I Want More Winter Soup/Chowder Festivals in Connecticut

I love soup, chowders, and bisques, especially when it's below freezing. I would love the opportunity to try a wide variety at an indoor festival or cookoff during the cold weather months, but it feels like most of the clam chowder festivals around Connecticut have disappeared? Wouldn't you love to go to an indoor Minestrone Soup Festival?

Get our free mobile app

Mystic, Connecticut is holding their 19th annual Chowder Cook-Off and Cabin Fever Festival Saturday, February 24, 2024, from noon to 4, at the Olde Mistick Village on Coogan Blvd. Besides that? I can't find another one. Do you remember Westport's New England Chowda Fest? It started small, but grew into a huge annual event. The Fest went online due to the pandemic, and unfortunately their founder, Jim Keenan, passed away in 2021.

bonchan

During the Summer, Connecticut is full of festivals that revolve around our homegrown foods: Multiple Strawberry festivals, two huge Oyster festivals, North Branford's Corn and Potato, I even saw a rhubarb festival in Southbury. Everything ends in October/November usually, then nothing for months here.

The Naugatuck Events Center could be a perfect location for the 2025 Connecticut Battle of the Northeastern United States Chowders. Wouldn't you love to try a cup of New England creamy vs a cup of Connecticut clear? Or Rhode Island clear vs Manhattan red? I'd also love for the 2025 Tom Yum Soup Fest to happen during January on the Green in New Haven, or warm up at Torrington's French Onion Soup Tussle 2026, but none of those are going to happen.

We can dream though, right?

The Four Worst Trader Joe's Parking Lots in Connecticut - Ranked

Could it be that Trader Joe's deliberately chose the busiest and smallest parking lots for their stores across Connecticut? Out of their nine locations across the state, here are the four worst, in my opinion.

Gallery Credit: Google Maps

These 6 Colored Porch Lights Mean Something in Connecticut

If you see a bright colored porch light in Connecticut it likely means something to the owner, According to Restore Decor and More these colored lights often represent a cause or an idea the family wants to send. Here are 6 Colored porch lights and their meaning.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

10 Items You Should Never Purchase at Connecticut Dollar Stores

Connecticut is an expensive place to live so people here will do just about anything to save a few bucks. This savings hunt makes dollar stores big business in CT and we have no shortage of them. Family Dollar has 32 Connecticut stores, Dollar Tree has 56 locations and Dollar General boasts 71 outlets throughout the State.

There are some items at these stores that will shave a lot of dough off your receipts but experts say you should not trust these stores with all purchases. Reader's Digest and USA Today have issued alerts to the public listing items you should steer clear of at Dollar Stores, here are 10 of them.

Gallery Credit: Lou Milano

Categories: Articles