Things to Do in Bridgeport

The experienced bead herders and metal wranglers who oversee the family-owned A Bead of Roses studio perpetuate the art of handmade, artisan jewelry. No prior experience is necessary to drop in on classes such as Beading 101 or Introduction to Precious Metal Clay Workshop, where the studio’s staff teaches students to shape and fire pendants from malleable gold and silver particle clay. In metalsmithing classes, students learn to wield a torch or a sneezy dragon’s snout to forcefully solder elegant necklaces. Classes take walk-in students or can be arranged for group events. A wide-ranging inventory of high-quality items—from feather hair extensions to hemp cord—keeps rivers of creativity from ever being dammed.

The din of go-kart buzzing floats through the air throughout Stratford Speedway, calling drivers to their destinies: some as race-day participants, and others as champs. Drivers taller than 54 inches take the helm of low-sitting crafts adorned with real corporate brands to mimic true racecars. As drivers zoom around the wide, road-size track, tires line each edge, helping to prevent detours and wrong turns. Races tend to last five minutes each, and cars speed around the grand prix-style track for 20–25 laps. The speedway also serves as a welcoming oasis for birthday parties and events, with the track available for private rental by the half-hour and hour.

At Kids U, upbeat instructors camouflage learning as playtime. They invite youngsters and parents into a kid-size gym that jump starts imagination with vibrant colors and a multitiered PlayQuad. The 17-foot playground spans 2,000 square feet of indoor space, where children explore tunnels and soar in swings. At classes, teachers inject freestyle play with structure while still allowing for creativity. The small, laid-back sessions cover subjects that range from gymnastics to cooking and building with LEGOs, all while interweaving themes such as teamwork and motor skills. The instructors pioneer similar subjects in three-hour day camps, molded around the Summer Olympics. Kids U's parties combine the fun center's two signature styles of recreation—freestyle fun in the PlayQuad and ordered activities—according to chosen themes, which, like concepts kicked around for the White House Correspondents' dinner, include Rock Star and Pajama Party.

Each year, the banks of the Saugatuck River transform from a serene New England retreat to a raucous Southern street fair during the annual two-day Blues, Views & BBQ Festival. The syncopated chords of live blues performers waft through the air as visitors nosh on barbecue, jerk chicken, and other down-home favorites supplied by local eateries. Visitors can showcase their own culinary skills by helming grills during barbecue competitions, or highlight their stomachs’ capacity without undergoing embarrassing public x-rays during pie- and rib-eating contests. Carnival-style entertainment rounds out the festivities, ranging from a mechanical bull to inflatables for tots.

Utah-certified instructor Michael J. Capozziello teaches the Utah Basic Pistol Shooting Course to familiarize clients with basics of handling, firing, and owning a pistol. In addition to demonstrating and supervising skills, he educates students about gun laws at both the state and national level.