A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.

By Ronni Newton

I hope everyone enjoyed the beautiful (for winter) weather this weekend!

Saturday was certainly a busy day in Hartford, with events that brought many West Hartford residents into the capital city. A reported 10,000 attended the 2018 Women’s March, with multiple speakers from West Hartford including State Sen. Beth Bye, legislative candidate Jillian Gilchrest, and Deputy Mayor Beth Kerrigan.

Ted and I went to the UConn vs. Villanova basketball game that started at noon on Saturday at the XL Center. (I know, not the best game if you’re a UConn fan, but we were invited by a friend who had Executive Suite tickets and drove us there in his Tesla, which almost made up for the score.) Also happening at the same time was a home show at the XL Center, and the final weekend of Winterfest.

Ted and I attended the Children’s Charity Ball on Saturday night. PowerStation photo

We were back in Hartford Saturday night for the Bridge Family Center’s Children’s Charity Ball, held this year at the beautiful Marquee Events Gershon Ballroom (aka the former G. Fox Building). It was a festive and elegant evening, and great to see so much support for a nonprofit that has such a tremendous impact on the community. (And a special thanks to Nicole Moleti for doing my makeup for the gala, and insisting that I wear those fabulous eyelashes!)

On Sunday morning I appeared on WFSB’s Face the State (taped it on Thursday), and had the opportunity to speak about the “word on the street” in West Hartford regarding state politics and the upcoming governor’s race.

And how about those Patriots??!! My daughter and her boyfriend were at the game, as was WHMedia’s Tom Hickey. I can’t wait to hear about the experience!

Finally, one note about the positive power of the media. Last Monday We-Ha.com published a story about Griffin Reid, a Conard graduate who sustained a traumatic brain injury while sledding at Springfield College. The story was subsequently picked up by many other local media, and the GoFundMe campaign has now raised $18,351 of the $30,000 goal.

If you have tips about businesses opening or closing, or doing something worth sharing, please provide that information in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

Here’s this week’s Buzz:

Bathroom vignette at the Tile Shop. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

• The Tile Shop has now opened in Corbin’s Corner (1465 New Britain Ave., in the former Pier One space)! It just opened on Friday, and when I stopped by to check it out on Sunday it was for the dual purpose of this column as well as to get some ideas for floor and shower tile as we finally embark on the process of redoing our very outdated master bathroom. As the name implies, The Tile Shop sells tiles, and quite the variety! Manager Steve Veccherelli, who came from the Brookfield store, said the showroom is 10,000 square feet. “We’re a customer service company,” he said, and part of the shopping experience includes free design services. Veccherelli said that The Tile Shop has many unique products, blasted specifically for the company. And thanks to Linnea Michalski, a West Hartford resident (and recent Hall High School graduate) for giving us a tour and pointing out some options for our bathroom! Several more photos of the interior can be found at the end of the column.
  

  Taste of Elmwood will be held in the atrium of Corporate Center West (433 South Main St.) this year. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

