Special Section: Best of Connecticut

WELCOME TO THE 18TH EDITION OF BEST OF CONNECTICUT, our annual compilation of all the things we think make our state such a special place. This year we’ve added a few new fun categories while shaving others away to give a fresh look at our state.

As always, we invite you to share your thoughts and tell us about places we may have missed. Like you, we’re interested in exploring where we live and finding the best it has to offer. Enjoy!

Owner Jamie “The Bear” McDonald was once the No. 1-ranked Independent Competitive Eater by All Pro Eating and he knows a thing or two about barbecue. Since opening, Bear’s slow-cooked Kansas City-style ribs, brisket and burnt ends (our favorite!) have helped to put Connecticut barbecue on the map and continue to inspire cravings statewide.

It may be an acquired taste but the wild yeast-based sour beers offered at OEC are among the most interesting and best tasting examples of a difficult-to-get-right style. Opened last summer, OEC quickly joined breweries like New England Brewing Co. and Beer’d Brewing Co. at the top of many beer nerds’ state rankings. Today, it produces some of the most unique beer in Connecticut and beyond.

For more than 30 years, Chabaso’s ciabattas, baguettes, boules, rolls and loaves have been “hearth-baked in European ovens according to Old World traditions,” making for terrific bread featuring a thin, chewy crust and soft, tasty inside—perfect for dipping in soup, sopping up gravy and making memorable sandwiches. Or just eating on its own.

When it opened in 2012, Two Roads made Connecticut a destination for beer lovers. This gigantic, eye-catching brewery is a must-visit haven for hardcore and casual beer lovers. Take a tour and enjoy some samples, or hang out in the taproom overlooking the sprawling brewing space. Either way, Two Roads provides a “beercation” experience that is difficult to beat.

Although known for its impressive craft beer selection, we love Prime 16 for the thick, juicy 8-oz. burgers, which are served on brioche rolls and are made from all-natural Angus beef with no added hormones or antibiotics and that was fed from non-GMO all-vegetarian feeds. More than a dozen varieties are offered, including bison, lamb, salmon and vegetarian options.

GoldBurgers is a Connecticut fast food joint with a product worth waiting for. Full of juicy goodness and topped with a creative smorgasbord of ingredients these big (with a capital B) burgers are all made with locally sourced beef. Try the venue’s namesake, the GoldBurger, a monster of a burger with two patties and potato chips.

This Waterbury palace of sweet-tooth creations bills itself as “not just another pretty cake” and more than lives up to that motto. For decades Sweet Maria’s has been wowing all comers with a mouthwatering selection of cakes and features a different creation as “cake of the month” each month. Miss September is a decadent banana caramel offering.

For more than 20 years, the staff of Gourmet Galley has been bringing its professional touch to events across Southeastern Connecticut, from picnics and cocktail parties to birthdays and retirement parties and all the other special events in between—the perfect fare for whatever your affair is.

Milk House Chocolates from Goshen’s Thorn Crest Farm are about as local and homemade as you can get. Made with the milk from the farm’s cows, husband-and-wife team Clint and Kimberly Thorn experiment with milk and cream combinations to ensure a superior product. Flavors include Mr. Ives’s Mint and Intense Dark Chocolate Orange Truffle.

Simply put, S&P’s chowder is sublime—plenty of tender clam and tasty potato chunks, served with oyster crackers and garnished with sliced scallions. If you like a little extra something, you can add “a skosh” of Harvey’s Bristol Cream Sherry or Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Bourbon.

Hip, sleek and modern without being pretentious, this local chain of coffee shops is a favorite of coffee connoisseurs. All coffee is fair trade, organic and shade grown, and Blue State has been involved with its growing process from seed to cup. Plus, each location offers a roomy inviting space to enjoy your java.

Winners of Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” Sugar prides itself on pleasing all manner of sweet tooth with 30 varieties of gourmet cupcakes available daily. Some favorites: cannoli, red velvet, Oreo explosion, chocolate salted caramel, toasted almond, Reese’s riot, white chocolate chip cheesecake and s’mores. Plus, there are gluten-free options—sweet!

