THE PREMIER LGBTQ BUSINESS & SERVICE DIRECTORY
CONNECTICUT Vol. 4
SCAN QR CODE TO VIEW THIS ISSUE ONLINE Bar Guide & Event Schedule
TABLE OF CON TENT S
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ABOUT CONNECTICUT
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RESTAURANT GUIDE
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EVENTS SCHEDULE
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BAR GUIDE
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LGBTQ ORGS & ATTRACTIONS
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BUSINESS DIRECTORY
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ABOUT CONNECTICUT LGBTQ Connecticut Hartford offers a wide variety of music, theatre, art, sports and dining, with a part big city, part small New England town atmosphere. While Hartford might seem straight-laced at first glance, it is also home to an active gay community. Dance parties, theme nights and drag shows define Hartford’s gay nightlife. Most of the bars are conveniently located within a couple of miles from downtown. Hartford ranks among the places with the highest percentage of adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, according to a Gallup Poll study of the top 50 U.S. metropolitan areas. A total of 4.6 percent of residents in Hartford identify as LGBTQ, putting the Connecticut capital in a tie with Denver and Los Angeles. For the purposes of the study, Hartford includes West Hartford and East Hartford. Connecticut cities and towns also score higher than average when it comes to laws and policies supporting the LGBTQ community. The quaint East Coast town of New Haven is home to one of the best universities in the country, not to mention one of the gayest. Yale University boasts a rather large number of LGBTQ students, faculty and organizations, which spreads its intellectual influence across the globe and its social life onto the college town in the form of bars, restaurants and shops.
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RESTAURANT GUI DE Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant Homestyle Ethiopian cuisine, with some vegetarian dishes, served in a spare, homey setting. 176 Temple Street, New Haven, CT
Shell & Bones Oyster Bar & Grill Seafood eatery perched on New Haven Harbor offering steaks, water views & a seasonal deck. 100 S Water Street, New Haven, CT
Tarantino Restaurant & Bar High-end, family-owned Italian mainstay turning out traditional entrees in a buzzing space. 30 Railroad Place, Westport, CT
Le Petit Café Chef Roy Ip’s acclaimed French bistro serving 4-course set menus in cozy, quaint environs. 225 Montowese Street, Branford, CT
Trumbull Kitchen Seafood headlines the eclectic menu at this casual, industrial-chic eatery with a lively bar scene. 150 Trumbull Street, Hartford, CT
Max Downtown Upscale spot with prime cuts & seafood, extensive wine list, cocktails for expense account crowd. 185 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT
Donovan’s Reef Restaurant American restaurant/tavern housed in rustic, brick-&-beam environs of the 1800s Branford Lock Works. Lockworks Square 1212, Main Street, Branford, CT
Kawa Ni Inventive Japanese & Pan-Asian plates to share plus sake & cocktails served in cozy surroundings. 19 Bridge Square, Westport, CT Dockside Seafood & Grill Seasonal marina-side spot for fresh seafood, outdoor dining & sunsets, plus live summer events. 145 Block Island Rd, Branford, CT
ZINC New Haven New American farm-to-table cuisine with a slight Asian slant in sleek, chic decor with a bar. 964 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT
Union League Cafe Elevated brasserie from chef Jean-Pierre Vuillermet in an elegant, 19th-century setting. 1032 Chapel St, New Haven, CT
Finalmente Trattoria This snug bistro draws theatergoers & locals with creative Italian cuisine & a warm ambiance. 165 Post Road E, Westport, CT
Salute Trendy Italian restaurant with an upscale menu of pastas (gluten-free available) & grilled dishes. 100 Trumbull St, Hartford, CT
Home American comfort food & local beers offered in an inviting setting styled like a living room. 1114 Main Street, Branford, CT
Lenny’s Indian Head Inn Bustling American eatery with simple decor offering a varied seafood menu, lively bar & creek views. 205 S Montowese St, Branford, CT
Tha Capital Grille Outpost of the upscale steakhouse chain offers classic American fare & a clubby, refined setting. 44 Front Street, Hartford, CT
The Cottage Seasonal New American plates and signature cocktails are served in a cozy, elegant dining room. 256 Post Rd E, Westport, CT
The Whelk Upmarket choice featuring sustainable seafood & local produce in an airy room with outdoor seating. 575 Riverside Avenue, Westport, CT
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2022 EVENT SCH E DULE JUNE
JUN 18
WHITEOUT 2022
JUN 4
Enjoy a night out in an all white upscale New Haven party. There will be DJs, drinks, music and dancing. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
SUMMER FIESTA
Join us for the big bad Summer Fiesta! A party experience you will not wanna miss. A bigger venue and better experience for our patrons. Music by Connecticut’s finest! Learn more at eventbrite.com.
