A typical morning for a toddler and teenager in Anna’s mom world. Which do you think is the harder era?
THE FEED: Live Music While You Eat
Every Tuesday, Kevin and Jenna talk about all things food in Connecticut with Alex from CT Food Girly. One of the best things to do in the spring and summer is seeing live music while also enjoying some delicious food and drinks. This week we find out the best restaurants, bars, breweries, and wineries in the state to do exactly that.
Image credit: Getty Images
Restaurants/ Bars
If you want a little slice of Italy, check out Marcello’s Italian Eatery in Monroe. It’s right in the
plaza, they have outdoor seating, a stunning interior and delicious cocktails and food. Their
happy hour is M-F and that ties in nicely because every Friday night they have live music right in
their bar area. Normally, it starts around 7 or 8:00pm and it’s a great way to enjoy live music and
know that consistently there will be a band every Friday night at Marcello’s. For food, you can’t
go wrong here. I’ve had their vodka sauce flatbread, short rib ragu with burrata, a gorgeous
antipasto platter and their new espresso martini flight.
Another great restaurant with live music and tasty eats is Village Bistro in Milford. They have a
huge nightlife every weekend with live music, dancers, ladies nights, happy hours, Saturday and
Sunday brunch and more. If the weather is nice, meet up on their outside patio, enjoy their great
cocktails, I personally love their strawberry margaritas, and listen to the music of the night.
In New Haven there is Stella Blues. This is more of an intimate, laid-back bar that hosts a
diverse group of live music acts, open-mic nights, and happy hours as well. They update their
upcoming events every week on their website and tonight is open mic and this weekend there
are three different bands: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. They’re not too big on food here, mostly
you’re going for the cold beer and drink menu, but still a cool spot to check out the live music in
New haven.
Lastly, The Stand in Branford has some great live music bands come across their stage. This
restaurant also posts their events on their website and they are packed full for April and May.
They also have Sunday brunch, weekly happy hour, weekly steak night and fun nightly events.
They recently got a new chef in their kitchen and the menu had a revamp as well, the bbq is
really delicious, definitely get your hands on their pulled pork mac and cheese, pretzel sticks
and dry rub wings.
Breweries/Wineries
In Derby, there is The Hops Company, better known as THC. I truly love this place and the
atmosphere it always brings. They have a great outdoor area, TVs, games, a beer garden
packed with craft beers, Zuppardi’s pizza, fresh salads, dessert and now Taco Loco appetizers,
tacos, and larger plates. For big holidays and events, they always get a live band in there to get
the crowd going all day, they also get DJs in there as well. It’s really nice, the live bands can
play outside on the patio or inside the main seating area. Definitely check out THC if you haven’t
been.
Another awesome brewery for live music is Milford Point Brewing. Fun fact, this was the first
brewery to open in Milford. They offer happy hour, Thursday night dart nights, watch parties, and
of course live music on Fridays and Saturdays. They post their weekend schedule on Instagram
and the bands for that week as well. This is a great spot to hang out and chill, converse with
friends, and sip on some cold beer. They do have pizza and pretzels here for food, it is dog and
kid friendly as well.
A secret spot we have in North Haven is a winery called Small Batch Cellars. I’ve been here a
couple of times and the wine is delicious, you can bring food and snacks as you wish, there is
also a variety of cheese and crackers to buy on site, but this is a smaller winery, that is perfect if
you want to enjoy being outside, hanging with friends and family, and there is always
entertainment. Inside, they have a huge stage for bands. They are starting up a summer concert
series from June to October and I think that’s a great idea if you want somewhere for consistent
live music and good weekend vibes.
Lastly on my list is the family owned and operated, Paradise Hills Vineyard & Winery, which is
located in Wallingford. They are open year round and this is such a beautiful vineyard to be
outside and enjoy. They offer delicious wines, swirl slushies, wine flights, events, and of course
live music. On Instagram, they do post their weekend schedule for their artists, and Fridays and
Sundays seem to be the days to catch the live music in the vineyard. For food, pack up your
picnic basket and bring our favorites to enjoy.
Trivia Tuesday with Anna & Raven
It’s Trivia Tuesday with Anna & Raven. Could you guess the food item based on emojis?
The “Healthy” Drink Options
All these new “magic drinks” are being released in waves, and they claim to be healthy alternatives to juices and sodas, but are they really? Dr. Jennifer Wider explains in the podcast.
Tuesday April 16, 2024: First Date Locations; Sad Kid Movies; Why Didn’t You Walk
Coachella is going on and everyone is talking about this last weekend’s performances! But one artist brought out a special guest that has some people scratching their heads…
The Master’s has a new star in 22 year old Neal Shipley! But after the up-and-coming star was paired with Tiger Woods, Tiger was spotted passing him a mysterious note…
Relationships can be traumatic, but if you keep bringing up your ex when you’re dating someone new, that’s all I need to know about you!
