Good morning! You’re reading Western Mass Insider, your inside look at what’s fun, fresh, and worth discovering close to home. Every issue brings you hand-picked events, local business spotlights, and hidden gems around Western Mass and nearby CT.

READER SHOUT OUT

Please send your favorites!
What’s the local spot you tell everyone about? It could be a restaurant you love, a neighborhood gem, your go-to date night, or a small business that deserves a little extra love.
Just hit reply and send me the name and town. One line is perfect. Your pick could show up in a future issue!

Want more ideas? The Western Mass Insider Events Calendar has things happening all month around Western Mass and nearby Connecticut. Pick something, text a friend, and get it on the calendar.

Turgeon & Associates in East Longmeadow

Before year-end sneaks up, this is a good time to check in on taxes, business finances and anything that may need attention before December gets busy.

A quick conversation now can make the end of the year feel a lot more organized.

Own a local business? Reply to this email to explore a WMI partnership.

I’d love to help our readers discover what you do.

Pastries that look so much like real fruit you have to take a second look? Count me in!

Dulcére Pâtisserie is an independent European style pastry shop on Elm Street in Westfield, and these creations are little works of art. It’s the kind of treat you photograph before you take a bite, then go right back for another.

Bring a friend, pick out a few to share, and make an afternoon of it. A box of these would make any gathering feel extra special too.

124 Elm St., Westfield

Northampton’s music scene is about to get a fresh new hangout, and I already have it on my list. Proof & Concept is moving into the former Bishop’s Lounge space on Strong Avenue, and it’s bringing something fresh to the local music scene. The owners plan to spotlight sounds we don’t hear enough around here, like R&B, hip hop, world, and electronic music, with live music at the heart of it all.

Expect craft cocktails and mocktails, draft cocktails named after local Northampton businesses, and a balcony overlooking Strong Avenue. There’s even a claw machine stocked with band merch and gift cards, which already has me planning a friendly competition.

Renovations are well underway, and the owners say opening could be just weeks away. Keep this one on your radar!

Coming soon | Planned hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 4 p.m. to 2 a.m.
41 Strong Ave., Northampton

Some of the best local businesses start with a parent, a child, and a “let’s try this.” In 2011, Bryson and his dad tapped five trees together just to see what would happen. Fast forward, and they’re now tapping more than 2,000 trees across three local properties plus their own backyard. Every drop gets boiled down in a wood fired evaporator in their backyard sugarhouse. Talk about a family hobby that grew up!

Their most popular flavor is coffee infused maple syrup, and I’m already picturing it on a Sunday stack of pancakes. If you like a little adventure, they also make cinnamon, hot cinnamon, hot pepper, and bourbon barrel aged syrups. And yes, I’ve tried them. YUM!

Stop by their roadside sugarhouse store for syrup, maple candy, creamy maple spread, and gift bottles that make the easiest holiday presents. Grab a few for your own pantry and a few for the people on your list. This is the kind of local business I love to cheer on.

Open daily | 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Cash, check, or Venmo
289 Lower Hampden Road, Monson

Costumes, crafts, and a little Irish tradition? That’s a Saturday afternoon I can get behind.

The Irish Cultural Center is celebrating Halloween and Samhain, the Irish festival that inspired so many of our Halloween traditions. Bring the kids in costume for face painting, crafts, and fun activities in the cozy decorated pub and on the spacious outdoor patio.

It’s free, family friendly, and an easy way to make some happy fall memories together.

Saturday, October 24 | 2 to 5 p.m. | FREE
429 Morgan Road, West Springfield

Trick or treating through an art museum? I love this idea so much.

On Saturday, the Springfield Museums are inviting kids to wear their costumes and trick or treat right through the galleries. It’s also a big day for the Quadrangle. The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum reopens to the public after a nine-month preservation project.

Come for the candy, stay to see the newly reopened museum, and make a whole day of it downtown.

Saturday, October 24 | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Free with museum admission
21 Edwards Street, Springfield

Homemade food made with love by a local church community? Count me in, and I’m bringing an appetite.

St. Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church is hosting its 49th Armenian Food Festival, and the menu sounds amazing. Think shish kebab and losh kebab dinners with rice pilaf, plus baked goods like paklava and spinach cheese pie.

Come hungry, bring the family, and grab a few treats to take home.

Saturday, October 24 | 12 to 7 p.m. | Free admission, food priced separately
135 Goodwin Street, Indian Orchard, Springfield

Looking for something fun to do after work? An afternoon activity with the kids? Plans with friends? These outings and more are listed in the interactive Western Mass calendar!

Thursday, October 22: Christa Joy & The Honeybees
The Parlor Room, Northampton | 7:30 p.m.
Settle in for an intimate night of local Americana and folk.

Friday, October 23: Johnny Six Gun
MGM Springfield Plaza, Springfield | 7:30 p.m. | FREE
Classic rock under the stars at Free Music Friday. Bring your singing voice!

Saturday, October 24: Six Pack of Blues
The Riverside Pub, Agawam | 2 to 5 p.m.
An easygoing afternoon of live blues with your favorite people.

Saturday, October 24: Backstage Pass
Sonny’s Place, Somers, CT | 7 p.m.
Round up the crew and keep your Saturday night going.

Good music is even better with good company. Find your next night out.

A Victorian with a backstory and a bonus home out back? Yes, please.

This is the historic Celestia Bardwell House, built in 1882 and tucked just steps from Florence Center. The main house was fully renovated and expanded with all new systems and interiors, and its architect owner has kept adding thoughtful upgrades ever since. Sunlight pours in, the custom millwork is gorgeous, and two private suites upstairs each have their own bath.

Then there’s the bonus: a two-story carriage house that’s a full, legal second home with its own kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bath. Picture visiting family, a guest retreat, or the dreamiest art studio. It all sits on nearly half an acre under big old shade trees, and you’re a short walk to the Rail Trail and Florence Pie Bar. Go ahead, take a peek!

$1,350,000 | 5 bedrooms | 3.5 baths | 3,022 sq. ft. | 0.48 acres
114 S Main St., Florence (Northampton)

Listed by Ruthie Oland, Keller Williams Realty

Some of my favorite date nights start with food you can’t stop talking about.

Little Trúc serves creative Southeast Asian food made from scratch, in small batches, with ingredients from local farms. Their dining room is open most Thursdays through Saturdays, and it’s the kind of cozy spot that makes an ordinary night feel special.

Make it a full evening on Saturday: New City Brewery is right in the same building, with The Bromantics playing at 7 p.m. Dinner and live music, no second parking spot needed!

Reservations for each weekend open the Monday before at noon. Book now, or set a Monday reminder for next weekend.

Most Thursdays through Saturdays
150 Pleasant St., Rear #101, Easthampton

The holidays are coming fast, and Paint Social Art makes it easy to give everyone something fun to do together. Holiday gatherings, team celebrations, private parties, and fundraisers are all welcome, and beginners are always encouraged. Paint Social Art brings all the supplies, and a fun loving artist guides every guest step by step to a finished painting they’ll be proud to take home.

Early to mid December dates fill quickly, so now is the perfect time to book. Planning a December fundraiser? Reach out 6 to 8 weeks ahead for planning purposes.

Did I miss something? Hit reply and tell me about your favorite local spot or an event I should know about.

Know someone who would love a food festival, a little live music, or a cozy date night? Forward this issue and start making plans together.

See you next week,
Christine

Until next time … keep exploring Western Mass

Curated with care by Christine Carbonaro-Freda westernmassinsider.com