Activities
Special Activities
Simsbury Newcomers & Neighbors activities are listed alphabetically below – click the plus sign next to the Activity Title to read the description. If you are interested in trying out an activity before you join, please contact the activity coordinator to let them know you’d like to attend.
If you’re interested in starting a new activity group, or coordinating an inactive group such as Pop Ups, Pickleball, Bunko-Evening, Pinochle- Evening, please contact Kim Wescott. She’d be happy to help you bring your ideas to fruition.
Afternoon Aperitifs
Meet monthly on the second Tuesday from 4 PM – 6 PM for casual conversations and socialization at local venues. Open to all members.
Come when you can… Stay for the entire time or just a portion.
Contact Judy Gessford or Barbara Huggins if you want to be aware of future gatherings.
Book Discussions
There are both Day and Evening discussion groups. Books are chosen at the beginning of each year, and everyone who is involved in these groups have a say in what is planned. This is a great group to join if you love to read – there’s a new book every month! – or just love to talk about books. Day group usually meets the 3rd Friday of the month. Evening group usually meets the 1st Tuesday of the month.
Days, Jane FoxÂ
| Â | 2025-6025 Book Selections | Â |
| Date | Title | Author |
| Sept 19 |  Frozen River | Ariel Lawton |
| Oct 17 | The Secret Book ofFlora Lea | Patti Calahan Henry |
| Nov 14 | The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Annie Barrows & and Mary Ann Shaffer |
| Dec 12 | The Night Swim | Megan Goldin |
| Jan 16 | The Lion Women of Tehran | Marjan Kamali |
| Feb 20 | The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper | Phaedra Patrick |
| Mar 20 | The Woman With a Cure | Lynn Cullen |
| Apr 17 | How to Age Disgracefully | Clare Pooley |
| May 15 | The Secret Life of Sunflowers | Marta Molnar |
| June 19 | A Woman of No Importance | Sonia Purnell |
| Sept 18 |  How to Read a Book | Monica Wood |
Evenings, Alice Sawyer
| Â | 2025-2026 Book Selections | Â |
| Date | Title | Author |
| Sept 2 | Look on the Bright Side | Kristin Higgins |
| Oct 7 | Â American Spy | Lauren Wilkinson |
| Nov 4 | Men Without Women | Haruki Murakami |
| Dec 2 | Madame Foucade’s Secret War | Lynne Olson |
| Jan 6 | Salvage the Bones | Jesamyn Ward |
| Feb 3Â | A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius | Dave Eggers |
| Mar 3Â | The Alice Network | Kate Quinn |
| April 7Â | Heaven and Earth Grocery Store | James McBride |
| May 5Â | Tangerine | Christine Mangan |
| June 2 | Swamplandia! | Karen Russell |
| July 7Â | The Counterfeit Countess | Elizabeth White & Joanna Silwa |
| Aug 4 | A Tale for the Time Being | Ruth Ozeki |
| Sept 1 | Mother Daughter Murder Night | Nina Simon |
Bridge
Love to play Bridge, but you can’t ever find enough people to play with you? This is the group for you. Feel free to get in on the action by contacting Patty Howland for the couple’s group. The couple’s group usually meets the 3rd Saturday at 7pm.Â
Bunko
Bunko is a very old dice game that’s really easy to learn. And a lot of fun to play. It’s so easy that while you’re rolling the dice, your mind can be on your discussion, and you can have a fun social morning out with friends. This group plays one morning a month – so if you’re interested, contact Mary Lindsey.Â
Cookbook Club
The Cookbook Club will all “read” the same cookbook and then each participant will prepare a dish to bring to a potluck held at members’ homes. Members will take turns choosing a cookbook. The library will gather multiple copies from the area consortium for us to check out. The Activity Coordinators will coordinate with the library once a title is submitted.
If interested, please contact  Judy Gessford jbgessford@yahoo.com or Charmaine Glew charmaineglew@comcast.net
Dining Out
Dine out at some of the areas finest restaurants with this group.  Reserve the 2nd Saturday of the month for great company, conversation and tasty meals.  Contact Kim Wescott  to get on the email list. This group usually meets the 2nd Saturday at 7pm.
Discover New England
New England is filled with many scenic, historical and cultural attractions. Join fellow Newcomers as we explore our surrounding area. Events and places to visit will be suggested by those who sign up for the group. Some ideas include: tours of local landmarks, ethnic food shopping trips, home and garden tours, art exhibits, daytrips to the CT Shore or the Berkshires. Â
Contact Sandee Fleet, Isabelle Brienza, or Genie Wilmarth  if you are interested in joining this fun group.
Golf Group
We will have golf outings of 9 and/or 18 holes. Beginners are welcome! We will also coordinate an outing that includes lessons. The members will be asked for best day and times to get together to accommodate the most members possible. This will be a fun, casual group to enjoy the outdoors and the game of golf. If interested, contact Kim Wescott
Helping Hands
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Ladies' Lunch Bunch
This is a fun group, where the ladies get together once a month to enjoy each others’ companionship and some good food. The leaders of the group, Toni Robinson and Sue Burnet, make reservations at different venues in the area so you can not only enjoy the atmosphere and lively conversation, but also try out a restaurant or two you may have never had the chance to go to before. This group usually meets once a month on Thursday.
Mah Jongg
We have two groups that get together to play this fun tile game. The day time group meets every Wednesday and Alice Sawyer organizes the hostess. An evening group meets the 2nd Tuesday and 4th Thursday. Contact Jennifer Halbert or Nancy Malley to join this group.

Paddle Tennis
Would you like to hang out and socialize over a fun and competitive sport? Paddle Tennis is held at the raised wood courts located at Simsbury Farms. The Couples’ group meets every Sun, Nov-Mar 4:30-6. The Ladies’ group meets Mon & Thurs, 9:30-11, Nov-Mar.
Contact Camilla Thompson for the Couples’ games or Carolyn Brand for the Ladies’ edition.
Pinochle
Pinochle is a card game that is easier than bridge, but still challenging enough to be interesting. Our members range from experienced to just beginning. The daytime group meets the 1st and 3rd Mondays, 1-3pm. If interested, contact Jane Fox.Â
Scrabble Night
Scrabble Night
Love word games? Consider coming to Scrabble Night on the third Thursday of each month. If you have a Scrabble board, please bring it along in the event of multiple players. If interested please contact Cindy Joe.Â
Single Active Women
This is a new activity group just for single ladies. We can meet for coffee, see a movie, go to lunch or dinner, take a day trip, attend a Newcomers event together as a group or just spend time together talking. It’s not always easy being single by divorce, by choice or as a widow. We get it! Join us for conversations, laughs and probably food. Contact Toni Robinson or Sue Burnet to join this group.
Sit and Sew

Did you know that the Simsbury Library has several sewing machines? If you would like to learn how to use one of these machines all that is required in one 3-hour class.Â
Once you have completed the required class for this, you can request one of their machines to be used at our all day Sit & Sew sessions. At these sessions you can bring your own machine if you desire. We will be working on our own projects or a shared project when available.
If interested, please contact Erica Wahl at Quilt4all@aol.com or Joanne Burke at Joanne.Burke47@hotmail.com
Walking Group

There is currently no one coordinating this group.Â
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Wine and Women
Wine & Women is a fun and casual group that meets once a month, at a member’s home, usually on the third Thursday night of the month. Everyone brings a bottle of wine or other beverage of choice and an appetizer or dessert to share. It’s fun to meet new members and reconnect with friends. We welcome members to join the group at any time during the year.  And, of course, you don’t have to drink wine to enjoy an evening out with this lively crowd! Contact Kim Wescott to participate
