Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, September 2, 2010 8:53 am

There are two upcoming scavenger hunts in Hartford. Continue reading 'A Walk for Jane and a Dash for a Difference'»

Comments (2)

By Kerri Provost, September 1, 2010 6:13 am

The fourth annual family-friendly community spelling bee will be held on Friday, October 22^nd, from 7-9pm. This event will be at the Theater of the Performing Arts, which is located within the Learning Corridor at 359 Washington Street. It is free to watch teams scramble for correct answers.

It’s not free to play, however. It costs $500 to register a team; the registration deadline is September 30, 2010. This means you have a few weeks to decide whether to compete, study up, find better spellers than yourself to be on your team, and ask for help funding your registration. Team members can be high school age and up, and a word list will be made available so that spellers can study before humiliating themselves in public. A few past teams have included The Goode Spellerz (Asylum Hill Congregational
Church), Habeas Corpses (Law and Government Academy), and Ain’t mis-bee havin The Bee Sharps (Friends of Achieve Hartford!). Participants are encouraged to select names that will make the eyes roll.

Achieve Hartford! — a nonprofit organization that “has been established to monitor, support and be a catalyst for education reform and community involvement in the Hartford Public School District”– says that:

The Community Spelling Bee is our signature special fundraising event.  The funds raised from the Bee will go to support literacy-based resource programs that help students excel in reading.

For more information about the Spelling Bee or the organization, see the Achieve Hartford! website.

Comments (4)

By Kerri Provost, August 31, 2010 10:33 am

By now, you’ve probably heard that Hartford was placed on a controversial list. It’s funny how some have latched right on to the notion, but when Hartford makes other lists, its presence on them is instantly dismissed.   For example, CNNMoney.com named Hartford as one of the best places to start a small business. The posting of this link to a friend’s Facebook page was followed by immediate reactionary comments, dismissing the ranking. But between CNN and a source I had never heard of, I am going to typically find CNN to be more reliable. The opposite seems to be true for many; they believe whichever source reaffirms their own beliefs. Yet, how is it that multiple pieces of evidence are routinely ignored? Forbes.com placed Hartford on a list of Best Cities to Find a Job. On another list, Hartford moved from #149 (out of 200) in 2008 to #49 in 2009 Best Performing Cities. Those are just three lists that refute the claim that Hartford belongs on a “worst” list based on its economy. Hartford is known for its insurance industry, but insurance is not the only game in town. The economy is also not the only way to take a city’s pulse. A neighborhood in Hartford was named on “Best Places for First-Time Buyers to Get an Old House” published on This Old House. But that’s a positive story, so there’s nothing to see there. Right?

Live in Hartford, a local blog, has published a number of articles which implicitly, and at times explicitly, make the case that Hartford is very much alive. Heck, the name of the blog itself, no matter which version of “live” one reads it as, makes this exact point. While some are using economics as the way to take a city’s temperature, Emily and Julie measure life in another way. In an article published yesterday, Emily directly addresses the recent controversial list. In March, she took a similar approach by listing the plethora of arts and entertainment activities happening within city limits. In January, Julie wrote about the standpoint theory, and described how someone from not here referred to Hartford as a cosmopolitan city. Going back to June 2009, Julie shows what a party for the brand new science center looks like. A piece from March 2009 talks about what it is like to live here as young(ish) professionals. This is just a sampling of what a single blog has done to describe, in words and pictures, Hartford, at length. There are no bait-and-switch tactics, no sensationalism, and no appeals to emotions used here (well, except for when the bloggers try to find homes for dogs). It’s honest. But as Emily writes, “what do I know, I just live and work and shop and play here.”

Every so often a major media outlet declares something dead. Or, they will mask a statement by turning it into a question. They will ask if  God is dead, or feminism is dead. Egregious claims and controversial debates sell copies, more than nuanced argument will. Take for example the claims made by a District Attorney candidate in that state just to our north. Continue reading 'It’s Called the Heartbeat for a Reason'»

Comments (4)

By Kerri Provost, August 27, 2010 8:31 am

The Pump House Gallery reopened its doors as an art space Thursday evening. The site has gone from a state of neglect to one that we can be proud of: the patio has been weeded, walls have been given a fresh coat of white paint, and the terribly faded sign over the entrance has been repainted. As part of The Week of the Parks, Bushnell Park had its grass mowed, shrubs removed from the front of the Pump House Gallery, branches trimmed,  and benches repaired. Continue reading 'Legacy of Hartford Parks'»

Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, August 25, 2010 4:20 am

On Thursday afternoons Farm to Hearth sets up a wood fired clay oven in the courtyard of the Billings Forge compound on Broad Street. The pizzas are made from fresh, local ingredients.

