BEEN HERE YET?
THIS MONTH IN CONNECTICUT HISTORY
A Parkway for a Beloved Governor
In November 1949, Connecticut celebrated the opening of the Wilbur Cross Parkway — a major milestone in the state’s transportation history and a tribute to one of its most respected leaders.
A decade after construction first began, Lieutenant Governor William T. Carroll led a motorcade through the new West Rock Tunnel to mark the parkway’s completion. Named for former Governor Wilbur Lucius Cross, who guided the state through the Great Depression, the road extended the Merritt Parkway northward, connecting New York City to Hartford and beyond.
The project’s most impressive feature, the 1,200-foot West Rock Tunnel — now called Heroes’ Tunnel — was the first of its kind in Connecticut and cost $2 million to complete. With its opening, drivers could enjoy one continuous scenic route across much of the state, ushering Connecticut into the modern highway era.
Looking to make budgeting easier (and potentially save along the way)? Consider bundling policies. Combining home and auto insurance could save you up to 30% on premiums and streamline billing – all while keeping strong coverage across both policies.
Why bundle?
Get up to 30% off premiums
One carrier, one app, simpler renewals
Coordinated claims support
Options to tailor deductibles and limits across policies
This is an advertisement.
HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE
Darien Debates Sump Pump Rules Amid Cost Concerns
A proposed ordinance in Darien aiming to regulate sump pump connections has sparked backlash over costs and privacy issues. Town officials say the plan could reduce sewer overflow and save on wastewater fees, but critics warn it’s burdensome for residents and could invite intrusive inspections. The measure has been tabled for now as committees review alternatives.
Popular Columbia Eatery ‘The Main Moose’ Says Goodbye
After seven years serving burgers, seafood, and ice cream on Route 66, The Main Moose in Columbia is closing its doors. Owners cited a desire to spend more time with family and travel, thanking loyal customers and staff for years of community support. They hope a new owner will continue the restaurant’s legacy.
New Haven’s Beloved Skappo Italian Restaurant to Close After 21 Years
Family-run Skappo Italian Restaurant on Crown Street will serve its final dinner on December 20. Known for its warm hospitality and authentic Italian fare, the restaurant’s owners expressed deep gratitude to the community — and hinted at future projects still to come.
Clinton’s Coffee Break Café Closes After Three Decades
Coffee Break, a local favourite for breakfast and lunch since 1994, has officially closed in Clinton. The family-owned spot was known for its quirky décor and loyal customers who became like family. The owners thanked the community and said they’re hopeful a new owner will revive the beloved café.
Thanks!
Thanks for reading today’s newsletter! We hope it inspired you to get out, explore, and make the most of everything happening around Connecticut this week.
Enjoyed it? Share it with a friend and help them discover the best things to see and do across the state!
P.S. Looking to partner with Connecticut Lifestyles? Just reply to this email or click here to learn how we can promote your brand to thousands of interested locals!