Very fancy restaurants tend to make me feel uncomfortable and provoke bad behavior in me, like imitating that scene from the Blues Brothers. Dish did not bring this out of me. When I showed up wearing jeans and a decidedly not fancy shirt, the restaurant staff were just as welcoming as if I arrived in an evening gown.
Months ago I read some review that said the decor was reminiscent of bondage.That was not really my impression, though it definitely felt industrial inside. There are chains hanging from the ceiling. There’s a water feature. Near the time we were getting ready to leave it sounded like karaoke had started on the other side of the restaurant. I don’t see karaoke listed on their website, so it may have just been a cover band.
To drink, I had sangria. You can not tell from the photo, but it was essentially a keg-sized glass. Continue reading 'Dish'»
Culturally, I am cupcake malnourished. I have yet to visit Magnolia, the famous cupcakery in NYC. Last year, when the Cupcake Truck came to Bushnell Park, I missed it entirely. But that does not mean that I try. My kitchen has several cupcake trays and I own one cupcake-specific cookbook. When it comes to baking, I have not learned the patience necessary to properly frost and decorate baked goods. By default, I’ve been on the mission to find the perfect cupcake. Much like my mission to find the perfect sangria and mojito, the process is more important than the actual outcome. Continue reading 'Cupcakes'»
With Valentine’s Day approaching, and with a close friend going on a top secret date which led to discussion about what makes for a great or horrible date, and with an acquaintance asking me last night what I like about Hartford, I write this report on what I think makes for a (nearly) perfect night out.
Before riding my bicycle to the Wadsworth Atheneum, I began by having an impromptu conversation with my neighbor and was then joined by another resident on the block. There was a fire in a nearby house early Thursday morning, so we were all updating each other and feeling grateful that nobody was injured.
Upon arriving at the museum, I had my choice of parking spots: an entirely empty bike rack that meant my walk from parking spot-to-front door was under thirty seconds. After stashing my helmet and jacket inside one of the museum’s lockers, I grazed from the snack table and listened to the dj. When he was there a few months ago, I did not care much for his musical choices, but he had selections from an entirely different genre this time. Friends and friends-of-friends trickled in; among them included Jude, who writes about the MATRIX exhibit far better than I could. When I first began visiting the museum in the 1990s, the MATRIX was among my favorite sections of the Wadsworth. Continue reading 'On Any Thursday'»
Breaking a long drought of not dining out, I decided to satisfy my curiosity about Tamarind Grill during Taste of Hartford Restaurant Week, an event I would find more enjoyable if there were more vegetarian options and/or if the $20.10 price felt worthwhile for the existing veggie options. Since meat-free meals are generally less expensive, restaurant week usually means getting less of a bargain. It’s not that these restaurants have nothing vegetarian on their menus — they do. But if the goal is to get new customers via the restaurant week, they should have no problem catering to what is a sizable portion of the population. If a self-described steakhouse does not want to do this, there’s no love lost, but most restaurants do not fall into this category. A small salad, pasta, and dessert cost far less than $20 to prepare. If most of the participating restaurants added a glass or wine or a hearty appetizer to the vegetarian option, I would call it fair. Continue reading 'Tamarind Grill vs. Restaurant Week'»
Yesterday, WNPR featured a show on “urban biking.” If you missed it, follow the link for the podcast. It featured some folks from the Beat Bike Blog, as well as a bike messenger and bike shop owners.
Continue reading 'Thoughts on Urban Biking'»
I think I’m going to have to sit this one out because of the timing.
Places I’ve been to on the list: Agave, bin 228, Carbone’s, City Steam, Feng, The Half Door, La Fonda, O’Porto, Tisane, USS Chowder Pot, and Wood-n-Tap. Of those, I think the one that offers the best bargain for restaurant week (as far as vegetarian fare is concerned) is Carbone’s.
Of the participating restaurants that I have not been to, the ones I’d most like to try: J Restaurant Bar and Vivo.
Free events that feature family activities make the Wadsworth Atheneum buzz with life. The museum was a good kind of busy. It was not silent like it usually is when I go mid-week. That’s uncomfortable, to be the only person on a floor, to have five security guards able to follow me at any given time. It was also not as busy as the larger museums in New York City that make the experience deafening and stressful. I don’t mind waiting for a few people to observe a painting and then move on, but I never want to wait in a line to catch a glimpse of something. Today’s WAMA population was a happy medium.
For the kids, there were hands-on art projects, like postcard creation. Maybe my timing was perfect, but while I was there, I was not forced to endure the screaming or crying of any kids (or their parents). The children seemed amused by the museum and the activities.
After checking out the Digging Deeper exhibit for the billionth time, I wandered off to explore the rest of the museum. I noticed that the mummy was moved. Not only was he removed, but his exhibit left some small holes in the floor. I was disappointed, mostly because it’s a tradition of mine to visit him and marvel at how the henna dye in his hair lasted thousands of years, but if I go to the salon and dye my hair, it disappears in weeks.
Continue reading 'Monday at the Museum'»
If you’re looking for something free and inspiring to do on MLK Day, here are a few options:
The University of Hartford will host the “Keeping the Dream Alive” one-hour program at 11 a.m. in Lincoln Theater. CT State Treasurer Denise Nappier will be the keynote speaker. There will be musical performances by students from the Hartt School, University of Hartford Magnet School, and the Martin Luther King Elementary School.
The Wadsworth Atheneum will be hosting the MLK Community Day from 10-5. There will be hands-on art, discussions about the Digging Deeper exhibit, music by a gospel choir, storybook time, and a screening of the film The Quilts of Gee’s Bend.
For those who would like to volunteer on their day off from work or school, there are also a few organized activities. There will be an MLK Day Painting Service Project at Peter’s Retreat from 12:30-4:30. Painting supplies will be provided. For more information on this, call Danielle at (860) 728-3201 x2012. OPP (Our Piece of the Pie) Hartford AmeriCorps will be having a Peace Walk beginning at 20-28 Sargeant Street. They say:
MLK Day is a day on not a day off. This is a time when we serve our community and make a different one person at a time! On this day we will be focusing on “PEACE”. We will have many quest speakers including Ed Nixon Jr. (Nick LaTour acting name) from Los Angeles, CA. His father Ed Nixon Sr. was the founder of MIA movement in Alabama and he played a vaulable role in the the release of Rosa Parks.
The anti-violence march will follow the guest speakers. This event goes from 9:30-2pm.
If you know of other MLK-themed happenings planned for Monday, January 18th, please let me know.
It’s time to vote again in the Advocate Best of Hartford Readers’ Poll.
There’s a best blog category again. Last year, I believe the blog voted best was not a local one. No matter who wins, nothing would make me happier than to see locals voting for locals…and there are plenty of local blogs. There’s no need to select a NY or Boston-based blog when we have many excellent ones right here in Connecticut. Just check the blogroll.
My real agenda, though, is to get people to vote for Maria Rodriguez in the category of Best Local Hero. She is the crossing guard who, while pushing two children to safety, was struck by a car. Maria received bruises, but the children who attend the Noah Webster school in the West End were not harmed. I can think of no one more deserving than Maria to win Best Local Hero this year.
There’s no category for best sangria or best mojito. You can vote for those here in the comments.
Voting ends February 10.
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