What? Why?

Real Hartford has completed the process of becoming an LLC. More about that in a minute.

You are invited to help celebrate this move.

We will be in the picnic area near the boat launch (get it!) at Riverside Park in Hartford. This is a public park. Everyone is welcome. We are not reserving space, so there could be three family reunions happening there at the same time. That’s cool. We are really just having a picnic but calling it something fancy.

This will be September 15, 2013 — that’s a Sunday — from 1-3pm. You want to come earlier? Stay later? That’s the beauty of it being in a park. We aren’t going to make you leave. Can only stay for five minutes? That’s fine too.

Will this be on a boat?

Only if you supply your own boat. If the weather is nice, you will probably get to see boats on the river; hence, a major benefit of hanging out in Hartford’s “Most Watery Park.”

Serious rain/thunderstorms would cancel this picnic.

Is this a Red Carpet affair?

This is in a park.

There is a beach volleyball court.  How will your heels hold up under those conditions?

We ask that you wear clothing of some kind.

Will there be food?

We are willing to share our vegetarian lunch with anyone who stops by. Sharing will be easier if we know to expect you. The park has grills. If you want to eat something non-vegetarian, you will have to supply it and grill it yourself. We won’t be selling food.

Will there be hooch?

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Hartford’s parks. We will not be selling alcoholic beverages.

What should I bring?

Blanket or lawn chair, sunscreen, insect repellent, and anything you might need for playing in the park, like a volleyball or soccer ball. Bring the family. Bring your well-behaved dog on a leash.

What is there to do?

Our plan is to chat and eat. If that is not lively enough, go explore the park. Riverside Park has a playground, sculptures, sports fields, and more. You can walk to Windsor via hiking trails (be on the look out for poison ivy) or Downtown, or keep going to Charter Oak Landing.

Where Can I Park?

If you look at the picture of the map on the right, you can see that Riverside Park has lots of free parking for motorized vehicles. It also has bicycle racks and is very accessible for cyclists and pedestrians.

What does Real Hartford becoming an LLC mean?

Over the years you have told us that the work we do has value. While appreciated, praise does not keep the lights on. Soon, you will be able to contribute financially to Real Hartford. Running an online news site requires time, resources, and effort. Cameras need repair. Contributing writers deserve to get paid. We are working on setting up payment methods.

You will not receive ten nagging phone calls or letters per year asking for a donation. That is not a solid use of our resources.

We will not have a paywall. Content will continue to be available to everyone, regardless of income. Readers who can not afford to donate at this time are invited to contribute by sharing links to articles with friends.

We are not considering traditional advertising at this time. Real Hartford has consistently been opposed to measures that would jeopardize our ability to report with integrity.

Meanwhile, we have been revising the About, FAQ, and Contact pages. There is still work to do there. We are looking to make larger cosmetic changes on the site.

Real Hartford began in 2007. It has evolved and the time felt right to take this step forward by making this hyperlocal online news site an official business. If you want to talk more about the details of the business, the picnic is a good time for that.