Monday, April 27, 2026

Heads up for pet parents: An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.*

New chapter for rising scholars: Hartford Promise received a $1 million gift from Robert and Margaret Patricelli to launch a leadership program for top Hartford college students, offering mentorship and connections to develop local leaders -- learn what's planned for scholars.

New cables boost reliability: Hartford drivers should expect detours as a $315 million Eversource upgrade begins soon near Scarborough and Whitney, bringing eight to twelve weeks of construction along a busy route -- see what's planned and when.

From restaurant to marketplace: Feng Japanese Marketplace has opened at 89 Asylum Street in Downtown Hartford, next to its restaurant. It offers sushi, meat, and more. The grand opening was April 17 -- get all the details.

The bill everyone over 50 should double check: Car insurance. If you’ve been on the same plan for years, you might be paying way more than you need to. It’s an easy one to forget about, but switching could save you up to $600 this year. Case in point: I shopped around and ended up cutting my premium in half — this free comparison tool makes it easy.*

Retirees are making moves: After gold's best year in nearly five decades, more folks than ever are moving part of their savings into precious metals. Not all of it... just enough to hedge against inflation. AHG put together a free guide that explains how it works -- grab your copy here.*

Your weeknight culture fix: Craving a smart night out that doesn’t require highway heroics, Hartford Stage delivers classic and innovative plays, musicals, and more, all staged with serious craft and zero stuffiness. Put it on your list for this week and thank yourself when the curtain call has you buzzing.

Serious comfort combo: Because sometimes dinner needs both crunch and syrup, Rooster’s Chicken & Waffles nails it with juicy fried chicken, fluffy liege-style waffles, and sauce options that make choosing a sport. Perfect for a no-cook night, a couch hang, or that just-because treat you earned.

Your midweek art reset: Shake up the routine with a slow lap through Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, where centuries of American and European works mingle with contemporary surprises. It’s the perfect low-key brain recharge between errands, and yes, you’ll probably leave with a new favorite piece to brag about.

The slower you walk, the more it works: Tai Chi walking is trending online. Turns out it's centuries old — slow deliberate steps, paced breath, attention on the body. Thirty minutes a day burns fat, lifts your mood, and builds balance. No gym, no treadmill, no pounding on the joints. Take the quick quiz to see if it fits, then use code BASELOCAL for a discount on the coaching plan. *See how it works →

Your homeowners insurance has a blind spot: It covers your house if a tree falls on it. It doesn’t cover your furnace when it quits in January, your AC when it dies in July, or your water heater when it starts leaking on a Tuesday. Those are all classified as "normal wear and tear," and they're 100% on you. American Home Shield can help fill that gap for ~$1/day (even if your appliances and systems are really old).*See what it covers →

Selling your house doesn't have to take months: If you need to sell quickly — because you're downsizing, relocating, or just ready to close this chapter — Liz helps seniors sell their houses fast. As-is. No repairs, no showings, no drawn-out back-and-forth. You pick the closing date. *See how it works →

Unknown-number calls aren't random: Scammers don't just pick numbers out of a hat. They pay data brokers a few bucks and get everything they need to harass you, trick you, rob you, or steal your identity outright. Incogni removes all of your personal info from these data broker sites and keeps an eye out to make sure it stays gone for good. *Get protected →

For women who've been feeling off for years: The fatigue, the weight creeping up, the mood swings, the sleep that won't hold. Turns out most of those "it's just aging" problems are actually caused by hormones, and proper HRT can get you back to feeling like yourself. The catch? You can't get it without a full hormone panel and a doctor who understands what those numbers mean. Most women never get either, but Hone Health gives you both. *See how it works →

🎨 Glass Fusing: Bookshelf @ Audacity British Style Pub (Manchester) | Monday (4/27) at 6:00 PM – Because your real shelves are full, make a tiny glass one that never collects dust. Beginner-friendly fusing with potted plants, book titles, and whimsical accents, in a 90-minute, expert-led class with 12 seats; materials included, kiln fired for pickup in about three weeks, pre-registration required.

🚒 Fire Service Day @ CT State Capital | Thursday (4/30) at 12:00 PM – Swing by the State Capitol for Fire Service Day, where you can ogle shiny engines, meet the folks who run toward the smoke, and maybe learn a thing or two about home safety. It’s wholesome, photogenic, and your inner kid gets to push buttons, responsibly.

🧠 4th Annual Mental Health & Wellness Day @ Capitol Building | Friday (5/1) at 10:00 AM – Capitol visit, not a protest. It is the 4th Annual Mental Health and Wellness Day in Hartford, hosted by Rep. Kai Belton, with Liberty Integrated and other locals offering resources, conversations, and community, because sometimes the best therapy is knowing who to call.

🏷 Tag & Plant Sale @ Unitarian Universalist Society East (Manchester) | Saturday (5/2) at 10:00 AM – UUSE’s Mayfair is basically spring cleaning with food trucks, a congregation-wide tag sale and a plant sale heavy on natives. Save the planet the old-fashioned way, buy your neighbor’s stuff, adopt a houseplant, then catch Beltane, reggaetón, the bike rodeo, and a bake sale.

🏙 Revolution to Recreation: Jane's Walk and Urban Sketching @ Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Stretch your legs, then your sketchbook, on a free Jane's Walk around Burr Mall, Hartford's modernist plaza starring Calder's Stegosaurus. No art degree required, just curiosity, a pencil, and your inner Jane Jacobs. Stick around to sketch the scene, people, and whatever catches your eye.

🏺 Antique Shop Open This Weekend @ Antiq's LLC (Farmington) | Saturday (5/2) at 11:00 AM – Remember when antiquing felt real? ANTIQ'S in Farmington is open this weekend, a mom-and-pop trove of 18th and 19th-century furniture, silver, and paintings you can handle, no dealer booths, no glass cases, just honest, timeless pieces priced for people who know the difference.

🎂 Kids Mommy and Me Cake Decorating Class @ Craves by Aves (Manchester) | Saturday (5/2) at 2:00 PM – Bring the kid to Main Street Manchester for a Mommy and Me cake decorating class where you both get a 6-inch canvas, pre-filled piping bags, and enough sprinkles to bedazzle a butterfly. You will learn swirls, flowers, and texture tricks, then proudly eat the evidence.

On a tree-lined West End street near Elizabeth Park, this 6-bed, 3-bath Hartford classic pairs original woodwork and hardwood floors with thoughtful updates. A chef's kitchen with butler's pantry, cabinetry, and quartz anchors living, dining, sunroom, and office. Upstairs offers a primary suite and media room. Outside, a stone patio, landscaping, and a 2-car garage shine, plus ductless AC throughout.