If You Really Dig Dynamite Donuts, the West Hartford, CT, Big Y Bakery is the Place to Go

                                                                    

The rainbow sprinkles donut pictured below is from the outstanding bakery department at Big Y-Bishops Corner, West Hartford. 

Every time I approach the fresh donut case at the Bishops Corner Big Y , I feel like the classic "kid in a candy store." Depending on the time of day, there may be just a few, or a large number of  donuts occupying the case.

Whether it be one of their glazed, cinnamon-sugar, old-fashioned, jelly or Boston cream varieties, the donuts made and sold at this Big Y store bakery really are some of the overall best I've eaten so far. Because I enjoy eating each variety so much, it can difficult to choose which ones to purchase.

The chocolate frosted, rainbow-sprinkled donuts are incredibly tasty and fun to eat. Sometimes, the talented bakers in the Big Y bakery utilize different-colored sprinkles for different occasions. On the Fourth of July, for example, red, white and blue sprinkles might be used, and to celebrate the Fall season, yellow and orange sprinkles accent the dark brown fudge topping.

 As for jelly donuts, I've tried their lemon, apple, blueberry and mixed-berry varieties, and each one has been excellent.

The donuts from Big Y are not only way more flavorful than those from a well-known, international donut chain, but they're actually bigger in size, and lower in price.

The last few times I've gotten donuts from that chain with locations everywhere, all I could taste was fryalator grease when I ate them. Not so with Big Y's donuts. Many times I've eaten their donuts, and I've never encountered any that tasted noticeably greasy.

At some Hartford-area supermarkets, the bakeries are only offering multi-packs of donuts. For single people like myself, purchasing packages of six donuts doesn't make a lot of sense. The donuts would probably go stale before they could get eaten.

At the Bishop's Corner Big Y store, the bakery department features a glass case where an assortment of fresh donuts and muffins are usually stocked. There are individual paper bags available for storing smaller quantities of donuts and muffins, and there are cardboard boxes for holding larger quantities of the sweet treats. 

There are lots of Big Y supermarkets in Connecticut, but I don't know how many of them have full-service bakeries, like at the Bishops Corner store. The muffins at Big Y are so good, another entire article will be needed, to describe the different varieties that are usually on hand.

If you really dig dynamite donuts, be sure to try the tantalizing treats that are available daily at the Bishops Corner Big Y bakery in West Hartford. 

The Roads in West Hartford are Dotted with Menacing Potholes

When's the last time you drove down Oakwood Avenue or South Quaker Lane in West Hartford? If you've driven down these roads recently, you've probably encountered some pretty nasty potholes.

A couple of days ago, I drove south on Oakwood Avenue from Crosby Street south to Flatbush Avenue, then reversed the trip, heading north on Oakwood Avenue.

Since the 1970s, I've driven a multitude of vehicles on that same section of road, and never saw potholes there like the ones there are now. Those vehicles include several Triumph motorcycles, two of which were awesome choppers. When you're operating vehicles like that, you become quite aware of pothole conditions.

There was one pothole in particular this week, near Layton Street, that made me think it could destroy my front wheel assembly and/or integral front end parts. The Miata is only a few inches off the ground, and the impact from hitting the pothole shook through my entire body.

West Hartford has long been known for offering a fairly high standard of living, and the public roads there have heretofore been maintained very well.

The Department of Public Works in West Hartford regularly does a great job. It is hoped that they can have a sense of urgency regarding the numerous potholes that are located all over town.

Why, oh Why, Did a Mama Bear Have to be Euthanized in Canton?

                                                                   

Being very familiar with Canton, Connecticut, and its bear population, I've always figured that residents there are aware of the bears' existence, but they generally manage to co-exist peacefully.

On Tuesday, June 14, 2022, a mama bear in Canton was killed by Connecticut environmental conservation officers. The bear was "euthanized" after it entered more than one local home in search of food.

A news release from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said that one of the reasons why the bear was euthanized was because it displayed no fear of humans.

This bear was a mother who had four baby cubs. The cubs are estimated to be about six months old, and at that age they need the nurturing and care that their mother normally provides.

Logic and compassion tell me that there's always an alternative to shooting and killing any animal or human. If the bear was not afraid of people, that's certainly no reason to kill it.

With all of the resources and capabilities the State of Connecticut has at its disposable, I strongly believe that it could have found a non-lethal solution to the house-entering bear. There are zoos, wildlife refuges and preserves where it could have been moved to.

