green acres is the place to be

The Peaches Are Ready for You to Pick!, originally uploaded by moonjazz.

There is nothing like fresh produce, herbs, cheese or flowers, especially when you can buy them mere hours from when they were harvested, clipped, made or cut. There are three Farmer’s Markets in Hartford:

Old State House
800 Main St.
Monday, Wednesday & Friday. from 10:30am to 3 pm

Billings Forge (near Firebox Restaurant)
563 Broad St.
Thursdays, 11am to 2:30 pm

West End Market
Corner of South Whitney & Farmington
Tuesday and Friday from 4-7 pm

If you feel you must get out of the city, one of the best area markets is the Coventry Regional Farmers Market, Sundays at the Nathan Hale Homestead. They have weekly themes that include featured food items and entertainment, and some of the nicest vendors around. Be warned: the kettle corn they sell at the Coventry market is addictive! While you are there, make some time to check out the Hale Homestead, it is beautifully maintained by the Connecticut Landmarks Society and worth the visit.

For those of you heading even further afield, the CT Dept of Agriculture has a full listing of statewide markets here.

Now, don’t forget to invite us over for some peach pie!

when da moon hits yer eye

sausage, peperoni, and bacon, originally uploaded by winyang.

Alan Richman, GQ Magazine’s food & wine critic, had the enviable task of traveling the country in search of the 25 Best Pizzas. Sadly, only one Connecticut eatery (Sally’s Apizza in New Haven) made the list. I have a sneaking suspicion Mr. Richman drove right on through Hartford on his way to/from New York/Boston/New Haven, and as such missed out on the cheesy, saucy, garlicky, crusty delicious-ness that is a pie from First & Last in the South End.  Our only consolation is that the lack of additional publicity won’t add to the already long wait on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

the love bus

bus stop on Pearl St.

Noticed on Saturday night, 6:30 pm, May 23:  one  standard city bus stop, Pearl Street at Haynes, festooned with enormous heart-shaped candy-type box, mini-picket fence, assorted silk flowers.  Too late in the year for Valentines Day. Does anybody know what this is about? Inquiring minds want to know….

and we’re #1 for “stiff upper lip”

It seems Our Fair City has been ranked #2 by Men’s Health Magazine for Lowest Risk of  Erectile Dysfunction. Sounds like we Uptight Pilgrims have a hot time in the old town more often than people think we do. 

Another reason to live in Hartford. More here.

choo-choo.

Senator Dodd is pushing for some of the federal stimulus money to head out this way — in the form of the long-discussed extension of commuter rail service between New Haven and Springfield.

We truly hope this no momentum has wings — or should we say, rails.

please be quiet(er).

Real Hartford has posted a thoughtful piece about Hartford’s new and, hopefully improved, noise ordinance. Obviously, one expects a noisier environment in the city than in the suburbs our country, but it seems that in some city neighborhoods noise has become a real problem for residents.

The Courant story is here.

Win free tickets to Sugarloaf Craft Festival

Butterfly Bowl by Susan Schmidt

Robin over at A Bird In The Hand is giving away tickets to the Sugarloaf Craft Festival, coming to Hartford March 27-29. Leave a comment on this post and you could win.

running around.

Some great pictures of the Max O’Hartford 5k Road Race over at Cottage Industries!

wow, springer isn’t really very “connecticut,” is he?

It’s not Hartford specific news, but Governor Rell announced on Friday that both Jerry Springer and Maury Povich’s shows may be moving to Stamford to take advantage of tax incentives.

So odd.  But, we’ll take what we can get.

Mmm… Donuts. Mmm… Free Donuts!

Tastease Mini Donuts, 70 New Park Ave.

Tastease Donuts, a little slice of heaven in Parkville, is celebrating their 500,000-donut milestone by giving away free coffee and donuts this coming Friday.

Since opening four and a half years ago, owners Tony and Susan Mendes have dished out a half million of the sugary treats that bring loyal fans from near and far. 

How can you choose just one?

“Who couldn’t use a free cup of coffee and a sweet treat these days?” said owner Tony.

Anyone who stops into the Parkville bakery on Friday, March 6th, 2009 from 7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. will receive a free cup of coffee, and one of Tastease’s spectacular mini-donuts.  Each gourmet mini-donut is handmade and painstakingly decorated.  Customers have their choice of perfect mini versions of the classics and some of Tastease’s own creations:  pumpkin, cappuccino, chocolate glazed, blueberry frosted, apple streusel with a cream cheese frosting, cinnamon sugar dusted coconut cream, lemon cream, and double chocolate frosted are just the tip of the iceberg.  

Born and raised in Hartford, Tony’s father bought the property when Tony was about six months old. His wife, Susan, is from Westerly Rhode Island. She moved to Hartford in 2000 to marry Tony. The couple opened the New Park Avenue shop on June 8, 2004.

“We originally made really teeny donuts in all different flavors, which no one else did,” Tony said. “But I wasn’t happy with the really little donuts so we went to the next size up. Everybody else was making bigger and bigger donuts – even hubcaps… and I didn’t want to do that.  So we brought it to the size we sell now – 2 ¼ inches wide – which I think is the perfect size donut.”

Stop on by for a gift of a hot cup of coffee and a little taste of donut perfection

Friday, March 6, 2009
7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Tastease Mini Donuts
70 New Park Ave, Hartford, CT