This old-school New York-style deli has been serving up flavorful food since the early 1970s and very little has changed. Hebrew National corned beef and pastrami, house-made salads and real Switzerland Swiss cheese are just some of the products featured here, all which make the deli’s slogan, “The Taste of Quality is Long Remembered,” ring true.

Neil’s makes more than 30 varieties of doughnuts fresh daily, and has been serving New Haven County since 2001. In May, Neil’s doughnuts wowed the Connecticut Magazine staff and emerged as the clear Best of winner after a series of doughnut taste tests leading up to National Doughnut Day.

Owner Paul Mannion’s San Diego-style burritos are tightly wrapped works of culinary art. In a Connecticut food truck scene rolling with great options, these burritos are the creations we crave most. Look for this brightly colored truck at its home base in Lake Kenosia Park in Danbury or check its Facebook page to see where the Grunion will be next; it’s a regular at many local breweries.

Nicole and Jeremy Braddock have been traveling in their cupcake truck “Betty” and working from their Oakville shop since 2012, baking bold cupcakes like The Housewife—vanilla graham cracker crust cake with cherry pie filling and Swiss buttercream. Hardcore Sweet Cupcakes won an episode of the Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars,” so you know it’s worth a try.

Don’t be fooled by “barbecue” in the name as this place specializes in awesome fried chicken. And after more than a half century of frying chicken, it stands to reason that Drumstik Bar-B-Q has it down perfect—a terrific coating made from a special family recipe that fries up crispy and seals in the juiciness.

With over 100 unique artisan cheeses in-house, Caseus can easily be called New Haven’s official fromagerie. The grilled cheese, whether enjoyed in the subterranean bistro or off Caseus’ food truck, is a cut above with six different varieties of cheese melted between two buttery, crusty slices of bread.

At Doogie’s each grilled dog is two feet long and can be slathered with toppings ranging from caramelized onions to sauerkraut and cheese to chili. Specialty dogs go above and beyond with flavor like the Boston Dog, which comes with baked beans and bacon or the College Dog with French fries on top.

This designer ice cream (owned by the executives of Manolo Blahnik USA) tastes the way ice cream is supposed to—indulgent. Made onsite in the creamery (a historic former firehouse) from the milk of the farm’s cows, Arethusa ice cream keeps it simple but delicious. Buy the company’s milk, half-and-half, yogurt and handmade cheeses at the creamery, too.

Although we love visiting ice cream shops across the state, what sets UConn’s Dairy Bar apart is being able to watch the ice cream being made (from the milk of UConn’s own cows) right on the premises—production can be viewed through a large glass wall behind the counter. The Dairy Bar also has a cool, retro vibe and it’s open year-round.

Since Harry Perry “invented” the lobster roll in Milford during the 1920s, the debate has raged as to which is better—serving it hot (with drawn butter) or cold (with mayo). Captain Scott’s offers it both ways and has mastered both versions, each of which features chunks of fresh lobster meat served on soft split buns.

Behold the “monster”: A mountain of melted cheese, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, black beans, shredded lettuce, sour cream and your choice of chicken or beef. Wood-n-Tap doesn’t scrimp on any of its nachos—the “half” order is usually more than enough to feed three people—and there’s always enough tortilla chips to scoop it all up.

The Sixpence Pie Company proves pies don’t have to be sweet. The savory creations source ingredients from local farms and markets and are wholly satisfying in that old-timey kind of way. Bite into the Little Piggy, made with cider-braised pulled pork, or the Little Boy Blue with chicken, served with a decadent bleu cheese béchamel.

Lyman Orchards is a family-fun haven that hosts activities throughout the year. Pick fruit, explore the corn maze and don’t forget to stop into the country store where you can pick up baked goods including award-winning pies. Delightfully homemade, sweet and satisfying, the signature apple pie is made from a traditional family recipe with two pounds of apples and spices.

