The Quiet Corner THE ARTS, DINING, ANTIQUES, ATTRACTIONS & SO MUCH MORE... PUTNAMSupporting Tourism & Communities TRAVELER in Northeastern, CT & Beyond... ISSUE NO. 49 • NORTHEASTERN, CONNECTICUT DOWNTOWN MAP INSIDE • JANUARY - MARCH 2016 For an afternoon, a day, or a weekend...come and enjoy Northeastern Connecticut! CT Audubon Society Center at Pomfret inter is upon us, although up until now, college QVCC provides plenty of programs for learning Italian, Greek and even Gluten Free...Learn the history of the weather has been mild, rest assured the and entrichment. The Vanilla Bean Cafe provides The Abington Social Library...established by the women Wsnow will arrive soon! So to help keep you musical entertainment without the long drive to Boston of Abington in 1813 this is the longest continuously busy (and warm) this winter, we are featuring indoor or Providence. If you like pizza this issue features some running social library in the US...Want to save money on and outdoor winter activities, plus energy savings, and of our favorite pizza places in the Quiet Corner. Plus your energy bills this winter? Call Titan Energy...a local of course comfort food. discover a convenient way to save energy saving company that seeks to both maximize This is a beautiful time of on energy bills this winter by calling energy service and minimize costs for their residential year to explore the trails of Titan Energy. We hope you enjoy and commercial clients...Get outside and walk the trails of the Connecticut Audubon this issue of The Putnam Traveler! the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Pomfret...The Society Center at Pomfret. Grassland Bird Conservation Center, Bafflin Sanctuary Get a glimpse of the birds INSIDE: and Trail Wood all feature numerous scheduled activities nesting and enjoy a little fresh Local Advertisers…Local Real both indoors and out from January through March... air. Become a member of Estate...Downtown Putnam Events... Quinebaug Valley Community College offers a variety of the Abington Social Library, If you love Pizza...there are plenty programs to keep you busy throughout the year...and The the longest continuously of options in and near the Quiet Vanilla Bean Cafe...is a wonderful place to relax and enjoy running social library in the Corner...from New York Style, live folk music! US! Our local community Downtown Putnam & Area Maps • Businesses • Local Activities • Shopping & Events Northeastern Connecticut is Forty-Five Minutes from Casinos, Hartford, & Providence Twenty Minutes from Worcester • One Hour from Boston • Three Hours from New York City PUTNAM TRAVELER: 5,000+ Copies Mailed & Distributed to Visitors and Area Businesses throughout CT & MA 10,000 Copies Mailed to All Residents of Putnam, Woodstock & Pomfret Connecticut THE PUTNAM TRAVELER is Designed and Published by: PRST STD U.S. POSTAGE GDP POSTAL CUSTOMER PAID GLOBAL DESIGN & PUBLISHING LLC PERMIT#8 PUTNAM, CT 860-963-0414 • PutnamTraveler.com 06260 GDPublishing.com Printing of the Putnam Traveler provided by 101 Business Solutions, Brooklyn, CT Mailing services provided by The Laser Letter Shop, Pomfret, CT We cannont guarantee the accuracy of this information, discrepancies brought to our attention, will be corrected in the next issue. Any reproduction of the content of the Putnam Traveler without permission is prohibited. All text provided to Global Design & Publishing, LLC is edited by this publisher as needed and without notice to the originator. Copyright © 2016 Global Design & Publishing, LLC. PUTNAM TRAVELER NEWS • NORTHEAST, CONNECTICUT America’s Favorite Food! PIZZA IN THE QUIET CORNER According to The Atlantic magazine (which gleaned this fact from a 2014 U.S. Department of Agriculture report), “About 1 in 8 Americans eats pizza any given day.” Connecticut has a long history with this favored food. Pepe’s Pizzeria, established in New Haven in 1925, is heralded as the home of the first American style pizza. It’s probably fair to say there’s at least one pizza joint in almost every town in our country. The Quiet Corner is no exception. Google “quiet corner ct pizza restaurants” and you’ll get over 200,000 results! And it seems that our area’s pizza lovers can support them all. BY CRIS CADIZ oted last year as a favorite in the “Best Pizza bit for this popular restaurant’s pizza (or calzone) or choose from in Connecticut” feature article in Connecticut New York style thin crust pizza. their famous ‘designer’ pizza NMagazine, Sweet Evalina’s got kudos for It closed on October 31st menu including taco pizza their “thin-crust New York-style pizza” about which “the after 17 years to renovate a and seafood casino. A second locals rave.” And the love goes both ways…as a thank new larger location, also location, Willington you to their loyal Quiet Corner customers in spring in Plainfield. New York Pizza Too, is located