|
As I'm starting to explore my new territories in Westville, Wunderlee Art gallery stands out, the last storefront on the left heading west through the small town center. Unlike the other...
As I'm starting to explore my new territories in Westville, Wunderlee Art gallery stands out, the last storefront on the left heading west through the small town center. Unlike the other galleries in town, the "art" in its windows is fairly unimaginative at best, and often unattractive. There's no reason that art should feel a need to match your furniture, but there's also no reason it should remind you of your high school attempts at oil painting either.
Hide
|
|
My old standby for gifts - both for folks I know really well and those acquaintances who are going to get something "nice" but bland. They have a classy but attractive selection of semi-precious...
My old standby for gifts - both for folks I know really well and those acquaintances who are going to get something "nice" but bland. They have a classy but attractive selection of semi-precious costume jewelry, and a ton of random knick-knacks that span a very wide range of prices. A good place to go for a token of your affection to offer someone.
Hide
|
|
Consider doing away with cupcakes and ordering a variety of tiny, perfect pastries for your birthday needs...or ask Judies if they can acommodate your requests. This is a good bakery with artisan...
Consider doing away with cupcakes and ordering a variety of tiny, perfect pastries for your birthday needs...or ask Judies if they can acommodate your requests. This is a good bakery with artisan breads, a lunch menu, and a patisserie.
(But if it's buttercream you're after, head for Claire's!)
Hide
|
|
The super stop and shop in Westville sells kosher meat, which is nice, but if it's at all convenient, it's worth your while to stop at the Westville Kosher Meat Market instead. The prices are a...
The super stop and shop in Westville sells kosher meat, which is nice, but if it's at all convenient, it's worth your while to stop at the Westville Kosher Meat Market instead. The prices are a little better, the variety is much greater (veal, bison, duck and other goodies instead of just beef or chicken), and the owner is a sweetheart. Introduce yourself once and she'll remember you forever. (And, if you're single, may possible try to set you up)
Also sells deli stuffs and Israeli imports, and can handle small catering projects.
Incidentally, if you don't keep kosher, consider buying kosher meat anyway. It's more expensive, but it guarantees humane slaughter, vegetarian diets, and better all around treatment of cows.
Hide
|
|
If you need a place to rock climb in the winter (ie, you're not crazy enough to ice climb), most of the Connecticut climbing community congregates at Prime Climb. It's not huge, and the routes...
If you need a place to rock climb in the winter (ie, you're not crazy enough to ice climb), most of the Connecticut climbing community congregates at Prime Climb. It's not huge, and the routes aren't changed nearly as regularly as they ought to be, but the company is good, and it's what we've got. It's perfectly fine for a good workout, and the people make it worthwhile.
Also, a good place to take your 8(ish) year old child or young teen - they're climbing walls anyway, so why not make it productive? Prime Climb does kids' birthday parties and lessons, and safety procedure/precautions are excellent.
Hide
|
|
Bishop's Orchard is a fun local farm where you can buy plants in the spring, veggies at the farm stand all summer, then pick your own apples and pumpkins come fall. They're easy to get to from...
Bishop's Orchard is a fun local farm where you can buy plants in the spring, veggies at the farm stand all summer, then pick your own apples and pumpkins come fall. They're easy to get to from I-95, and the produce is worth the occasional visit (unless you live on the shoreline, in which case you should pop in regularly). I make it a point to pick some apples each year. We live in New England. Apple picking is part of the deal. There are orchards that are slightly more picturesque if you're looking for an incredible apple picking experience, but Bishop's is best for kids - lots of low hanging fruit and other attractions.
Hide
|
|
When my husband and I decided to learn to cook Thai cuisine, we couldn't find galangal anywhere. Finally, we asked the folks at our local Thai restaurant where we could find galangal and green...
When my husband and I decided to learn to cook Thai cuisine, we couldn't find galangal anywhere. Finally, we asked the folks at our local Thai restaurant where we could find galangal and green papaya...they sent us here. It's a tiny little hole in the wall on route 80, around the corner from a Domino's pizza and a cell phone store...but it has all the Asian ingredients you could hope for, either frozen or fresh, with an emphasis on Thai imports (although chinese, japanese, and korean specialties are available). The proprietress may look at you funny, and ask - in a stern voice - what you are going to do with the ingredients you're buying. However, if you explain to her satisfaction what you are trying to make, she'll help you out and give you tips or her own family recipe.
Hide
|
|
Looking for organic, unprocessed, fair trade or local grown food in the New Haven area? Drag your socially conscious self over to Edge of the Woods for decent produce and a wide selection of other...
Looking for organic, unprocessed, fair trade or local grown food in the New Haven area? Drag your socially conscious self over to Edge of the Woods for decent produce and a wide selection of other "health" foods. If you couldn't care less about vegan frozen dinners or free range quorn, you still might want to check it out for the wide variety of spices, teas, and the bakery in back. The vegan tiramisu is to die for. Even if you're able to eat the real thing!
Hide
|
|
I went to Blockbuster's once, the day they released Star Wars: The Phantom Menace onto DVD, because it was late, and they guaranteed me a copy through some promotion. Well, it wasn't filed under S...
I went to Blockbuster's once, the day they released Star Wars: The Phantom Menace onto DVD, because it was late, and they guaranteed me a copy through some promotion. Well, it wasn't filed under S for Star Wars, or P for Phantom Menace, and the stupid kid at the counter had no idea what I was talking about. So I walked out in a fit of seething rage and went to Tommy K's in Branford. I've never looked back.
Tommy K's has a great selection of movies, with extensive collections of both foreign films and various cult classics/indie films. But best of all, the kids who work there know their stuff. They know/appreciate a wide range of movies personally, and they know their catalog, so they can help you find what you want. I've seen them recommend off-beat children's flicks to exasperated mothers, and troma films to bored teenagers, one after the other. They're great. High turnover (as is common in afterschool jobs), but they're consistently great.
If you're in the area, it's worth passing whatever chain stores entice you with dvd promotions to get to them.
Note: about once a month, they sell their used DVDs, usually 3/$20, occasionally less. At prices like that, it's worth building your own collection. (sidenote: if you get to know the cashiers, they might let you peek through the dvd's they've held back to put out when stock gets depleted during one of these sales)
Hide
|
|
Tommy K's is a superior video store. Sure, most people will swear by Best Video in Hamden - and they might have a point if you aren't a fan of mainstream media at all. However, Tommy K's...
Tommy K's is a superior video store. Sure, most people will swear by Best Video in Hamden - and they might have a point if you aren't a fan of mainstream media at all. However, Tommy K's consistently has a good selection of large and small movies, and, more importantly, hires great youngsters to work in their stores.
Tommy K's of New Haven isn't a disappointment in this regard - the kids are knowledgeable if you have a question, quick with a recommendation, and chat with you when you ring up your rental.
That said, the store layout is awkward, and the selection isn't quite as good as in other locations...and it's a little unnerving to have an everpresent security guard in the evening hours.
Still, if you're in the Westville area, it's a step above Hollywood Video or (ptooey!) Blockbuster.
Note: Like all Tommy K's, on long weekends (about once a month), used DVD's sell for cheap - usually 3 for $20. It's a nice deal.
Hide
|