No disrespect to the Godfathers of Connecticut pizza on New Haven’s Wooster Street, but one visit to this itsy-bitsy pizzeria and you’ll understand why we named it “a legend in the making” in our March pizza issue. Husband-and-wife team Melissa Pellegrino and Matteo Scialabba use special 00 double milled flour, San Marzano tomatoes and the best local cheeses, all of which help Bufalina shine.

Let’s be honest—who can truly love a raw bar that’s nowhere near the water? At the Oyster Club, water is in its culinary veins. Plus, you can enjoy ice cold oysters, harvested from local waters and shucked specifically for you in the Treehouse, an outdoor bar and deck with a view of the Mystic River.

Where’s your spoon? Hopefully, it’s in a bowl of Liquid Lunch’s finest—maybe the tomato basil, beef barley or any of the other daily staples, or one of the rotating specials, such as Gram’s Chicken Noodle, chicken coconut or Moroccan stew. Culinary Institute of America grad Fred Bialek is always whipping up something new and tasty.

With the largest tequila bar in the area, this Hartford cantina has it going on. But here we feature the tacos, which can be filled with chicken adobo, spicy beef, grilled vegetables, crispy fish, spicy BBQ pork or spicy chorizo sausage. The best part? You can mix and match fillings to get a ton of flavor.

The Green Teahouse West Hartford and New Haven (860) 232-6666 thegreenteahouse.com

Established in 1999, the range and richness the Green Teahouse shops offer includes all types and varieties of loose tea, from white, green and black to fruit and herbal. There’s also lunch and desserts, smoothies and even full Chinese tea ceremonies by appointment. It’s a palace of all things tea and tea-related.

Continually voted the best wine shop in New Haven, The Wine Thief’s two locations (on Crown Street and Whitney Avenue) are highly curated—featuring well-made, valuable and stylish varieties—for true wine lovers. The retailer’s knowledgeable staff strives to make the process of picking a bottle as comfortable as possible. Come in, explore and take home something delicious.

This place is huge, and that’s exactly what you want in a warehouse shop. It’s the spot to go for $8 bottles as well as highly prized varieties. Walking into the shoreline store can be overwhelming—aisles of bottles seem to go on forever—but don’t fret. The staff is very knowledgeable and can easily point you in the right direction.

Jonathan Edwards is “the heart of Napa Valley in New England,” combining West Coast wine prowess with East Coast sensibility. Founded in 2000 as a bi-coastal venture, the Edwards family is committed to the best grapes and best wines available. The 48-acre North Stonington winery has all the quaint New England charm you could ask for and the wines are award-winning.

The wing kings are back! Archie Moore’s was a Best of winner for more than a decade straight—we’ve tried the rest, but we always keep coming back to Archie’s, which rules because of its quality consistency, both in its tangy buffalo sauce and the meatiness of the wings.

This family of American taverns has been serving craft beer and bar food for more than a decade. Each location’s drink menu is slightly different, but generally you’ll find around 53 beers on tap plus wines and spirits. Many local beers are featured here and pair perfectly with high-end bar food like soy-glazed wings and a housemade lamb pastrami reuben.

This outdoor beer drinker’s Garden of Eden has an authentic German atmosphere. The menu includes potato pancakes, herring and a wide variety of schnitzels. Of course, there’s also a great selection of German beer served (when requested) in cartoonishly big 1-liter beer steins by a waitstaff that often sings as they serve.

116 Crown is one of those bars where the drinks menu is larger and more complex than the food menu. Broken into categories such as “Flavorful, Complex & Diverse,” “Aromatic & Subtle” and “For Beginners,” drink aficionados can sample an impressive array of creative cocktails, many created by owner and resident mixologist John Ginetti, who also teaches cocktail classes.

We wish we could cap each workday at the Engine Room during happy hour. From 4 to 6 p.m. every day (in the bar only), enjoy half-price bar bites and select craft beers for just $4 a pint as well as $5 burgers and $5 cocktail and wine specials. It’s rare to find such quality offered at bargain prices.

The modern bar on the first floor of the swanky “lifestyle” hotel in the heart of Yale University draws hotel guests, locals and New Haven visitors alike. The wine collection at the Heirloom Restaurant bar features boutique labels, the beer selection (with an emphasis on New England breweries) pulls from around the world, and the signature cocktails use house elixirs and infusions.

