Archive for the 'Shopping' Category
Visit Your Local Farmer's Market
I know a lot of you are thinking “Hey dummy, you should have written about this at the beginning of the summer.” I must admit that have been greedily enjoying heirloom tomatoes, organic fruit, and corn on the cob for weeks without writing about it. So sorry.
But in all seriousness, get out of your car and visit your local farmer’s market or farm stand. Almost every community has one on different days throughout the summer into the early fall. Go here to find one in your town in Hartford County. Happy, healthy eating!
My L.L. Bean Experience
This weekend I ventured East of the River to check out the new L.L. Bean in South Windsor. Yes, I know I’m a few weeks behind the grand opening, but I’m not a fan of crushing crowds and I needed a respite from the sweltering heat on Saturday. Any who, these are my observations about the store…
1. If you’ve been to the one-and-only true L.L. Bean in Freeport, Maine- brace yourself. The L.L. Bean at Evergreen Walk simply does not compare. Now, I’m not saying it’s worthless, it’s just a mini, mini version. So be prepared emotionally before you go.
2. It’s still super-crowded on the weekends. Bleh. You might want to try an evening after work or a weekday morning if you can’t handle throngs of people.
3. If you’re looking to buy an outdoor gadget/gear (fishing tackle, mountain bike, canoe, spelunking headlight, etc.) go to the store so you can check out the goods in person. If you’re looking to buy clothing, I would recommend sticking to the catalog. I heard several people complaining that they could not find their size in a specific color that they wanted. I heard one person mention that they drove all the way from Massachusetts but couldn’t find the flannel-lined jeans. Maybe because it was 95 degrees outside?
4. Vertically, there appears to be a huge amount of wasted space. The ceilings soar, but the merchandise is only on one floor. Why not put in a second floor if the main footprint of the building does not need to be changed?
5. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful. And friendly even though the place was overrun with visitors.
I’ll be interested to see how Cabela’s compares when it opens later this year in East Hartford.
New Retail Space at Prospect and Boulevard
Just about every day I drove by Larry’s Service Station at the corner of Prospect and Boulevard, on the West Hartford border. Then late last week the trucks were gone and there was a chain link fence surrounding the property.
Where’d Larry go? Apparently to Farmington Avenue in Hartford.
And yesterday the demolition commenced on Larry’s old locale. Steel beams swung around by a crane, dropped onto a pile of rubble below. Larry’s old home was razed.
So, what’s going to take its place? According to the Courant, a small retail shopping complex will be gracing the corner. Three stores will occupy the 5,256 square foot site. The town oversaw the site plan, which included landscaping, in April. Tenatively, one of the stores will be a coffee shop.
Hopefully it will add some positive development to the area, without negatively impacting traffic too much. Stay tuned for future updates…
Berry Season is Upon Us…
June is finally here, which means that it’s the start of berry picking season. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries. We kick off the summer with strawberries and then work our way through the rest.
If you’re like me and don’t mind getting some straw stuck in your knees and burning up in the sun, a great place for Pick-Your-Own berries is Rose’s Berry Farm in Glastonbury. There are two locations, the main farm at Matson Hill and the Wickham Hill Farm Stand located on Hebron Avenue. It’s always best to call before you go, as the different locations are open on different days and you never know when the crop will be ready, picked out, etc. Just dial 860-633-7467 and you’ll get a recorded message telling you what’s available and at which location.
In addition to picking berries, Rose’s has excellent local food products for sale. They are also well known for their Sunday brunch (at the main farm only), so stop by to enjoy a delicious meal with the freshest berries available.
Gardener? Check Out Hartford's Regional Market
If you have any interest in gardening, you might want to check out the Hartford Regional Market at 101 Reserve Road for fantastic deals on annuals, perennials, ornamental shrubs, and warm weather vegetable seedlings. The Spring season draws farmers and growers from the greater Hartford region each Saturday, starting at 4:00am. Yes, I did say 4:00am, you really need to be an early bird to participate in this event. But if you love gardening or need some shrubs for your yard, it’s a great place to choose from a wide variety, typically for 50% of the price you would pay at a local gardening center or Home Depot.
A few tips I’ve picked up over the years..
1. Arrive early, before 6:00am if possible. There are typically about 2,000 people that will come to shop, so you want to get there early so you can avoid traffic and choose from the best selection possible.
2. If you have a wagon, bring it. Because of the crowds, you’ll park away from the vendors. You’ll be buying flats of plants that aren’t easy to carry. So if you can put them in a wagon, your excursion will be more enjoyable.
3. No need to shower. No one else wants to get up at 5:00am on the weekend (or weekdays for that matter), so just put on a baseball cap, some sweatpants, and you’re good to go.
4. Directions. If you can avoid using Exit 27 off I-91, by all means, please do so. The traffic can be a pain. Here are some alternate routes that are suggested.