Before getting to this week’s newsletter, we need to reveal the answer to last week’s trivia question. The question was:

Which of these drinks isn’t on the menu at Lisa’s Crown & Hammer?

A) Collinsville Collins
B) Irish Iced Coffee
C) Naughty Nurse
D) Farmington River Fizz

Lock in a guess? See if you’re right.

By late February, we all start telling ourselves the same lie: winter is basically over. The days stretch a little longer, the sun feels just warm enough to give us hope, and we start eyeing our heaviest coats like we might not need them much longer.

But the forecast for a foot or two snowstorm says otherwise. Connecticut doesn’t reward optimism. We are not out of the woods.

We’re on the cusp of the in between season also known as March. Not quite winter, not even close to spring. It’s muddy shoes, unpredictable forecasts, and the reflexive habit of checking the weather app like it owes us clarity. So instead of waiting for better days, this issue is about making these days better. A short list of ways to get out of the house without pretending the season is something it’s not.

If winter is going to linger, it might as well do it comfortably. Wood-n-Tap’s winter igloos let you embrace the season without suffering through it, warm, contained, and mercifully far from slushy parking lots and melting snowbanks.

When the gray days start to blur together, Muse Paintbar offers a reset that feels both easy and productive. No talent required, no pressure to be good at it, just a reason to leave the house, follow along, and head home with proof that the day counted.

If you’re ready to move, but not quite ready to battle the elements, indoor golf at Golf Lounge 18 is the late winter compromise we all need. It delivers motion, competition, and the comforting illusion that spring activities have already begun.

Not every late winter plan has to avoid the cold entirely. Some are about choosing how you experience it. Ice skating at Simsbury Farms or West Hartford’s Veterans Memorial Ice Rink hits its sweet spot right now. The holiday crowds are gone, the ice is still reliable, and there’s something oddly satisfying about leaning into winter for an hour instead of resisting it all day, especially when it ends with warm hands and a hot drink.

And when you do feel like stepping fully outside, late winter hiking can be one of the season’s quiet highlights. The trails are calmer, the air is crisp, and everything feels a little less rushed. Layers are key, and depending on conditions, snowshoes or ice spikes can make all the difference. It’s winter on your terms: peaceful, manageable, and surprisingly refreshing.

For days when the weather refuses to commit to anything at all, the Connecticut Art Trail Passport is a quiet lifesaver. It gives you an excuse to explore museums across the state without the pressure of doing everything at once. Go now, go later, go on the kind of weekend where the forecast changes every three hours. It’s a plan that works just as well in late February as it does when spring finally decides to show up.

Late February may test our patience, but it doesn’t have to be wasted. Spring will arrive when it’s ready, and if history has taught us anything, it may still have a surprise or two in store. Until then, we’ll take warmth where we can get it, plans that don’t depend on the forecast, and small reminders that winter doesn’t get the final say around here.

Here’s what’s on deck this week around the Valley — mark your calendars!

Look for icons to find your crowd: 🎈 kid-friendly • 👤 adult • 🌞 all ages

Library Events

Discover what’s happening at your local library. Registration may be required—check with each library for full details and other events.