There are always two sides to every story, and I realize some Canton residents have had very close encounters with their ursine neighbors.

The four bear cubs were captured in a tree, then they were tranquilized. Very unfortunately, one of the cubs did not survive after being tranquilized. The other three cubs have since been relocated to what the State sees as an appropriate, remote location.

It is hoped that in the future, State officials can find a more peaceful and humane way to deal with the animals that also live there. They're just trying to find some food.

Photo by Lum3n

Steve Miller Band - The Last Wombat in Mecca

Governor Lamont, are you a fan of the Steve Miller Band's music? If you are, the already-high rating I give to you as Connecticut's Governor, and as a decent human being, has gone up a few points.

Molly Hatchet - Gator Country..Molly Hatchet will be performing at the Life On 2 Wheels Benefit Ride & Concert in East Granby, Connecticut, on July 31, 2022.

It's great to see that the legendary Southern rock band Molly Hatchet will be performing at the Life On 2 Wheels Benefit Ride & Concert  in East Granby, Connecticut, on July 31, 2022.

The Life On 2 Wheels event is presented by Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC. Molly Hatchet is widely regarded as one of the original and most influential of Southern rock acts. It's truly incredible to hear the complex-yet-seemingly-simple melodies that the members of Molly still crank out.

The guitar parts in "Gator Country" are performed exceptionally well, and the whole tune chugs like a steaming locomotive.  Believe it or not, Molly Hatchet actually formed in 1971 in Florida.

Trantolo & Trantolo, LLC is one of Connecticut's leading law firms, and is an active member of the motorcycling community. 

C'mon, Antenna TV Network, America Needs the Wacky Logic of Marlo Thomas' Ann Marie on "That Girl," More Than Ever

Dear Antenna TV Network,

Can you please consider airing "That Girl" every night?

Since you already removed it from the Saturday night schedule, how about bringing it back at least five nights per week? It's great that you air it on weekday afternoons, but the airtime can be inconvenient for many people.

That Girl is a classic, American TV comedy program that originally aired from 1966 through 1971. The show revolved around a young actress named Ann Marie, who lived in New York City. Ann Marie regularly found herself in the middle of unusual situations, which often left her boyfriend, Donald Hollinger quite baffled.

America was changing in myriad ways when That Girl was in prime time. It's fun to look at the Nehru jackets, go-go boots and sanitized hippies that can be found on this still-relevant program.

In the Hartford, Connecticut area, two episodes of That Girl air on the Antenna TV network (Channel 61.2), from 3:00-4:00 pm on weekday afternoons. The star of the show is the legendary Marlo Thomas, and Ted Bessell portrayed Mr. Hollinger. 

Ever since I was a young grasshopper, I've been a big fan of Marlo Thomas, and her Father, Danny Thomas. Even though he's known as the star of "Make Room For Daddy," and other onscreen accomplishments, Danny Thomas was also the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. 

Marlo Thomas has long been associated with St. Jude, and serves as the hospital's National Outreach Director. 

The character of Ann Marie's overprotective, restaurant-owner father, Lew Marie, was played by Lew Parker. In my opinion, he's the funniest character on the show. The Lew Marie character reminds me of Arthur Spooner on the King of Queens, played by Jerry Stiller.

C'mon, Antenna TV, America needs the wacky logic of Ann Marie, the practical common sense of Donald Hollinger and the firm leadership of Lou Marie more than ever before.

Dwight Yoakam & Buck Owens ~ "Streets of Bakersfield"

Were you a fan of the "Hee Haw" TV show when it aired every week in prime or syndication? Do you still watch the show in reruns? If you were, or are, then you're probably familiar with Buck Owens. Born in 1929, Buck Owens was well-known as the leader of the country-western band Buck Owens and the Buckaroos.

Hee Haw originally aired from 1969 through 1971 on CBS, then it ran in syndication until 1993. Buck was the co-host of the show, along with fellow country star Roy Clark. With his friendly personality and sense of humor, Owens was a familiar face on U.S. television screens for decades.

Throughout his career, Buck Owens had more than 20 Number One songs on the country music charts, and his song Act Naturally was covered by the Beatles. The song "Streets of Bakersfield" was originally released by Buck Owens in 1973.

Red, White and Blue Guitars

Buck Owens was actually a top-rate guitarist who could knock-out some tasty rock-style licks at the drop of a hat. Owens was well-known for playing guitars that were painted red, white and blue.

