- The Farmington Valley Community
- Posts
- Coffee, Community, & Historic Homes
Coffee, Community, & Historic Homes
Life and love around the valley continue to blossom.
A Reminder of What Makes This Place Special
There’s something interesting about this time of year in the Farmington Valley.
The rain finally begins to back off a little. Outdoor seating fills up. People start lingering longer after conversations instead of rushing back to their cars. Trails get busier. Windows stay open later into the evening. The entire Valley slowly shifts into that familiar New England rhythm of summer arriving.
And honestly, this week’s stories felt like a reminder of what makes this place special.
Not because of giant headlines or flashy news.
But because of people.
Students at Avon High School organizing a fundraiser to support mental health awareness and families impacted by mental illness.
Community members preserving and sharing the stories hidden inside centuries-old colonial homes throughout Simsbury and Avon.
Local businesses like DORO Marketplace creating spaces where people don’t just grab coffee, they gather, work, reconnect, laugh, and slow down for a minute.
Even the pickleball tournament this weekend at Dill Dinkers says something about the Valley. People showing up for community, competition, connection, and yes, probably a little chaos too.
And in a world that often feels loud, rushed, divided, and exhausting, places like the Farmington Valley still somehow manage to hold onto pieces of that connection.
That matters.
So whether this weekend finds you walking through a historic colonial home, getting ready to be solving puzzles for a good cause, drinking overpriced coffee you absolutely convinced yourself was necessary, or watching pickleball players argue over whether the ball was in or out, I hope you take a moment to appreciate the community around you.
Because this place really is special.
— TFV Team
(Oh, and get ready for next week where we highlight a couple local shops, an artist, local music vibes and more!)
Table of Contents
This Week Around the Valley: Rain, Rallies, and Riding the Momentum
If it felt like the Farmington Valley spent part of this week living inside a car wash, you're not imagining things.
Memorial Day weekend delivered a healthy soaking across Connecticut, forcing some communities to cancel, postpone, or move ceremonies indoors. The rain may have dampened a few lawn chairs, but it didn't dampen the spirit of honoring those who served.
Simsbury Keeps Pedaling Forward
Simsbury continues proving that if there is a bike, a trail, or an excuse for ice cream involved, residents will show up. The town recently hosted its annual Board of Selectmen Bike Ride, celebrating Bike Month with a community ride along the East Coast Greenway. Because honestly, every great bike ride should end with ice cream.
Simsbury also finds itself in the spotlight on the athletic front. The girls lacrosse team continues its impressive season and entered conference championship play among the state's elite programs.
Avon in the Headlines
A difficult story continues to unfold in Avon as investigators pursue additional charges against a former daycare employee connected to an ongoing abuse investigation. The case has prompted lawsuits and renewed conversations about child safety and oversight. Authorities indicate the investigation remains active.
On a much lighter note, Avon residents still have opportunities to explore one of the Valley's most fascinating discoveries, the internationally significant 12,500-year-old Paleo-Indian archaeological site uncovered in town, which continues to inspire educational programs and local interest.
New Hartford Looks Toward Growth
New Hartford continues discussing the future of housing and economic development as plans for the proposed New Hartford Village project slowly move forward. If completed, the development would bring hundreds of housing units to the area and could significantly reshape the local economy.
West Hartford Buzz
West Hartford remains as busy as ever. Residents are also celebrating the launch of the town's Teen Fire Academy, giving local teens a firsthand look at what it takes to serve as firefighters and first responders.
Around Farmington and Canton
Farmington and Canton spent much of the week doing what New England towns do best, recovering from rain, planning summer events, and counting down the days until everyone collectively decides that iced coffee is now a personality trait.
Meanwhile, community calendars throughout the Valley continue filling with outdoor concerts, historical programs, farmers markets, and family events that remind us why this corner of Connecticut is such a special place to call home.
Valley Observation of the Week
The Farmington Valley officially entered that magical season where one person is planting tomatoes, another is riding 40 miles on a bike before breakfast, someone is already complaining it's too hot, and a third person is still wearing a fleece jacket.
All three people may, in fact, be your neighbors.
And somehow, that's part of the charm.
Pickleball Tournament Time
If you’ve been hearing everyone talk about pickleball and wondering what the hype is all about, this weekend is the perfect time to find out.
The tournament happening at Dill Dinkers in Simsbury is more than just competition, it’s one of the best ways to experience the energy, strategy, community, and chaos that make this sport so addictive.
You’ll see beginners battling nerves, advanced players doing things that honestly shouldn’t be physically possible, and plenty of moments where people laugh just as hard as they compete.
Pickleball isn’t just about hitting a plastic ball around. It’s about community, movement, friendships, competition, and finding yourself saying “just one more game” about six times in a row.
Whether you play already or have never picked up a paddle, stop by and check it out this weekend. There’s a reason this sport keeps growing like crazy.
Fair warning though:
Watching may lead to buying a paddle by Monday.
Located in: Simsbury Commons
Address: 500 Bushy Hill Rd, Simsbury, CT 06070
Phone: (860) 792-3465
Is DORO Marketplace Pulling the Starbucks Crowd? Honestly… Maybe.
