Things to Do in Hamden

Before IMAX movies and online social networks, roller skating reigned supreme as the favorite pastime of American youth. Ron-A-Roll smacks of this blissful era, with its colorful retro murals, classic beach-wood floors, firm prohibition of halter-tops and baggy pants, and the gratuitous use of the word "hogwash." The beeps and whistles of arcade games jingle across the 14,000-square-foot facility, faintly audible beneath the boom of '60s and '70s hits. Spotlighted by strings of hanging lights, skaters of all ages soar across the rink during open skate, skate lessons, and fitness-skating classes held throughout the week. The rink even boasts its own speed-skating team—the Ron-A-Roll Chargers—whose orange and yellow jumpsuits can be spotted at local competitions.

Off the skate floor, a team of technicians staffs a pro shop, peddling inline skates and gear for rental or purchase while extending mechanical expertise toward repair work, wheel rotations, and cleanings. Meanwhile, in the concession stand, servers dole out boxes of popcorn and pitchers of soft drinks to fuel laps around the rink and inspire skaters to experiment with their popcorn-float recipe.

At Village Center for the Arts, director Sharon Kaufman and co-owner Jayson Roberts lead art classes that span the creative spectrum, layering in lessons that detail their respective specializations. Kaufman, a teacher for 19 years, uses the pottery wheel to shape most of her work, and Roberts excels in the art of wood building. To help maintain positive energy, the duo carefully selects teachers and staff members who can communicate artistic concepts in fun, engaging ways that don't require actual engagements or wedding DJ contracts.

The center's art classes, camps, and open studio hours put students in the same space as the painting and sculpting experts. And the studio itself—a large colonial house capped with a classical pediment—provides guests with the comforts of working in a home-like setting without home-like limitations of owning only one Bob Ross DVD or having plenty of face paint but only one grandmother.

With more than 10 on-water activities, Hamptons Paddleboard lets its customers accomplish everything from catching fish to conquering crashing waves. Led by Captain Mike, a USCG Certified Master Captain with more than 15 years of experience, the team of CPR-certified instructors and captains help students traverse the Hampton's varied aquatic terrain. The crew can teach fledgling aquanauts to smooth out wobbles atop a paddleboard, ski along the water, or successfully snorkel the water's depths. Tours by paddleboard, kayak, or canoe are also available amid the warm, romantic glow of sunset.

The blue waters lap gently at the fleet of boats docked in the certified clean Three Belles Marina. After the crews arrive, the sailboats and motorboats are ready to set out on the nearby protected cove. When the sailors arrive, they can find a certified mechanic seven days a week and take a dip in a sunny swimming pool because Three Belles Marina strives to offer all-encompassing onsite services and amenities.

The inflatable playground at Kid Escape USA provides a safe environment where kids can romp to their hearts’ content. Five air-filled playthings in primary colors offer cushy surfaces for kids aged 2–12 to climb on, slide across, and use as springboards to the moon. Elsewhere in the 9,000-square-foot enclave, young ones can also partake in arcade games such as skee-ball, racing, and air hockey. Parents keep an eye on the action while seated at nearby tables, sharing snacks from the cafe or using the WiFi access to search the real-estate listings for bouncy castles.

In every production, TheaterWorks aims to create a safe space for voices of all kinds in the midst of bustling downtown Hartford. Banners outside its newly restored Pearl Street home base playfully symbolize this mission with a lion bearing a live mouse within its jaws as tenderly as a child carrying a frog that’s probably magic. The company specializes in high-stakes dramas with social implications from playwrights such as Moises Kaufman, Richard Greenberg, and David Mamet.