First things first: Of course, there’s Guinness on tap! Set on the corner of Asylum and Trumbull streets in downtown Hartford, McKinnon’s also has the classic Irish neighborhood pub feel with drink specials and weekly live Irish music as well as lamb stew and cottage pie. Plus, free peanuts while you drink!

Owner Ken Kitchings’ passion for jazz can be felt in every inch of his acoustically designed, intimate and cool-as-a-cucumber jazz club. The club is located in a side door space of the Old Lyme Inn (which Kitchings and his wife Christine purchased in 2011) and regularly features great jazz musicians.

This Tuesday open mic night (signup starts at 7:30 p.m.) has long been a launch pad for up-and-coming musicians and a testing ground for established ones. Sign up to participate or go as a civilian to see the stars of tomorrow. Each week a local artist is also featured for a longer set.

Rooftop 120’s four-season deck (the largest in New England) offers impressive panoramic views of Glastonbury. Crowd around one of the fire pits, hang at the two-sided bar or lounge on a patio sofa. The bar is stocked with beer, wine and craft cocktails while the food—with its international influences—is served in a chic, romantic interior.

With a wraparound deck overlooking the Long Island Sound, The Wharf Restaurant at Madison Beach Hotel offers impressive sunset views. When the weather chills, overhead heating lamps allow the al fresco dining to continue. The treasures of the Atlantic Ocean feature prominently on the menu from diver scallops to steamed Maine lobster, plus delicacies of the land and garden.

It’s known as “The Musician’s Living Room,” and it’s obvious that bands are comfortable playing here as there are live performances seven nights a week. The place is also just about as big as the average living room, which makes for an intimate space that puts the audience right in the middle of music—as they should be.

If you’re going out to watch the game, then the most important aspect of the destination you choose is being able to see the game—and with 100 TVs, you’ll catch all the action here. Plus, there are more than a dozen beers on tap, great pub food, drink specials, games and everything to make for the ideal sports-viewing experience.

This wine and tapas bar in the heart of West Hartford’s Blue Back Square offers more than 60 wines. Each vintage can be ordered by the 1-oz. taste, 3-oz. half glass or 6-oz. full glass. The wine is taken seriously here, with bottles stored at ideal temperatures thanks to state-of-the-art WineStation technology. Enjoy a glass with selections from the menu of modern American tapas.

These sister restaurants (Sarah’s Wine Bar is located upstairs at Bernard’s) have a wine list so long it seems like it was written by Victor Hugo. Over 1,300 wines are featured from the U.S., France and around the world and categorized by country, grape and region. There is also an extensive half bottle list as well as a great selection of dessert wine.

The Manor House has all the rural charm you could ask for in a quaint B-n-B. Built in 1898 by renowned architect E.K. Rossiter, this estate has maintained its classic feel while updating the amenities to ensure a top-of-the-line experience. In-room massages, fresh-made picnic baskets, bicycles and various tours are available when you stay in the inn itself.

Wake up to the gentle waters of Long Island Sound in one of the Inn’s 82 guest rooms and villas or the guest house, Three Stories. During your stay enjoy the amenities at the inn’s top-notch Sanno Spa and have dinner at its restaurant, Fresh Salt, which uses only the freshest local ingredients.

The resort is set on 113 acres, anchored by a 1775 manor house and embellished by 18 stunning architect-designed cottages that reflect key Connecticut themes. There’s an on-site luxury spa in its own gorgeous building, and to cap it all, the Relais & Chateaux property is a Mobile Five Diamond winner for both lodging and dining.

This upscale boutique hotel with beautiful glass and stone work allows guests to stretch out in the 700-square-foot king suite, enjoy a private patio in the patio room, hunker down for a long pampered stay in the double executive room, or enjoy one of the hotel’s other, equally impressive rooms. Wherever you stay, comfort and elegance is the name of the game.

