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

I complain about the cold so I won’t let myself complain about the heat – but it certainly has been hot for the past week!

I went for a few early-ish (7 a.m.) runs last week, and after Thursday’s run I had to get ready somewhat quickly for a meeting, and the portable air conditioner in our bedroom decided to stop working and flash an error code that made no sense to me, and I couldn’t get it to work, and I pretty much felt like I never stopped sweating for the entire rest of the day.

I do still prefer the heat to the cold though.

Summer is usually somewhat quiet, but I went to two ribbon cuttings last week (see below) and there were also quite a few breaking news stories. Maybe August will be quiet …

After buying food to make dinner Friday night, Ted and I made the last-minute decision to instead attend the Michael Cavanaugh: Music of Billy Joel concert by the Hartford Symphony at the Talcott Mountain Music Festival. We enjoyed the fantastic music, and a wonderful picnic on the lawn.

Flatbreads, hummus, and some chilled chardonnay at the Talcott Mountain Music Festival. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

No dinner out Saturday night because we didn’t want to waste the ingredients we had bought but to make sure we supported a West Hartford business – and because we wanted a cold treat on a hot night – we had some frozen custard from Rita’s. (The waffle cone was Ted’s, but he let me hold it for the photo.)

Rita’s in a waffle cone. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Rita’s chocolate and vanilla twist in a cup. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

We did enjoy a delicious brunch in Boston on Sunday with Sam and his girlfriend, Kate – before picking up Katie and Matt at Logan Airport. We discovered a new thing: pancake tacos!

Pancake tacos from Amrheins in Southie. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Mushroom and spinach omelet from Amrheins in Southie. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Corned beef hash with eggs over easy from Amrheins in Southie. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

I’m going to write this again and continue to email all who try to post comments to stories with their first name only (or some made-up moniker): I will not publish your comment until you provide your full name! Once a commenter gets through the approval queue the first time, future comments are posted automatically, and there are some commenters who are grandfathered because this requirement is only a year or two old. I have emailed all who have tried to comment without complete names, and in every case they haven’t bothered to respond or provide their names. If there’s silence for a week, I delete the request. Just wanted readers to know. Despite my including this message in both the introduction and as a bullet point in last week’s column, someone attempted to comment on the column with an obviously made-up name!

The state changed its COVID reporting a few weeks ago and while detailed reports aren’t issued daily the number of positive tests over the past week for each town is updated each day. The most recent report (as of Saturday) indicates 78 positive tests in West Hartford over the previous seven days – a number that’s higher than it was last week. The positivity rate is at 13.5% – and of course that doesn’t include the home tests that are positive but not reported. I have several friends who have tested positive recently, but thankfully all have had relatively mild symptoms. One day I hope to be able to delete this paragraph completely, but in the meantime, please continue to have patience since not everyone has the same level of comfort, continue to look out for each other, support our local businesses – and stay safe and healthy.

If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected] .

Connecticut Physical Therapy Specialists is the sponsor of this week’s Business Buzz!

Here’s this week’s Buzz:

Boqueria, a New York-based Spanish restaurant, will be opening in the former Balos (and before that Besito) space in Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Kilwins will be opening at 38 Isham Road in Blue Back Square. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Nothing Bundt Cakes is now open in Corbin’s Corner. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Brook Goff (center) cuts the ribbon at the new headquarters of Goff Law Group at Corporate Center West in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Brooke Goff (left) and law partner Annette Smith. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Brook Goff (center) cuts the ribbon at the new headquarters of Goff Law Group at Corporate Center West in West Hartford. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Goff Law Group celebrated its new offices and anniversary with custom doughnuts from Donut Crazy. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Conference room at the new Goff Law Group office at Corporate Center West. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Oath Pizza CEO Drew Kellog (center, in blue shirt) and West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor cut the ribbon at the new Blue Back Square location on July 21. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

Farmer’s Garden Pizza from Oath Pizza. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

From left: Alberto Arebalo, Kevin Keenan, Jerry Erwin, and Paul Listro. Courtesy photo

Halloran Sage has announced that West Hartford resident and attorney Joshua Woods has recently their Hartford location. He practices in corporate transactions and real estate, guiding clients through negotiations, documentation, due diligence reviews, and closings. He also provides legal counsel to private companies in financings, day-to-day affairs, and mergers and acquisitions. He earned his JD from Western New England University School of Law and his BBA from Hofstra University.

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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