Off the Beaten Laugh
Even though I’ve been out of school for nearly twenty years, every September still feels like a fresh start. A reset. So it’s time to turn the spotlight on self-care, and honestly, is there anything better for the soul than a spontaneous laugh?
Case in point: I was driving through West Hartford with my husband when a street sign caught my eye: Stoner Drive. I giggled, and assumed I must’ve misread it. Nope. Google Maps confirmed it: Stoner Drive is very real.
Wondering what other funny street names were out there, I turned to the internet, and it delivered. Turns out, the Farmington Valley (and beyond) delivers comedy gold in the form of street signs.
One quick PSA: Some of these signs are bolted in tight or even monitored by security cameras. Snap a photo if you like, but don’t do anything that’ll land you in the local police blotter.
Ready to road trip with a smile? Here are some of the best unintentionally funny (or delightfully intentional) street names in and around the Farmington Valley:
Right Here in the Valley
Tootin Hill Road (Simsbury) — The name’s a promise. Roll down a window just in case.
Nimrod Road (Simsbury) — To some, it’s Biblical. To others, pure Bugs Bunny.
Climax Road (Avon) — Always gets a reaction. Bonus: it ends at Bushy Hill Road. You can’t make this stuff up.
Stoner Drive (West Hartford) — A guaranteed eye-roll from your teenager.
Beyond the Valley
Litchfield County
Pussy Lane (New Hartford) — Yep. That’s the name.
Weed Road (Torrington) — Some addresses just come with higher expectations.
Hartford County
Hooker Street (New Britain) — A name that's raised generations of eyebrows.
Satan’s Kingdom Road (New Hartford) — When your GPS really wants to test you.
Rainbow Road (Windsor Locks) — Mario Kart fans, rejoice.
Middlesex County
Roast Meat Hill Road (Killingworth) — Equal parts tasty and terrifying.
Fairfield County
Memory Lane (Norwalk) — Perfect for a sentimental Sunday drive.
Punch Bowl Drive (Westport) — Feels like every block party ends with questionable fruit punch and a conga line.
New Haven County
Skunk Misery Road (Higganum) — Hard pass.
Lois Lane (Milford) — Superman not guaranteed.
Easy Street (Milford) — The dream.
And last, but certainly not least - Morning Wood Drive (Beacon Falls) — Go ahead. Say it with a straight face at the DMV.
September 1 - 7 Scene:
Local Festivals & Events
Mark your calendar for these can't-miss happenings around the Valley.
Date | Event Name | Location |
Mon, Sep 1 12 - 3 PM | Avon History Museum | |
Tue, Sep 2 2:30 PM | Tulmeadow Farm | |
Wed, Sep 3 4 - 5:30 PM 6 - 7:30 PM | Sycamore Hills | |
Wed, Sep 3 6 - 7 PM | Hill-Stead Museum | |
Fri, Sep 5 7 - 9 PM | Winding Trails | |
Sat, Sep 6 7:30 - 9 AM | Roaring Brook | |
Sat, Sep 6 8 AM - 2 PM | 205 Old Farms Rd, Avon | |
Sat, Sep 6 9 AM | Christ Community Church, Collinsville | |
Sat, Sep 6 9 AM - 12 PM | The Shops at Farmington Valley | |
Sat, Sep 6 10 AM - 12 PM | Wilcox-Bushley Homestead | |
Sat, Sep 6 10 AM - 2 PM | West Hartford Town Hall | |
Sat, Sep 6 11 AM - 2 PM | Unionville | |
Sat, Sep 6 2 - 3:30 PM | Memorial United Methodist Church, Avon | |
Sat, Sep 6 2 - 9 PM | Noah Webster House | |
Sat, Sep 6 5:30 PM | US Horse Welfare and Rescue | |
Sat, Sep 6 7 - 9:30 PM | Simsbury Meadows | |
Sun, Sep 7 7:30 - 8:45 PM | Roaring Brook |
Booked in the Valley: Your Library Connection
Your library card isn’t just for checking out books — it’s also a golden ticket to some of the region’s best museums and cultural spots. Many local libraries offer free or heavily discounted passes to places like Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, and the Children’s Museum in West Hartford. Availability varies by town, so take a peek at your library’s website before planning an outing. You might be surprised at just how far your library card can take you.
Library Events
Discover what’s happening at your local library. Registration may be required—check with each library for full details and other events.
Date & Time | Event Name | Library |
Tue, Sep 2 10 - 11 AM | Farmington | |
Wed, Sep 3 10 - 11 AM | Farmington (Barney) | |
Wed, Sep 3 3:30 - 5:30 PM | West Hartford (NWL) | |
Wed, Sep 3 7 - 8 PM | Avon | |
Thu, Sep 4 3 - 4 PM | Farmington (Barney) | |
Thu, Sep 4 6 - 6:30 PM | Avon | |
Fri, Sep 5 1 PM | Canton | |
Sat, Sep 6 10 AM - 12 PM | Farmington (offsite) | |
Sat, Sep 6 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM | West Hartford (FX) | |
Sat, Sep 6 2 PM | Canton (offsite) |