The state’s largest youth theater, the nonprofit Oddfellows has been working with children for nearly 40 years, teaching all aspects and skill levels of the performing arts including singing, dancing, acting and storytelling. The trained pros here work hard to help kids and teens build confidence, work in groups and develop new talents.

For more than 25 years, the nonprofit Seven Angels has been producing and presenting professional regional theater works, often in conjunction with Actor’s Equity. Comedies, musicals, dramas, cabaret, world premieres, youth programs—all grace the Seven Angels stage to the tune of better than 200 performances per year.

The Bushnell has been central to the Greater Hartford arts scene for more than 80 years, hosting a wide variety of performances from traveling Broadway plays to major musical acts. Upcoming events include Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (Oct. 7), Mamma Mia! (Oct. 30-Nov.1) and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (Dec.11-13).

Located in a historic opera house in scenic Norfolk, the original Infinity Music Hall & Bistro has been hosting diverse musical acts on the original stage for years. In 2014, a second location in the heart of Hartford furthered the musical mission. Both locations feature world-class acts and the bistros serve satisfying lunch, brunch and dinner options.

It is rare that the moment you walk into a theater or concert hall a standing ovation seems in order, but that’s the case at Western Connecticut State University’s $97 million 130,000-square-foot Visual & Performing Arts Center. The main theater and separate acoustically designed musical hall are, in a word, breathtaking.

This past January, the oldest public art museum in the nation unveiled the results of a $33 million renovation that featured refurbishment of three major galleries. The Wadsworth can now better showcase its vast collection, including works dating from 1945 that haven’t been seen until now as well as new pieces from Hartford’s Sol LeWitt and other recent acquisitions.

Actor William Gillette helped resurrect Sherlock Holmes after Arthur Conan Doyle had killed him off. It was Gillette who gave the character his famous deerstalker cap, pipe and “elementary” catchphrase. As his curtain call, Gillette left the state this one-of-kind edifice of stone and steel on the crest of a hill overlooking the Connecticut River. A tour of the castle is a fascinating look into one of the theater’s greatest (and quirkiest) leading men.

Kids instinctively realize what tall ship and nautical historians the world over know: Mystic Seaport is a spectacular place. The museum made headlines last year when it took the world’s last wooden whaleship the Charles W. Morgan back to sea for the first time in more than 90 years and the Seaport continues to wow all visitors with other historic artifacts and recreations.

Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park Portland, (866) 860-0208 brownstonepark.com

Whether you’re a full-on thrill-seeker or casual recreation enthusiast, Brownstone has an activity for you—cliff jumping, scuba diving, zip lining, wakeboarding, rock climbing, snorkeling, kayaking and even extreme rope swings. There’s also picnic areas, hiking and biking, making it the ideal destination for any active family.

For more than 90 years, the Durham Fair has been the largest agricultural fair in the state, drawing tens of thousands annually. In addition to great food, unusual competitions, midway rides, family activities and agrelated contests, this year’s fair (Sept. 24-27) includes performances by country superstars Martina McBride, Craig Morgan and Confederate Railroad.

March Farm is a third-generation family farm in the rolling hills of Litchfield County. It’s a perfect destination to take the kids for a day of fruit picking and fun. Strawberries, blueberries, peaches and apples can be picked through the seasons. Stop by the farm store for delicious goodies including pastries, honey, jam and ice cream.

Unfortunately, this year marks the twelfth and final season of this popular weekly event, a throwback to farmers’ markets of days gone by with fresh produce from local farms, homemade baked goods and products, artisan crafts and wares, kid-friendly activities and live entertainment. Held on the grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead, it runs through October—and hopefully, finds a way to return next year.

Only a short putt from the gentle waters of Saybrook harbor, this family-friendly destination has arguably the best view any mini golf course in the state can offer. Refurbished in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the 18-hole course is in terrific condition, with even greens, miniature replicas of local landmarks and all the classic mini golf challenges.

Adjacent to Devil’s Hopyard State Park and playing at nearly 7,000 yards from the back tees, “The Fox” is one of the most scenic and challenging tracts in the state. In addition to the rolling hills, woods, ponds and wetlands, golfers love the 18th, a par-5 challenge with a pond tight up against the green that demands saving some of your best shots for last.