JULY JUL 7
JUN 4
THE ROOTS LIVE
e’ll be welcoming back vendors from W all around Connecticut and beyond, bringing all kinds of their handmade and handcrafted products for purchase! On the pavilion stairs center park is the return of “Strawberry Central” the place where you will find Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Lemonade, Strawberry Pie, and other goodies as well!
JUL 7
Come enjoy an music filled evening to remember by three-time Grammy award-winning multiplatinum group, The Roots! Learn more online at eventbrite.com.
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
SPRING SMOKEFEST
Come join us for this Terpy Thursday Outdoor Festival. Free entry. Register at eventbrite.com. There will be food, drinks, raffles and more. Live DJ, smoking lounge and good vibes.
No need to leave the event for lunch, just visit our Food Truck Arena where you can expect a collection of mouthwatering cuisine.
JUL 9 DUTTI
Imagine being in the wilderness, grass under your feet, music pumpin’, waistline moving, nothing but great vibes. That is Dutti.Grab your cooler, your crew, and escape to Dutti! Learn more at eventbrite.com.
To the delight of your ears, we will be playing popular music over our public address system throughout the day, making this the one event you won’t want to miss this spring! Register for free at eventbrite.com.
JUL 16
ROMANTICONN 2022
JUN 6
Join us for a crazy journey of love for all things related to books! Create memories with authors and friends. This event of author signing will have include over a dozen different vendors. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
KAMASI WASHINGTON
Come enjoy an evening of music performed live by jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington at the Wall Street Theater. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
JUN 11
JUL 23
JOUVERT IN JUNE 2022
FETECHILLA
Connecticut’s biggest and most anticipated Caribbean party, this event was sold out last year and this year its gonna be no different. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
A Jouvert Fete experience! Come have a blast of non-stop energy and vibes with 11 hours of fun paints, powders and mud! Learn more at eventbrite.com.
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BAR GU ID E Chez Est Gay bar & nightclub with cocktails, a patio & lively vibe, featuring drag queens, DJs & karaoke. 458 Wethersfield Ave, Hartford, CT
BAR Buzzing bar & dance club with indie rock shows staged in industrial-chic environs with cozy nooks. 254 Crown St, New Haven, CT
168 York Street Cafe Laid-back gay bar & American eatery in the basement of a townhouse, featuring theme nights & brunch. 168 York St, New Haven, CT
Toad’s Place Toad’s Place is a concert venue and nightclub located in New Haven, Connecticut. Wikipedia 300 York St, New Haven, CT
Favela Rooftop Gay bar 145C Newfield Ave, Hartford, CT Trevi Lounge Gay hangout with a laid-back atmosphere & daily drink specials, plus pool, DJs & karaoke nights. 548 Kings Hwy Cutoff, Fairfield, CT
Terminal 110 Sprawling, industrial nightlife complex with bar food, Latin dancing nights & a dueling-piano bar. 240 Sargent Dr, New Haven, CT Troupe429 Gay bar 3 Wall Street, Norwalk, CT
Partners Cafe Theme nights, dancers, karaoke & a constant calendar of events draw a gay crowd to this corner bar. 365 Crown St, New Haven, CT Cafe Nine Live music from many genres (rock, folk, country, jazz, blues, hip-hop) in a compact corner bar. 250 State St, New Haven, CT
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2022 EVENT SCH E DULE AUGUST
SEP 10
CHICKENSTOCK MUSIC FESTIVAL AT HEIN FARM
AUG 13
NEW ENGLAND WING FESTIVAL
The New England Wing Festival is is bringing you a day full of wings, craft beer, eating contests and local vendors. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
Musicians take the stage at Hein Farm for a day of great music, good food, local brews, vendors, activities and more. Family friendly. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
AUG 20
SEP 13
2022 CONNECTICUT TACO FESTIVAL
RAINBOW KITTEN SURPRISE
As if channeling another dimension where genres simply don’t exist, Rainbow Kitten Surprise find harmony in unpredictability, weaving together lyrical poetry, hummable melodies, and a rush of instrumental eccentricities. Details at eventbrite.com.