• Plans are well underway for the 5th Annual Taste of Elmwood, and it’s in a great new location this year, as well as on a different date and at a different time: 5-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the beautiful lobby of Corporate Center West, in the office park at the northeast corner of South Main Street and New Britain Avenue (433 South Main St.) The earlier start time will be convenient for those coming straight from work, but because it’s anticipated that the tenants in that building will want to attend, we do encourage purchasing tickets early. The link to tickets as well as details about the participating restaurants will be available on We-Ha.com shortly. Special thanks to Figure Eight Properties for allowing use of their lobby, as well as to host Stanger Stanfield Law, which just expanded and renovated their office at 433 South Main St., Suite 112.
• You can check out the Taste of Elmwood space in advance of the event, because Stanger Stanfield Law LLC is hosting an open house on Jan. 30, from 4:30-7 p.m., to celebrate the firm’s expansion and recently remodeled offices. (RSVP to [email protected].) In conjunction with their open house, Stanger Stanfield Law is also continuing their role in the community by holding a food drive to support the Chrysalis Center’s Fresh Place Pantry. They are collecting non-perishable canned foods, boxed foods, and paper goods. All the collected canned and paper goods will be delivered to the Fresh Place food bank operated by the Chrysalis Center, which provides food and necessities to needy Connecticut families. Unlike other food bank programs, families are free to choose foods that meet their dietary and cultural needs. Donations can also be brought to Taste of Elmwood.
• On Friday I had a chance to touch base with Ron Patel, one of the co-owners of Nummy. He said that the expected timeline for opening of the Asian fusion restaurant (1160 New Britain Ave. in Elmwood) is the first or second week of March. Tile is being installed right now, Patel said, and the schedule should be attainable “if there are no more delays.”
• The Inaugural Events by Artisan at the Delamar is being postponed. Delamar is working on a new date, but please note that it will NOT be held this Wednesday, Jan. 24. Stay tuned to we-ha.com and we will announce the date as soon as we have it. Organizers advise that of course any reservations that have been made already will be honored on the new date. 
• “All in the Family”: A History of Local Jewish Generational Businesses will be held at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Ave., West Hartford on Tuesday, Jan. 23, beginning at 7 p.m. The discussion will be moderated by Lance Goldberg, the incoming President of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, and will feature Howard Weiner (Woodland Auto Body), Michael Wolf (Bloomfield Bicycle Shop), and Harry Davidson (Pyne-Davidson Printers). The cost is $5 for Society and Men’s Club members and $8 for non-members (in advance) and $7 for Society and Men’s Club members and $10 for non-members at the door. For more information, contact Lynn Newman at [email protected] or 860-727-6170.
• Coming up on Feb. 16 – a celebration of the Year of the Dog! From a news release: “Hartford’s Dynasty Cuisine Group invites you to celebrate Chinese New Year with them at one of their local locations Shu (156 Shield St.) and Han (310 Prospect Ave., just over the line in Hartford). The Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival as it’s been called since the 20th century, remains the most important social and economic holiday in China. Originally tied to the lunar-solar Chinese calendar, the holiday was a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. The party begins at Shu at 7 p.m. with face painting and a traditional Szechuan Kung Fu Tea ceremony and continues with a stunning Sichuan mask changing opera performance. Han’s evening will begin with the same festivities but at a later hour, 8 p.m. New dishes will be offered and reservations are preferred.” 
• Congrats to West Hartford resident Kate C. Farrar, executive director of the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), who will be recognized by the Connecticut Region of the National Organization of Italian American Women (NOIAW) at the organization’s annual Epiphany brunch honoring Three Wise Women, on Jan. 27, 2018, at the New Haven Lawn Club. According to a news release, “Farrar has charted a course to create impact as advocate, political influencer, and nonprofit leader. She brings over 15 years of nonprofit management and women’s issue expertise to her role as Executive Director of the Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), an organization that advocates for and empowers women and girls in Connecticut, especially those who are underserved or marginalized.” Tickets for the Epiphany Celebration start at $75 and are available at noiaw.org, or by calling 212-642-2003. For sponsorship information, email [email protected] or call 212-642-2003. Proceeds from the Epiphany Celebration help to support NOIAW programs such as the Scholarship Program which provides financial assistance to students to help them realize their dreams; the Cultural Exchange Program which sends young Italian American women on culturally enriching experiences to Italy; and the Mentor Program which pairs young Italian American women with established professionals.
• Wampanoag Country Club is undergoing a makeover, with the new vision created by designer Jill Jarvis of Ehrlich Interiors. The work begins this week and will be done in the next eight weeks, in time for the an upcoming scheduled event. We’ll get some photos of the new look when it’s all done!
• Robert J. Stillman, formerly a vice president in Aetna’s Law department, has joined the West Hartford law firm of Pierce LLC as an Of Counsel member. According to a news release, “Stillman brings over two decades of legal experience serving in increasing senior roles at Aetna since joining the company in 1992. Among his areas of concentration for the insurer were healthcare cost containment, fraud, False Claim Act suits, government investigations, national class action suits and actions involving both ERISA and RICO.
• A not-to-be-missed event this Friday: the Mayor’s State of the Town address. The annual Chamber of Commerce luncheon, which will feature Mayor Shari Cantor, is at the Delamar West Hartford Hotel this year. Click here for details.

Remember, if you have any business news to share, add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].

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Display at the Tile Shop. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Bathroom vignette on display at the Tile Shop. Photo credit: Ronni Newton