 In addition to his iconic red, white and blue acoustic models, he played red, white and blue Fender Telecaster guitars. Eventually, all of the Buckaroos were playing red, white and blue instruments.

In a December 29,2021 article on the bakersfield.com website it's reported that one of Buck Owens' guitars was stolen from a display honoring him at the Buck Owens Post Office in Bakersfield.

For many years, Buck Owens utilized a recording studio located close to the Post Office bearing his name, and the stolen guitar was part of a display honoring his contributions to the community.

It is unclear at this time if the stolen guitar has been recovered yet. Fortunately, the Buck Owens' Crystal Palace restaurant and live entertainment facility sells similar guitars, if they need a temporary replacement.

Honoring a Mentor and Legend

On Dwight Yoakam's 1988 album Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room, he had the opportunity to do a duet of Streets of Bakersfield with Mr. Owens. The song hit Number One on the Country charts, and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1989.

In 2007, Dwight Yoakam paid tribute to Buck Owens by releasing an album titled "Dwight Sings Buck." On that album, he performed his own renditions of more than a dozen songs written and/or performed by Mr. Owens.

Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder Product Review

For many years, Progresso has been producing a wide range of delicious soups, and other products. Being a corn chowder fan, I've become quite fond of the chicken corn chowder that Progresso is now offering. In fact, I enjoy this soup variety so much, I'd like to let other consumers know just how good it really is.

Presented here is an honest and objective consumer review of Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder flavored with bacon.

Size/Packaging

The can of Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder being reviewed here weighs-in at 18.5 ounces. The can label says that it contains about two servings, but I find one can and a side dish of rice to be just right for a satisfying meal 

A special thumbs-up goes out to Progresso for featuring an easy-open lid.

Nutritional Facts

Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder contains 190 calories per one cup serving.  This soup also contains  grams total fat,  mg of cholesterol,  mg of sodium,  grams of dietary fiber and  grams of protein, per one-cup serving.

Price

The regular retail price charged for one 18.5 ounce can of Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder at Hartford, Connecticut-area supermarkets is approximately $3.69. 

Flavor

When it comes to flavor, Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder hits a home run. The pleasing flavors of the  chicken, corn, potatoes, celery and onions are accented by pieces of tasty bacon. The thick, creamy broth that holds everything together has a mild, yet rich flavor that really satisfies.

Texture/Consistency

A banner on the Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder can describes the soup as "rich and hearty," and the description is accurate. There are good-sized pieces of real chicken and ample chunks of potatoes co-mingling with plenty of firm corn kernels. In addition to adding a slight smoky flavor to the soup, the small pieces of bacon contribute a little depth to its texture.

Overall Rating

Whether it be for lunch, dinner or an afternoon snack, Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder is always a good choice. The addition of chicken to an already-excellent corn chowder makes this product more of a meal option.

On a scale of one through ten, I would assign Progresso Chicken Corn Chowder a rating of 9.5.

Donut Crazy in West Hartford Center Features a Delicious, Black Raspberry Jelly Donut (Plus Many Other Varieties)

 

Even when the weather outside is wet and dreary, eating a jelly donut can instantly improve one's mood and outlook. After completing a couple of errands in West Hartford, Connecticut, today, I made a beeline to the Donut Crazy store at 993 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center.

So far, I've been to the West Hartford Donut Crazy location three or four times, and each time I've been there, the selection of creatively inspired donuts has been quite impressive.

The interior of Donut Crazy looks great, with a primarily pink color scheme. The staff members are friendly and enthusiastic, and there's usually a good assortment of donut varieties on hand.

The two jelly donuts that I got from Donut Crazy today were traditional raised yeast donuts that were covered with powdered sugar. The black raspberry jelly that filled the centers of the treats had a great flavor that actually tasted like black raspberries!

More than once recently, I've encountered supermarket and gas station jelly donuts that are filled with reddish-purple jellies that offer a generic, mystery-fruit flavor. Not so with the jelly in these donuts. The vibrant black raspberry flavor pleasingly complemented the powdered sugar shells, producing an admirable jelly donut.

On prior occasions, I've eaten chocolate frosted sprinkle, blueberry glazed and Boston cream donuts from the West Hartford Center Donut Crazy store. Each variety was very flavorful, and the donuts were good-sized.

When I visited Donut Crazy today, there were lots of delectable donut options being offered. Even though their donuts are high quality items, they're still reasonably priced.

People of all ages love eating donuts, and the ones served at Donut Crazy in West Hartford, Connecticut, are definitely top-rate.