If you love sports, it’s all here in this 465,000-square-foot Stamford complex—two ice rinks, an Olympic-sized pool, indoor water park, gymnastics training center, squash and tennis courts, soccer and lacrosse fields, basketball and volleyball courts, batting cages, an indoor rock climbing wall, trampoline fun space and a fitness center. Now go get your game on!

The biggest water park in the state is also the best, featuring multiple ways to get wet, cool off and have fun on a hot summer day—a giant wave pool, multiple twisting and turning water slides, a lazy river, a family raft ride and a great play space with a giant 300-gallon bucket and water cannons.

Chef Bobby Flay is known around the world for his bold flavors, culinary expertise and versatility, and his sleek and stylish Bar Americain reflects that, melding his American menu with overtones of a European brasserie. Entrées take simple pleasures and infuse them with Flay’s skill, creating a unique and exciting dining experience.

The 10,000-seat arena has hosted some of the biggest musical acts of all time, from Bon Jovi, Billy Joel and The Who to Jay Z, Keith Urban and Kelly Clarkson, as well as MMA bouts, Connecticut Sun basketball and wine fests. Upcoming shows include Nick Jonas (Sept. 11), The Band Perry (Sept. 25) and Of Monsters and Men (Sept. 26).

Sitting at one of the tables circling the stage in this intimate 350-seat theater is like stepping back in time to the days when The Catskills were a tourist attraction and Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack held court in the entertainment world. Enjoy acts like Tony Orlando, Port Chuck and Frank Sinatra Jr. in a classy setting with a vintage cabaret feel.

Again and again this nightclub is ranked among the best, not just in the state but in the world, and it’s easy to see why. There’s the 21,000-square-foot Asian-inspired club and lounge. Add to that the outdoor lounges, open-air dining terraces and appearances by celebrities—including Kim Kardashian, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Diddy—and you’re sure to have a memorable night at Shrine.

Opened this year, the Tanger Outlets at Foxwoods includes more than 80 brand name stores and designers under one roof. From Michael Kors to Calvin Klein and Nike to H&M, there’s shopping for everyone here. After winning in the casino, why not treat yourself with something special?

At the Antique and Artisan Gallery, you’ll find vintage, mid-century and antique furniture, all hand-selected and displayed by 60 top dealers. The 23,000-square-foot warehouse holds local and international artwork, jewelry and home décor. From a white Onassis chair by Karl Springer to bedding from Elanbach’s Royal Collection, the Gallery has something for you to discover.

Mill House Antiques notes that it’s as well known for its gardens as its antiques. Both are superior, both worthy enough to give Mill House destination status. Once you get there, you’ll revel in the 17 showrooms, spread among five buildings that house an amazing selection of antiques and accessories.

Middlebury Consignments is the perfect place to buy and sell antique and contemporary furniture and home décor. The 20,000-square-foot showroom contains furniture from some of the most notable designers—Theodore Alexander, Maitland-Smith and Henredon—not to mention a large collection of iconic checkered black-and-white ceramic pieces from MacKenzie-Childs. There is also a café with a chef.

A visit to Logee’s is akin to stepping into another world—five greenhouses teem with gorgeous tropical plants, some amazing specimens of which have broken through containers to take root (like the 114-year-old Ponderosa lemon tree that still bears five-pound lemons). More than 1,500 varieties of plants are available, from fragrant flowers to fruit trees to orchids and more.

Award-winning floral designer and poet Cyrus Paktinat creates subtly beautiful arrangements for all occasions out of his sweet vine-covered Westport shop. From traditional tablescapes to unconventional grasses, mosses and branches, Paktinat lets his imagination run wild. His work has been featured in Martha Stewart Living, Connecticut Cottages & Gardens and Westport Magazine.

Nine rooms of this lovely 1900s Madison home are filled with wonderful discoveries from rugs to soaps and dressers to picture frames. Home décor, gifts, cottage-style furnishings and accessories are not in short supply at this shop, which opened in 1980. The Nosey Goose offers custom furniture painting services and complimentary gift wrapping.