East-West Grille, a Pan-Asian restaurant with a generous number of vegetarian dishes, sells lunches from a spot in front of the garden.

If these quick lunch options are not adequate, Firebox — a slower and pricier alternative — is just steps away from the weekly farmers’ market.

There are vendors from several local farms. Finding fresh food is no problem. A recent visit showed variety in abundance: tomatoes, peppers, melons, beets, raspberries, blueberries, apples, plums, basil, and more. Pies made from local fruits and berries were for sale, as were loaves of bread baked on the Billings Forge grounds.

On September 16th there will be a Farm-to-Table Dinner. This is by far the most expensive of the options listed here and is included to show the range that exists on a single city block: Broad Street between Capitol Avenue and Russ Street.

Comments (1)

By Kerri Provost, August 21, 2010 2:54 pm

Note: Due to rain, the Asian Festival has been canceled for Sunday. The Dragon Boat races are still going on as planned.

Festivities began Saturday morning and go until 4 pm. They will resume at 10 on Sunday and continue through 2 in the afternoon.

A record-setting 67 teams are participating in this year’s dragon boat races. Participants range in age and ability. There are corporate teams, athletes, and people who have some sense of humor, giving their teams names like Blazing Paddles and Splashing Tigers, Soaking Dragons,

Besides boat racing, there are musical performances, martial arts demonstrations, cultural booths, vendors, and more.

The two females pictured above were part of the Malee’s School of Tai Chi and Kung Fu  demo on the upper level of the Riverfront Plaza.

Continue reading 'Tenth Annual Dragon Boat & Asian Festival this Weekend'»

Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, August 20, 2010 9:17 am

There are over 300 community garden plots in Hartford, which means that an even greater number of people have the opportunity to grow (or attempt to grow) their own fruits, vegetables, and flowers. On Thursday evening, two bus loads of people (plus some cyclists) toured several of these gardens, checking out the creative choices made by this year’s gardeners.

Though some may be surprised about the presence of community gardens here, the first one in Hartford was established in the early 1970’s. Issues of “food security” are not new by a long shot, even if such phrases have become buzzwords in recent years. After creating a community garden in Keney Park, twelve more have been developed. How does one find space for such ventures in an urban setting? When a building is demolished, the land on which it sat often is left as a vacant, unkempt patch. Sometimes, these lots are converted into a more useful and attractive alternative — community garden space. Continue reading 'Hartford Community Garden Tour'»

Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, August 18, 2010 12:02 am

The recently spruced up Pump House Gallery has begun to get use again. Last Friday there was a jazz performance and on Tuesday evening there were two short films. Both events were free. The audience brought coolers, blankets, and lawn chairs to make the outdoor entertainment more comfortable. No food is available for purchase at the Pump House Gallery, though its location in Bushnell Park makes for a quick and easy walk to any number of restaurants.

Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, August 15, 2010 8:05 am

On Saturday, the Hartford Senators beat the Westfield Wheelmen in the last game of the day. Both teams showed good sportsmanship before, during, and after the game. The first pitch was thrown by Mayor Segarra.

Games at Colt Meadows are free. Handlebar Hooch, Pop’s Pop, and Dead Red are sold at the concession stand.

The full schedule is posted. More photographs are available for your viewing.

Comments (0)

By Kerri Provost, August 13, 2010 3:54 pm

On August 6th a group of Muslims were verbally attacked after prayer in Bridgeport. The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut states:

The children were called “murderers” and the protesters using bullhorns yelled “Islam is a lie” and “Jesus hates Muslims”.

There have been protests against Mosques in Manhattan recently. Reminiscent of book burnings in Germany, there have also been burnings of the Qur’an. The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut and Muslim Leadership Council of Connecticut, along with various other faith organizations, organized and held a rally against Islamophobia this afternoon at the State Capitol.