Join us at the Connecticut Taco Festival, providing Connecticut’s best tacos for 5 years! We’ll have craft vendors, live music, drinks and so much more! Learn more at eventbrite.com.
AUG 21
PIZZA MAKING CLASS AT NEXT DOOR!
SEP 23
CYMANDE
Two hour pizza making class at Next Door in New Haven, Connecticut. Learn all the skills of making a famous New Haven pie in our oven! Learn more at eventbrite.com.
Cymande, a group black British musicians, who all came to the UK from the Caribbean as children, released three brilliant albums in quick succession in the early 70s and were embraced in the USA. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
AUG 26
THE STEELDRIVERS
Bad For You, the chart-topping fifth album from Nashville’s hard-edged bluegrass band The SteelDrivers, arrived after a period of triumph and adaptation. Learn more online at eventbrite.com.
OCTOBER OCT 5
MOVIES IN THE PLAZA
Grab your lawn chairs, picnic blankets and some takeout from a local spot, and spend an evening under the stars enjoying blockbusters, nostalgic blasts from the past, cult favorites, family films for all ages, and more. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
SEPTEMBER SEP 3
ILLUSIONS THE DRAG QUEEN SHOW
OCT 13
Illusions the Drag Queen Show New Haven is the perfect combination of spectacular burlesque style and comedy performances by the industry’s best celebrity impersonators and the funniest New Haven drag queen hosts you’ll ever have the pleasure of encountering. Details at eventbrite.com.
DANIEL HOWELL: WE’RE ALL DOOMED
With a mix of humor, cringe-worthy anecdotes and some calling out of the global companies leaving us to our doom, come and join Dan for the ultimate party in the flames of humanity. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
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2022 EVENT SCH E DULE OCT 22
OFFICIAL HALLOWEEN BAR CRAWL
Get ready to put on your coolest, scariest, or sexiest costume and join the official Halloween bar crawl! Come have a spooky fun night with drinking, music and dancing as we party all night long! Learn more at eventbrite.com.
350+ Art, Craft & Specialty Food pop up shops by American Artisans that come together once a year for 3 days only! You will find handmade, unique gifts, and specialty foods for everyone on your list, including your 4-legged friends. Everything you want to know about the Christmas Festival can be found on our website at NEChristmasFestival.com.
OCT 30
AFROBEATS & MIMOSAS
Come brunch with us while Vibing to the best of Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro fusion, with a twist of Hip-Hop & Caribbean tunes. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
NOVEMBER NOV 1
STEVE VAI: INVIOLATE TOUR
A virtuoso guitarist, visionary composer, and consummate producer who sculpts musical sound with infinite creativity and technical mastery, Steve Vai has awed fans of all gen-res with his exceptional guitar skills and musicianship for decades. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
NOV 3
RED VELVET BURLESQUE SHOW NEW HAVEN’S #1 VARIETY & CABARET SHOW CONNECTICUT Our New Haven burlesque dancers engage with the audience to ensure that everybody is having a good time during the performances. Our management team goes above and beyond to coordinate all of the stunts and choreography involved in each and every show. Learn more online at eventbrite.com.
NOV 4
NEW ENGLAND CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
The 36th annual award-winning show is the largest arts and crafts festival in New England!
NOV 5
LIVE AND LET DIE THE MUSIC OF PAUL MCCARTNEY FEATURING TONY KISHMAN
With state-of-the-art sound, lighting, and a note-perfect, visually accurate recreation, you’ll hear hit songs from the Beatles catalog and Paul McCartney’s solo works. Make it dinner and a show with our event’s featured restaurant partner, Wall Street Tavern! Learn more at eventbrite.com.
NOV 6
CONNECTICUT BRIDAL AND WEDDING EXPO
Our event features an amazing selection of wedding professionals ready to help you find the perfect gown, reception venue, invitations, photographer, music, menu, honeymoon destination, and much more! Don’t miss the bridal fashion shows and live DJ demos, plus tons of prizes and giveaways. Visit our website for showcase dates and times. We’ll see you at the show! Get your FREE passes on the show’s website:www.bridalshowsct-hc.com.
NOV 8
ALASKA PRESENTS THE RED 4 FILTH TOUR 2022
Join us at the Space Ballroom and watch this rare, magnificent being as she lights up televisions throughout the world on another of RuPaul’s extravaganzas. Learn more at eventbrite.com.
