| Summer is here and it is time to celebrate. Raise a glass, give a shout, go for a joy ride and for the love of all things, relax! You deserve it. 
Cold Brew on a Hot Summer Day
If beer is your drink of choice, you are in luck. There are many distinctive tours and taprooms that pride themselves on fresh, interesting brews, either their own micros, beer on tap or bottles by the score. For a truly monstrous beer experience, try the Monster B's Bar & Grille in Stamford, recently named "Best of the Gold Coast" for their incredible beer selection! They offer 30 beers on draught and a selection that includes 200 bottled beers from throughout the world! And the beer is not the only thing that draws in visitors. Monster B's is about mouth-watering food, exemplary service, attention to detail and a fun-filled atmosphere for the whole family! BAR in New Haven is known for its variety of spaces, each with a different atmosphere that appeals to different people. The Front Room offers a full-sized pool table and wide-screen TV. The Bru Room offer BAR’s micro-brewed beers and renowned brick-oven pizzas. Finally, the BARtropolis Room offers a high-energy dance club with DJs spinning today’s hits. Come enjoy the experience of your choice. Eli Cannon’s Tap Room in Middletown features 36 “real ales” on tap, rotating constantly to ensure freshness and revolutionary selection. Choose from the list written on a black chalkboard presented by your server and enjoy the easygoing atmosphere with barber chairs, theater seats, leather couches and chairs to chill on. City Steam Brewery Cafe in Hartford is a spectacular seven-level restaurant in the historic Richardson Building within the Marriott Residence Inn. The 15-barrel brew house allows brewmaster Ron Page to handcraft up to 12 styles of ales and lagers. The casually priced classic brew house menu with new world touches provides a menu for everyone's tastes. The award-winning Brew Ha Ha Comedy Club, open Thursday and Friday at 8 and Saturday at 7 and 10 p.m., provides the perfect entertainment for a night out with friends. Willimantic Brewing Co. is a living landmark restaurant and pub brewery located in Willimantic, in the heart of rural northeastern Connecticut. The pub brews more than a dozen different handcrafted styles of beer each month and also carries more than 20 different craft microbrews on tap, many from New England. If you are a basic drink kind of gal or guy, they also serve a variety of bottled domestic and imported beers, cocktails and a changing wine list. Come for the beer, stay for the unique atmosphere, extensive menu and great time! Recently named the 73rd best brewer in the world by RateBeer.com, and ranked number 15 in the top 50 American Micro Breweries by the Beer Advocate, Thomas Hooker Brewing Company is a local brewery with the national reputation. The 8,000 square-foot facility in Bloomfield features a large tasting bar and branded merchandise for purchase and holds tours every Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The facility also hosts private and public events regularly, including the bi-monthly Friday Open House event on the first and third Friday of every month. Enjoy drinks, a guided tour and a pint glass to take home – all for $10 – and a portion of the proceeds is donated to The Village for Families and Children. Cottrell Brewing Company in Pawtucket has a place in Connecticut’s history – though not just for what you would expect. The Cottrell family was known for its revolutionary printing presses in the late 19th and early 20th century. Now, it is the great, great grandson of C.B. Cottrell, Charles Cottrell Buffum, Jr. who carries on the family name with his own master creation – Old Yankee Ale. The ale, which is brewed and bottled within the same factory walls where his ancestors once stood, is actually the only beer the company makes with the Cottrell brand. However, they do brew many other beers you may have heard of, such as various Newport Storm beers, the Bock for Narragansett Brewing and others. Tours of this brewery are by appointment only, but well worth the call!
From the Sea
Have a taste for the fruits of the ocean? Connecticut’s historic coast is home to a number of fish markets, clam shacks and lobster houses. For signature salty charm, check out Lobster Landing in Clinton, Sea Swirl in Mystic (known for its fried clams), Lenny’s Indian Head Inn in Branford (try the shore dinner) and Bill’s Seafood in Westbrook (the seafood platter is a must).
|  | Find the delicious Connecticut-invented hot lobster roll all across the state and along the shoreline. We recommend trying one at Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough in Noank, Lennie & Joe’s Fish Tale in Westbrook and Madison, Knapp’s Landing in Stratford or Harbor Lights in Norwalk. Of course, there are plenty more where that came from. Feel free to make your own discovery (and be sure to let us know your favorite). With hot lobster rolls, it is hard to go wrong!
The High Life
Connecticut’s casinos are among the most spectacular in the world, featuring a brilliant array of entertainment, not to mention food and drink, overnight accommodations and, of course, gaming. Immerse yourself in a world of entertainment at both Mohegan Sun Casino and Foxwoods Resort. A wide array of show-stopping performers will be taking the stage this summer at Foxwoods Resort Casino’s brand new MGM Grand Theater in Ledyard. First up are Crosby, Stills and Nash on June 13, bringing their classic hits and new releases to the Connecticut state for a one-night performance. Next is Emmy award-winning comedian, Kathy Griffin on June 26, bringing her rapid-fire wit and outrageous personality to Connecticut audiences. With the reality TV hit “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List” and a slew of stand-up specials that have aired on Bravo, Kathy has established herself as one of the funniest people in show business. On July 19, come see composer, singer, actor and activist – Sting in a masterful performance and on August 22 catch the timeless Steve Miller Band. After a four-year hiatus, Pop/Ska sensations No Doubt have announced plans for a massive 2009 tour. And which venue is lucky enough to host the group on one of their stops? No other than Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville. Special guests Paramore and Janelle Monáe will be joining them at their appearance at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Other acts coming to the Mohegan Sun Arena this summer, include Montgomery Gentry with special guest Steve Azar on July 12, the WNBA All-Star 2009 game on July 25, Taylor Swift with special guests Kellie Pickler and Gloriana on August 28 and many more.
Road Trips for Two
Run away with a loved one to historic Main streets, cozy inns and B&Bs, sunset sails, couples massages and intimate dinners for two. From Main Street to the historic cove, which has brought boaters to town via the Connecticut River since the 1600s, Old Wethersfield offers a romantic setting with a historically significant past. Stroll along the brick sidewalks of Main Street in Old Wethersfield, Connecticut’s largest historic district and browse the small art, antiques, jewelry and crafts shops lining the street. At the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum, stroll through the Colonial Revival Garden, designed in 1921; the Weston Rose Garden, which features more than 200 rose bushes; and the Heritage Garden, an herb garden established by the Native Americans and village’s early settlers. Continue to Wethersfield Cove for a view of the Connecticut River, and learn about the West Indies trade in Wethersfield from 1650 to 1830 at the Cove Warehouse. End your day with fine dining or a drink at the recently-opened J. Michaels Tavern, housed in the historic Deming-Standish House, built in 1787. Stay overnight at the charming Chester Bulkley B&B on Main Street. For a romantic seaside escape, explore downtown Mystic, a historic seaport village lined with art, jewelry, clothing and antique shops. Climb aboard the Argia, an authentic replica of a 19th-century schooner, for a sunset cruise that includes a view of the Morgan Point Lighthouse. Spend the night and dine at the Bee & Thistle Inn in nearby Old Lyme. Consistently voted “Most Romantic” by Connecticut magazine readers, the 1756 home features one-of-a-kind antique-filled guestrooms and couples packages that include strawberries and champagne and in-room couples massages. Other great towns to get lost in include Chester, Essex, Westport and Litchfield.
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