on of 2015, owners Tom and Polly Hayden gave away Pizza is slated to reopen Route 72 in Willington. fifteen free pizzas to celebrate their 15th anniversary in at 733 Norwich Road (the Gluten-free pizza business. old Doyal Drug building) lovers don’t need to be Located just south of the Woodstock town green around March 15th. Look disappointed, since a on Route 169, Sweet Evalina’s is a “roadside restaurant” them up on Facebook for number of Quiet Corner offering casual indoor & outdoor dining. Open daily the opening day. restaurants have added a for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, Sweet Evalina’s Originally from the gluten free crust option to also serves other American favorites such as burgers, Bronx, owner Jimmy Manecho their menus. Pomfret’s Dayna hot dogs, sandwiches, salads & wraps. The Hayden’s describes...“If I had to choose Flath “loves Pizza 101 and regularly create different kinds of gourmet pies— another place it would be Sweet especially their gluten free crust!” including seasonal treats like butternut squash in fall Evalina’s,” says Ethan. “I haven’t eaten there Located at 16 Mashamoquet Road in and asparagus in the spring. very many times, but if you asked anyone in my grade Pomfret Center, Pizza 101 is a small family restaurant “We personally think that Sweet Evalina’s has the what their favorite pizza place is, I’m sure almost all of popular for both dining in and take out. It serves a best pizza around,” says resident Kimberly Ferreira them would say Sweet Evalina’s.” variety of Greek, Mediterranean and American menu Shepherd, speaking for herself and her family. “We Pizza Pizzazz (www.letseat.at/pizzapizzazz) items. like the New York at 136 Main Street in Lori McDermott, also of Pomfret, is a fan of style thin crust. The Danielson is family- Bella’s Bistro’s (www.bellasbistromarket.com) variety of toppings owned and operated. gluten free pizza, although this restaurant’s regular on specialty pizzas The pizza is fresh, the crust has many aficionados as well. Carmel Osterlund is a plus…my crust is thin, and they claims “Bellas pizza is to die for… Love it!” Located on personal favorites offer generous portions Main Street in downtown Putnam, Bella’s Bistro offers are artichoke and by the slice. Pizza Pizzaz award-winning northern Italian cuisine, pedestrians can asparagus.” is also known for their often smell the aroma’s coming from the kitchen while Another USDA calzones. The restaurant passing by! Their seasonal al fresco seating makes this pizza fact reported is clean and the staff is a fun place to eat and people watch especially during by The Atlantic is friendly. Putnam’s events, such as First Fridays and Riverfire. that “more than Also family-run, Just across the street from Bella’s, Someplace one-quarter of Riverside Pizza, Special (wwwsomeplacespecialrestaurant.com) boys between 6 located in Thompson voted ‘Best Italian in Windham County’ by Connecticut and 19 eat pizza is great for dining-in, Magazine in 2010, this popular Putnam pizza stop and every day.” Twelve- carryout and delivery. family restaurant and pub. It also features outdoor year-old Ethan Bove’s two favorite pizza places are Johnny’s Pizza (www.johnnyspizza.com)and seating and is a popular local take-out option. Woodstock Pizza and New York Pizza in Brooklyn Pizza, both located in Brooklyn, offer Palmieri’s Pizza (www.palmierispizza. Plainfield. “Woodstock Pizza is always great for a quick great pizza options, dine-in or take-out. com) located in the Price Chopper Plaza in downton pizza whenever we don’t know what to have for lunch If you are willing to travel a little further, Putnam, offers New York style pizza (with gluten free or dinner,” says Ethan, whose personal favorite there is Willington Pizza House (www. options) and Italian Cuisine. This popular pizzaria is buffalo chicken pizza. “New York Pizza is always a joy to willingtonpizza.com) located on Route 32 in small and tables fill up quickly especially after local high stop at,” he continues. “In fact, for the longest time we Willington, was voted “Best Pizza”Connecticut Magazine school sporting events. Dine in or take out. would eat there every Friday night.” Reader’s Choice Tolland County. Willington Pizza focuses Ethan and other New York Pizza & Pasta Co. fans on hand-made crust, the key to a good pizza pie. Visit (3,000+ on Facebook!) are probably chomping at the their website to learn how it is made. Build your own ARTS & FRAMING & THE SOCHOR ART GALLERY SHERI SOCHOR, OWNER “The difference is, I care” Aerial Yoga in Putnam! open classes • workshops programs for girls private group instruction sound healing & essential oil events healthy eating & health coaching programs Wed - Sat....10 - 5pm 112 Main Street Sunday........ 11 - 5pm Putnam, CT 06260 (pre-registration required) or by appointment 860.963.0105 Lori McDermott, RYT500 • Tel.