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LGBTQ COM MU NI TY ORGANIZATIONS & ATTRACTIONS
New Haven Pride Center The purpose of New Haven Pride Center, formerly the New Haven Gay and Lesbian Community Center, is to provide educational, cultural and social enrichment for the LGBTQ+ community, its allies, and members, to make a positive contribution to the entire community of Greater New Haven. 84 Orange St, New Haven, CT www.newhavenpridecenter.org Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective The Hartford Gay & Lesbian Health Collective empowers individuals of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions to lead healthy lives through the provision of health and support services, education and advocacy. 1841 Broad St, Hartford, CT www.hglhc.org Triangle Community Center Triangle Community Center is Fairfield County’s leading provider of programming and resources to nurture growth and connection within the LGBTQ community. 650 West Ave, Norwalk, CT www.ctpridecenter.org
Claro Connecticut Latinas/os Achieving Rights and Opportunities (CLARO), is dedicated to promoting for Latinos LGTBQI equality, policy, social justice, human rights and education addressing homophobia and heterosexism. We accomplish these goals by mobilizing our community and partner agencies on issues like marriage equality, parental rights, inclusive anti-bullying policies, employment discrimination, hate violence, privacy rights, sexuality education, adoption, domestic partnerships, and HIV/AIDS. 56 Arbor St #222, Hartford, CT claroct.org Gay Parents to Be®- LGBT Family Building Services Fertility clinic in Norwalk, Connecticut For most LGBTQ single people and couples, the experience of raising a family is no different from anyone else. Yet, the journey to planning and building your future family can be. Gay Parents To Be® is an informational resource and a starting point for LGBTQ parenting. We strive to provide the best care for LGBTQ couples and individuals as they navigate all of their family building options. Address: 761 Main Ave #200, Norwalk, CT www.gayparentstobe.com
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BUSINESS D IRECTO RY AGING LIFE CARE RESOURCES Elder Pathways......................................................... 1
MED SPA Milford Med Spa..................................................... 17
ARCHITECTURE Cole Harris Associates......................front inside cover
MORTGAGES Connecticut Housing Finance Authority................. 17
ASSISTED LIVING The Greens at Greenwich........................................ 15
MORTGAGES Roger Wolfe & Harry Sessa - Citizens Bank............. 21
BOUTIQUE HOTEL Whaler’s Inn Operations, LLC.................................. 15
NON PROFIT Long Wharf Theatre.................................................. 7
CASE MANAGEMENT Elder Pathways......................................................... 1
ON SITE WAREHOUSE MANAGEMENT SLG Management - The Calendar Group................ 19
DENTIST Branford Dental Care.............................................. 23
PAVING & SEAL COATING WHS-Paving............................................................ 21
DRIVEWAYS WHS-Paving............................................................ 21
PERSONAL INJURY Guendelsberger Law Offices, LLP.......................10-11
ELECTRICIAN NJF Electrical Services LLC...................................... 15
PRIVATE SCHOOL The Country School................................................. 17
ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING RTK Environmental.................................front cover, 9
REAL ESTATE Connecticut Housing Finance Authority................. 17
ESTATE PLANNING Stillman & Associates, LLC....................................... 16
REMODELING Amazing Spaces, LLC.....................back outside cover
EVENT VENUE Bristol Event Center.................................................. 5
RESTAURANT Bailey’s Backyard.................................................... 16
FIDUCIARY AND GUARDIANSHIP SERVICES Elder Pathways......................................................... 1
RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Edgehill.................................................................. 21
FINANCIAL PLANNER Diane Fisher- Raymond James and Associates..........12-13 Marisa Mantz - Certified Financial Services.............. 3
ROOFING CONTRACTOR CT RoofCrafters......................................................... 7 SUMMER CAMP Two Coyotes Wilderness School.............................. 23
HANDMADE DECOR Uno Alla Volta......................................................... 19
THEATRE Long Wharf Theatre.................................................. 7
HOTEL The Whaler’s Inn..................................................... 15
YOUTH & ADULT WILDERNESS PROGRAMS Two Coyotes Wilderness School.............................. 23
INSURANCE Brennan Purdy - State Farm.................................... 23 JEWELRY, APPAREL & ACCESSORIES Uno Alla Volta......................................................... 19 KITCHEN REMODELING Amazing Spaces, LLC.....................back outside cover
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