In this era of specialization, Klaffs is the rare resource that offers high-quality expertise and top-of-the-line brands and product in multiple areas. The walk-through galleries and showrooms offer inspiration for your kitchen and bath needs, with plenty of new products, ideas and styles that are sure to fit your home.

Broken Arrow Nursery is a premier specialty plant retailer of woody plants and perennials in line with the best in the country. With contacts around the globe, the nursery is able to bring in top specimens from everywhere. Broken Arrow is the place to find native plants as well as the “uncommon and underutilized” options.

If you’re looking for something special for a deck or patio, Porch & Patio has it—all types of casual outdoor furniture (cast aluminum, aluminum, wood, wrought iron, poly-wood and wicker) as well as fire pits, umbrellas, hammocks, awnings and more. Porch & Patio also offers in-home consultation and furniture storage.

With an assortment of Climbers, English roses, Meidilands, Flower Carpets, Romanticas and Town and Country series, Twombly has a never-ending supply of roses. Japanese maples, hydrangeas or perennials are also available, and plants can be special ordered. The staff of trained horticulturists and designers is on hand to help you start up or care for your rose garden.

The Connecticut location of this arts company with select stores throughout the country has a little something for artists of all disciplines. There are canvasses, paints and pencils, as well as supplies for jewelry making and the creation of other crafts. For those who are not artistically inclined, there are also gift shop items.

Fifty years after opening its doors, The Barn is still helping homeowners and professionals find the perfect designer fabrics from all over the world as well as custom designing items sewn right in the workrooms. And the Barn is more than just a fabric store—its wide selection of draperies, tablecloths and bedding can inspire you to find your inner interior decorator.

Black Sheep Yarns is more than just a place to buy yarn, needles, hooks and patterns. This shop is more like your neighbor’s house where you’re always welcome to stop by. Owner Nancy Hamilton, who hosts “Fiber Arts with Nancy” on WHDD 91.9, invites shoppers to visit during the week for a free first-time knitting lesson.

For 25 years, R.J. Julia’s has been a haven for bibliophiles, a welcoming space dedicated to encouraging discovery and quality writing. In addition to a diverse inventory, a great little café and an experienced staff who can help you in any book search, the store hosts more than 350 author events annually.

There’s no shortage of books at this Niantic landmark. The Book Barn’s ever-changing inventory covers every shelf, is stacked to the ceiling and can be found in outbuildings and other spots on the property. The Book Barn buys books every day, making this the place to discover rare gems.

Although it may be small and a bit cramped, Banko’s has been the quintessential neighborhood music shop for 60 years. In addition to selling any kind of instrument (from guitars to flutes to xylophones), it also offers music lessons, instrument repair and unparalleled expertise from owner Joe Salvati, who knows and lives music.

For more than 35 years, The Red Balloon has featured fine clothes and footwear for children, including newborns. Petit Bateau, Catimini, Charlie Rocket, Wes and Willy and Zutano are just a few of the baby-friendly lines here, where impeccable taste and top-notch quality products are available on every shelf and rack.

Consigned Designs—and its even more luxurious sister shop next door, Elle Encore Couture—are a dual paradise for women with impeccable taste and style who want the best labels at the best prices. Brands like Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and Kate Spade are represented. Clients reportedly include actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.

What makes family-run Over the Moon special is not only the range of clothes—from preemies up to size 12—but the quality of the selection. You’ll find brands like Isobella and Chloe, Pink Chicken, Tea, Charlie Rocket and City Threads in addition to great outerwear, footwear, hats, accessories and more.

R. Derwin’s men’s store recently opened in a new space on West Street in Litchfield but the same dedication to style and sophistication that has branded the shop as a fashion destination for the past quarter century is still here. Carrying the finest in European sportswear as well as American-made clothing and accessories, it is a must-visit for every sharp-dressed man.