There’s a new rhythm brewing in Avon, and it smells a whole lot like espresso and fresh pastries.
Recently opened, DORO Marketplace has quickly become one of those places people “accidentally” spend two hours in. You know the type of place. You walk in saying you’re just grabbing a coffee, and suddenly you’re debating whether a breakfast sandwich counts as productivity fuel while eyeing pastries you absolutely did not plan on ordering.
Spoiler alert:
You’re ordering the pastry.
And honestly, this might be where DORO starts stealing a little of the coffee shop spotlight around town.
While Starbucks perfected the “grab-and-go” routine years ago, DORO feels more like a destination. The menu goes beyond coffee shop basics with full breakfast options, ridiculously tempting baked goods, and enough drink choices to make you pause at the counter pretending you’re making a responsible decision.
Then there’s the atmosphere.
Plenty of indoor seating, outdoor seating for those perfect Connecticut mornings, cozy corners, natural light, and the kind of vibe that makes you open your laptop for “just 20 minutes” before realizing you’ve spent half your morning there.
Now technically, this isn’t one of those camp-out-with-one-black-coffee-all-day spots.
But let’s be honest.
Once you’re there, there’s almost zero chance you’re leaving with just one coffee anyway.
A second drink suddenly feels reasonable.
A pastry becomes “research.”
Another breakfast item somehow becomes self care.
And that’s kind of the magic of places like this.
It’s not just about coffee.
It’s about creating a space people actually want to be in.
Whether you’re catching up with friends, sneaking in some work time, pretending to work while mostly people-watching, or just looking for a cozy place to reset for an hour, DORO Marketplace is quickly becoming one of Avon’s new go-to spots.
Fair warning though:
Showing up hungry is a financially dangerous decision.
A Puzzle Competition With a Much Bigger Purpose
One of the things that continues to make the Farmington Valley special is seeing young people step forward and create meaningful change within the community.
This week, I received an email from Jimin Lee, a student at Avon High School and a member of the school’s Health for Humanities club. Alongside fellow students and family, Jimin is helping organize a puzzle competition fundraiser happening on June 6th from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Avon High School.
At first glance, a puzzle competition sounds fun, lighthearted, and maybe even a little competitive in the best possible way. But behind the event is something much deeper.
All proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit National Alliance on Mental Illness, better known as NAMI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health awareness, education, support, and advocacy for individuals and families affected by mental illness.
What stood out most in Jimin’s message was the honesty behind the mission.
Mental health remains something many people still struggle to openly talk about, despite how many lives it quietly touches. Jimin shared that this cause is also deeply personal for their family, as they experienced the loss of someone close to them due to mental illness several years ago. Rather than allowing pain to simply stay pain, they are turning it into action, support, and awareness for others who may be struggling.
That matters.
Sometimes community impact doesn’t come from giant organizations or million-dollar campaigns. Sometimes it comes from students deciding they want to create something positive for others.
And honestly, a room full of people gathering around tables to solve puzzles together in support of mental health feels pretty symbolic in itself. Life can feel complicated. Heavy at times. Disconnected at times. But community, conversation, support, and showing up for one another helps piece things back together.
If you’re looking for a meaningful local event to support next week, consider stopping by.
Because sometimes the smallest events carry the biggest purpose.
Step Inside History: Colonial Homes Tour Comes to Avon & Simsbury
There’s something special about old homes in the Farmington Valley.
Not just because they’re beautiful, but because every creaky floorboard, hand-hewn beam, uneven doorway, and weathered fireplace quietly carries stories from hundreds of years ago.
This weekend, history lovers will have the rare opportunity to step directly into some of those stories during the Colonial Homes of Avon and Simsbury Tour happening May 30th.
Hosted by a local nonprofit organization dedicated to historic preservation and education, the tour offers participants the chance to explore the rich colonial history woven throughout Simsbury and Avon, two towns deeply rooted in early New England history.
Often considered one of the earliest frontier settlements west of the Connecticut River Valley, Simsbury and neighboring Avon remain filled with homes and architecture that have survived centuries of change, growth, and generations of life.
Participants will travel by charter bus while learning about many historic homes throughout the area, but the true highlight may be something most people never get the chance to experience:
Actually stepping inside four private colonial-era homes.
Included in the tour are interior visits to:
• The circa 1690 Amos Curtis saltbox
• A striking 18th-century Federal-style brick residence
• The circa 1745 Thompson Family saltbox
• The circa 1735 Joseph Mills House
Along the way, guests will learn about colonial architecture styles including saltbox homes, Georgian and Federal-era designs, vernacular farmhouses, and the fascinating stories of the families who once lived within these walls.
And honestly, there’s something grounding about walking into a home built before electricity, before cars, before modern distractions, and realizing that people still gathered around tables, worried about life, celebrated milestones, raised families, and simply tried to build meaningful lives much like we do today.
The Farmington Valley has no shortage of beauty, but sometimes its greatest treasures are the stories quietly standing along the roadside every single day.