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, please contact Barbara Huggins. She’d be happy to help you bring your ideas to fruition.
Afternoon Aperitifs
Meet monthly on the second Tuesday from 3 PM – 5 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, Carrie Houghton 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 Fox
2022-2023 Book Selections | ||
Date | Title | Author |
Sept. 16 | All the Little Hopes | Leah Weiss |
Oct. 21 |
Hissing Cousins: Rivalry of E. Roosevelt and A.R. Longworth
|
Marc Peyser and Timothy Dwyer |
Nov. 18 | The Paris Library | Janet S. Charles |
Dec. 16 | Take My Hand | Dolen Perkins-Valdez |
Jan. 20 | Dictionary of Lost Words | Pip Williams |
Feb. 17 | The Personal Librarian | Marie Benedict and Victoria C. Murray |
Mar. 17 | Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt |
Apr. 21 | Lessons in Chemistry | Bonnie Garmus |
May 19 | True Biz | Sara Novic |
June 16 | Horse | Geraldine Brooks |
Sept 15 | The Girl in His Shadow | Audrey Blake |
Evenings: Shari Cassutt and Patti Cummings
2022-2023 Book Selections | ||
Date | Title | Author |
Sept. 6 | Kindred | Octavia Butler |
Oct. 4 | Prairie Fires (the Laura Ingalls Wilder book) | Caroline Fraser |
Nov. 1 | Salt to the Sea | Rutya Sepetys |
Dec. 6 | Harlem Shuffle | Colson Whitehead |
Jan. 3 | The Lincoln Highway | Amor Towles |
Feb 7 | The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo | Taylor Jenkins Reid |
Mar 7 | The Maid | Nita Prose |
April 4 | Riverman, An American Odyssey by Ben McGrath | Michelle Zauner |
May 2 | Freezing Order: A True Story of Money Laundering, Murder, and Surviving Vladimir Putin’s Wrath | Bill Browder |
June 6 | The Measure | Nikki Erlich |
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 or Jane Fox for the daytime group. The couple’s group usually meets the 3rd Saturday at 7pm. The day group usually meets 2nd &4th Fridays,1-4pm.
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 Arlene Zappile. The evening group needs an Activity Coordinator so if you’re interested please contact Barbara Huggins.
Cookbook Club
The Cookbook Club will all “read” the same cookbook and then members 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 chairperson will coordinate with the library once a title is submitted.
If interested, please contact Shari Cassutt at scassutt@yahoo.com
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 Theresa Awad Roe or Katherine Estell 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.
Contact Sandee Fleet, Sally Hyman, Isabelle Brienza, or Genie Wilmarth if you are interested in joining this fun group.
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 and 4th Mondays. Contact Jennifer Halbert or Nancy Malley to join this group!
Needlework

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.
Pickleball
Pickleball is on hold until the warm weather returns! Pickleball is a fun sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Players use solid paddles to hit what looks like a wiffleball over a net similar to tennis and can be played as doubles or singles. Pickleball was named the fastest growing sport in the US and appeals to a wide range of ages and fitness levels. Simsbury is building brand new pickleball courts in Tariffville this fall to supplement the tennis courts that are lined for pickleball at Simsbury Farms and Henry James.
Pickleball is easy for beginners to learn but can develop into a fast-paced competitive game for experienced players. Go to www.usapickleball.org for more information. This club will focus mostly on the fun & social aspects! Hope you can join us! If you’re interested, contact Rita King, This group meets Tuesdays, 1pm.
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. The evening group needs an Activity Coordinator so if interested please contact Barbara Huggins.
Pop Ups
This is a new activity that includes various events that will “Pop Up” from time to time. Sports events, comedy clubs, special dinners, wine tastings are just a few of the events that may be planned. Members and their guests are invited to join in on the fun. All members of Pop Ups are free to send out an invitation to whatever fun things they want to organize. Contact Shari Cassutt if you are interested in being the Activity Coordinator for this fun group.
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.
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 Sarah Nanzig or Barbara Huggins to participate.
Walking Group
This is a terrific group to join if you not only want to get some daily exercise into your life (yes! we meet every day!) but you’d also like to start your day with some fun conversation. Contact Barbara Huggins if you are interested in being the Activity Coordinator for this fun group.