Is there such a thing as a magic drink? According to Dr. Jennifer Wider, our supermarket beverage aisle is starting to look more like a pharmacy!
What’s the best place to go for a first date? Anna found a list of places that are NOT recommended and now she’s not sure where people are actually supposed to go!
What movie made you cry as a kid? An episode of a popular kids show has got kids and adults across the country in tears!
Did you not walk at graduation? Anna and Raven want to know why! The most famous brothers in America are under fire right now for some inappropriate behavior during a graduation “walk”!
Because Colin is so indecisive when making dinner plans for their weekends, Jackie would make multiple reservations at different restaurants, then not sure to a couple of them depending on where they decided to go. She has stopped doing that, but now she just lies to the hostess and insists that they called for a reservation. Colin says it’s embarrassing, Jackie thinks it’s no big deal. Do you think it’s a big deal to lie about your reservation status?
Danielle has got a shot at $1100! All she has to do is beat Raven in pop culture trivia!
THE FEED: Spring Sports Have Sprung In CT
Every Monday in The Feed Kevin and Jenna talk to The Ump Vin Sarullo about everything going on in Connecticut sports. This week Vin recaps the UConn Men’s big National Championship victory parade, then gives us a preview of spring sports on the college and high school level. Baseball, softball, and more!
Image credit: Getty Images
Who Is More Likely To…
Time to play “Who is more likely” with Anna & Raven! Would you have guessed these answers?
Dumb Arguments
On average, you’ll have at least six dumb arguments over the weekend. Who on the show had the dumbest argument? Find out in the podcast and discover why Anna’s husband demanded she record their argument on his terms because of what she did.
Monday April 15, 2024: Kicked Out; Plank World Record; Throw Out Post Mortem
Nostalgia is nice, but do we really need adult versions of our favorite childhood cartoons? Anna read an article about an R-rated version of a classic children’s show!
Did you have a dumb argument this weekend? Anna and her husband had a disagreement on what items should and should not go in the trash can!
Car repairs can get pricey, but if you just ignore all the warning lights, that’s all I need to know about you!
Are you up to date on this week’s biggest news stories? Anna and Raven will get you caught up on what’s trending, including that thing you may have been putting off doing since January!
When was the last time you got kicked out of somewhere. Raven has been kicked out of several concerts, but curiously it’s never been his fault…
Did you eat something unhealthy over the weekend? Anna wants everyone on the show to compete and see who ate the unhealthiest meal!
How long can you hold a plank? An 50 year old woman just hit a new world record, but Producers Jon and Sean think they can handle it!
If your parents passed away, what would be the first thing you’d throw away? Anna read a study that claimed most people would throw away something that was surprisingly sentimental!
Randy lost his job a while back and has struggled to find a new position. He has sold his car and downgraded, they have cut down on eating out, but still can’t seem to make ends meet. He would like his wife Liz (who still works but it’s not enough to support their lifestyle) to sell some of her designer bags and shoes. He claims she has many. She is very much against this, he says it’s his ego that’s been the problem. His parents are wealthy but because of his pride, he won’t ask them for help. She says that’s the answer, not selling her Louis Vuitton bags. What do you think?
Monique has got a shot at $1000! All she has to do is beat Raven in pop culture trivia!
THE FEED: The Cherry Blossoms Are Out In Connecticut, Here’s Where To Find Them
Every Friday in The Feed Kevin and Jenna talk to Megan from @CampByMama about all the great things to do in Connecticut with the family. This week she lets us know where to find the beautiful Cherry Blossoms in Connecticut and all the other fun events happening this weekend.
MEGAN’S PICKS:
1. Spring has sprung Cherry Blossoms at Mill River Park in Stamford and Daffodils at Irwin Park in New Canaan
2. The Colorblends Spring Garden in Bridgeport open seven days a week, dawn to dusk. Stroll through an evolving display of color crocuses, daffodils, tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs come into bloom.
3. Cirque du Soleil showtimes all weekend at Total Mortgage Arena Bridgeport.
4. Cherry Blossom Festival Sunday April 14 @ 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Wooster Square Park the City of New Haven a signature historic landmark. Bring your picnic blanket and chairs and join us for this year’s celebration featuring music and a multitude of food trucks!
5. The Sound of Music Curtain Call in Stamford showtimes all weekend. One of our favorite things! This Rodger and Hammerstein classic has been an audience favorite for many years.
Megan’s Mom Quote of the Week: “At large part of parenting is staring at your kids until they start acting better.”