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- 🍰 Cake Decorating, Historic Rides, & Riva Bar’s Summer Vibes!
🍰 Cake Decorating, Historic Rides, & Riva Bar’s Summer Vibes!
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🌷Hello, Connecticut! Mother’s Day is around the corner, and Connecticut is buzzing with events, sweet surprises, and exciting new spots to check out. Whether you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids or want to stay on top of local news (like that new beachside restaurant everyone’s talking about), we’ve got you covered.
Here’s what’s inside this week:
🍰 A cake-decorating workshop for kids (and moms with a sweet tooth)
🍕 Big news about a beloved shoreline spot making a comeback in West Haven
📗 This Month in CT History: The Day the Whalers Sailed Away
📰 Local headlines you might’ve missed
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Kid’s Mother’s Day Cake Decorating Workshop at Lyman Orchards
Give mom something she’ll never forget—especially if she loves cake. Lyman Orchards is hosting a hands-on cake decorating workshop just for kids on Saturday, May 10, and it’s led by their Head Bakery Chef himself. Each participant will decorate a 9-inch heart-shaped cake with pro piping techniques and even learn to make an icing rose.
With only 15 spots per session, these sell out fast. So if you’ve got a little baker at home (or just want a quiet hour on Saturday), sign up soon. 🎂
This is not an advertisement.
Ride Through History at the Trolley Museum’s 85th Anniversary
It’s not every day a museum turns 85! The Connecticut Trolley Museum is pulling out all the stops on Saturday, May 10, with a celebration full of rides, exhibits, and family-friendly fun. It’s the perfect excuse to hop on board, take a step back in time, and learn something new.
Everything’s included with general admission, and yes, it’s happening rain or shine. 🚋
🌊 WEST HAVEN’S ICONIC SHORELINE SPOT GETS A MAKEOVER
Riva Bar & Restaurant to Open Where Chick’s Once Stood
If you’ve driven along Beach Street in West Haven, you probably noticed something’s been brewing where Chick’s Drive-In used to be. Well, the wait is (almost) over. Riva Bar & Restaurant is officially slated to open this summer, and it’s bringing back all the coastal vibes—with some fun upgrades.
Think: pizza oven, tiki bar, communal tables, a beer garden vibe, and turf lawns for cornhole and ping-pong. 🏖️ Construction is already in motion, and a hiring event is happening May 21. After years of shoreline delays, this space is finally transforming into the go-to hangout spot it was meant to be.
Stay tuned for the grand opening date—you’ll want to be there.
If you’re a homeowner, you know unexpected expenses are par for the course.
One way to help shield your finances is to get a home warranty. Unlike homeowners insurance, which covers natural disasters and theft, a home warranty could help safeguard you against costly repairs of eligible essential home appliances and systems due to normal wear and tear.
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!
Your ticket to major grocery savings is more than half off — but not for long!
Ready to level up your shopping game with fresh produce, meats, gas discounts, and more? BJ’s Wholesale Club is offering a One-Year Membership for up to 75% off through this limited-time Groupon deal. 💸
This is your chance to save big while enjoying all the perks:
Up to 25% off grocery store prices
ExpressPay® to skip lines
Free curbside pickup
Fuel savings that make your gas receipts hurt less
2% cashback with Club+ card
Complimentary household membership
TOP EVENTS TODAY YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
🎸 Weekly Blues Jam at Black-Eyed Sally’s (Hartford): Join a legendary night of live blues music and jams.
🎲 Trivia Thursdays at Back Again Board Game Café (Middletown): Compete in a fun trivia night surrounded by board games.
🎭 Primary Trust at TheaterWorks Hartford (Hartford): Don’t miss this acclaimed production about reinvention and hope.
🎨 Art in Focus: Diptych: Scenes from the Life of Christ and the Virgin at Fairfield University (12:00 PM) - An informal gallery conversation led by the curator.
🖼️ Teen-to-Teen Conversations: Tracey Emin’s Autobiographical Art at Yale Center for British Art (New Haven, 4:00 PM) - Teen-led discussions about Emin's paintings in a drop-in format.
🎤 Hollywood Undead & Tech N9ne: HOLLYWOOD & N9NE RETURNS at College Street Music Hall (New Haven) - A joint concert featuring popular acts in the music scene.
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
The Day the Whalers Sailed Away: Hartford’s NHL Goodbye
In May 1997, Connecticut hockey fans faced a heartbreak that still stings decades later: the Hartford Whalers, the state’s only major league sports team, were officially leaving for North Carolina. Owner Peter Karmanos made the call, transforming the beloved Whalers into the Carolina Hurricanes — and leaving Connecticut without a professional sports franchise to this day.
The Whalers’ story began in 1971 as the New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association. They moved to Hartford in 1974 and took the ice at the brand-new Civic Center Coliseum in 1975. After joining the NHL in 1979 during the WHA-NHL merger, the team was rechristened the Hartford Whalers and remained a scrappy, underdog presence with one of the most fiercely loyal fan bases in the league.
While they never hoisted the Stanley Cup, the Whalers built a cultural legacy that far outlasted their win-loss record. Their green-and-blue whale tail logo — designed by Connecticut artist Peter Good — is still spotted on hats, shirts, and jackets across the country, worn by everyone from die-hard locals to Hollywood celebrities.
In recent years, the dream of an NHL return to Hartford has occasionally flickered back to life, most notably when the Hurricanes played select games in throwback Whalers uniforms. But whether or not the team ever returns, the Hartford Whalers remain an enduring emblem of Connecticut pride and sports nostalgia.
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HEADLINES AROUND THE STATE
👀 CT Launches Statewide Road Line Visibility Project
Connecticut is using AI-equipped trucks to assess and upgrade road line reflectivity, aiming to improve visibility and safety.
🏥 Fairfield Gets World-Class Cancer Center
Hartford HealthCare opened a new cancer center in Fairfield, offering advanced treatments in partnership with Memorial Sloan Kettering.
🥄 Stamford Hits Pause on Plastic Ban
A proposed ban on single-use plastics in Stamford restaurants has been delayed after business owners voiced concerns over costs and compliance.
🎓 Paier College in Bridgeport Shuts Down After 79 Years
Paier College has permanently closed after 79 years of operation due to declining enrollment and unmet state guidelines.
Thanks!
Thanks for reading today’s newsletter! We hope it inspired you to explore and enjoy all the exciting happenings in Connecticut this week.
If you liked what you saw, feel free to forward it to a friend — and help them discover the best of what our state has to offer too!
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!
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