1. Whitlock’S Book Barn
City: Bethany, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (203) 393-1240
Address: 20 Sperry Rd.
Description: Whitlock’s has been in the book business on a charming horse farm in Bethany since 1948, and once you see it, you’ll understand why it is still going strong. The two small barns have plenty of rare and cheap used books for both the casual browser and the avid collector. Don’t miss the upstairs of the second barn, which has an amazing collection of maps and prints for sale. Enjoy the horses in the adjacent pasture, and the groundhogs scurrying around the parking lot. When you’ve had your fill of books, take a drive north on the picture-postcard Sperry Road, or if you’re in the mood for a walk, head down the gravel extension just south of Whitlock’s. It is one of the most gorgeous old stone-walled roads in the state. Go left at the turn-off to Sperry Park, on a path that leads past a foundation from Sperry Farm (where one of the three judges hid), to a rushing waterfall with the remnants of an old mill.
2. New Haven Jazz Festival
City: Bethany, CT
Category: Tours & Attractions
Telephone: (203) 393-3002
Address: 370 Amity Rd.
Description: For almost 30 years, the Jazz Festival on New Haven Green has been one of the premier festivals in the country. Now run by the organization Jazz Haven in collaboration with the city, the festival is slightly smaller than in the past (usually just 1 day now) but still features a stellar lineup and free admission. Jazz Haven runs shows all year long, in the city and the suburbs, in collaboration with various other organizations, bringing this uniquely American art form to new generations. For the big annual festival, the city’s fleet of tasty food trucks line up on Temple Street, and everyone comes out to hear the music from afternoon into the evening hours. And once again, it’s free.