Clothing, scarves, necklaces, earrings, cuff s and more for the discerning shopper—Bianca Boutique in Westport curates the “best in style and quality from all over the world including Europe, the United States and Asia.” After-hours appointments for personal fashion consulting and private shopping are available upon request. Or explore the shop yourself—you’re sure to find something fabulous.

From cocktail dresses to evening gowns, Helen Ainson has been dressing the lovely ladies of Darien (and well beyond) in the most stylish designs for more than 35 years. Damianou, Rina diMontella, Alberto Makali, Blake & Co., David Meister and Teri Jon—just a sampling of the dozens of luxury fashion designs (in sizes 2 to 24) available here.

Opened in 1958, Mitchells of Westport has long been associated with quality designer clothing, jewelry and accessories and customer service that goes above and beyond. The shop is still independent and family-operated by the second and third generations of the Mitchells family. Designers include Brunello Cucinelli, Manolo Blahnik and Valentino.

Known “as that guy in the commercials” from a series of campy-but-loveable TV ads, Dennis Janofsky is the head of this family operation where quality and care come first. After Janofsky selects the gemstones for a new piece, the Quality Gem craftsmen sketch an idea, hand carve a wax, cast the metal, set the stones, polish and shine. Then the friendly staff helps you find the right piece.

Lux Bond & Green was founded in 1898 by Morris A. Green, who sold pocket watches and gold eye frames from a horse-drawn cart in Waterbury. Today, watches, diamonds and jewelry from all the top designers can be found at Lux as well as terrific pieces like the stunning cuffs of Connecticut-based Evocateur.

Family-owned since 1949, Holloways covers a variety of home appliance needs, from cooking and refrigeration needs to vacuums and washing machines, in conjunction with brand names and fair prices. Holloways is also dedicated to customer service, both when picking out the right appliance for your home but also making sure it stays maintained.

Specializing in eye care for over 30 years, OptiCare Eye Health and Vision Center is the premier place for routine eye exams and eyeglasses, and with 18 locations throughout Connecticut, there’s a center near you. For eye health issues requiring surgery, a team of professionals can take care of you at the Ambulatory Surgery Center in Waterbury and Laser Vision Correction Center in Danbury.

As The Bowerbird likes to brag, it offers 4,500 square feet of “impulsive necessities,” including items that are fun, special and trendy, from more than 2,000 vendors. Decorative home and garden accessories, toys, books, baby gifts, stationery, clocks, collectibles, frames, jewelry, seasonal gifts, gourmet food . . . the selection goes on and on.

New Morning Store is home to the largest organic produce selection in the area and an extensive supplement and homeopathic department. On top of that, New Morning’s fresh prepared foods counter, the Provender, is a gourmet source for delicious, ready-to-eat natural and organic foods created by Executive Chef Carol Byer-Alcorace.

Jordie’s Toy Shoppe, Guilford; Evan’s Toy Shoppe, Hamden; Jesse’s Toys, Orange jordiestoyshoppect.com

It’s three stores but all the same owners, Mick and Lori Hershman, locals who are dedicated to ensuring that there’s an awesome selection of the best and newest toys available at each location. And because it’s a small, family-owned enterprise, that means friendly, knowledgeable and helpful customer service you don’t get from the big chain stores.

All the elite names are here—Kona, Jamis, Brompton, Colnago, Linus—but it’s Devil’s Gear’s commitment to “the joy of riding” that sets this shop apart. In addition to giving pro advice in picking out a new or used bike and servicing it after the purchase, Devil’s Gear is deeply involved with the community, whether it be organizing events and classes or sponsoring special rides throughout the year.

Sound Runner lives by its motto: Keeping your life in motion. In addition to carrying all the top brands (Adidas, Nike, Saucony, New Balance), experienced runners as well as beginners can come here for advice and opportunities to participate in group runs, organized races, running clinics, pub runs and more.

For 60 years Farrs has been “the everything store,” a family-owned affair that is a throwback that manages to keep up with the big-box stores by offering just about anything from bikes and fishing poles to athletic apparel and fitness accessories. More importantly, there’s awesome customer service—heck, they even fill propane tanks and sharpen skates!