Category: Raving Diva Post

Still Wavy versus Jazzmania 2010

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By Kerri Provost, July 24, 2010 1:30 pm

Tianna Glass uses the term Jazzmania 2010 on her blog, so I’m borrowing it here to refer to both the Jazz festival last weekend as well as to the free Monday night Jazz. If you have not read her blog, Things Black People Do in Hartford, you best get over there and check it out. And before freaking out about how that sounds so racist, I’ll offer this thought: almost all of the mainstream organizations and media give plenty of coverage to events and venues that already appeal to a particular audience as a whole. If a person is not feeling especially represented by that coverage, what harm is there in creating a new outlet? I mean, that is basically why this blog got started. I did not feel that most of the news in the local mainstream (and I include so-called “alternative” weeklies in this) represented my experience as a Hartford resident, and the experience of someone who is neither in abject poverty nor living in a mansion on the edge of town is somewhat needed if one is to “get” what it is like to live here. So, we welcome yet another perspective to the mix.

Last night as you probably have heard, offered up a free concert in Bushnell Park. The critiques will come below the fold, be sure, but for now, I will say that artist Janelle Monáe, the feature performer, definitely surpassed all of the hype that was permeating the cultural air space in the previous few weeks. Because of the hype, combined with underwhelming video clips online, I had gone to the show more excited for the other acts. I had never heard of her before recently, and as someone who has a radio show on a community station that receives oodles of independent, unique, and out there albums, I thought it strange that Monáe was off my radar. Usually if I do not hear of someone, it is because she is a lackluster, musically talentless pop star.

It’s safe to say that I became a Monáe fan last night.

Her show was theatrical, but not to the point of losing focus of what mattered– the music. Think of a collision between Ziggy Stardust, Freddie Mercury, Grace Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Lauryn Hill, Gwen Stefani, and Annie Lennox. Since I have seen none of them live in concert, this pleased me. There were costumes, a lot of movement on the stage, and a surprising vocal range. The guitarist wailed and made it seem effortless. This made the walk downtown worthwhile.

But, Monáe deserved a better venue and a better audience.
Continue reading 'Still Wavy versus Jazzmania 2010'»

categories Hartford, Race & Ethnicity, Raving Diva Post, commentary, downtown, fun, music, parks, photos

Do Hartford Residents Care About the City?

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By Kerri Provost, May 27, 2010 8:03 am

This has been the question posed, but the definition of caring is one that I reject. The Courant has framed the issue as follows: Hartford residents do or do not care about the city based on political corruption and/or low voter turnout.

As if those were the only indicators of caring!

Don’t Blame Me for Perez
I have voted in every election. Because I am not able to see the world through rose-colored glasses, I know that people can be corrupt, evil, or just plain stupid, regardless of party affiliation; thus, I do not vote along any party line. Although I do not despise him as many do, I have never voted for Perez. And guess what? Many others in Hartford did not vote for him either. Citing as proof that Hartford residents do not care because Mayor Perez was reelected is like saying Americans did not care because GWB was elected twice. I do not understand why some would cast their votes in favor of certain candidates, but they do.

Low voter turnout is a problem, but it is not a problem unique to Hartford. Even in presidential elections, Americans do not take part as they could. Do we blame voters for not participating in a system that they view as broken or unable to be affected by the people? I don’t. I’ll admit to not always believing that my vote matters, but I do it anyway…in the same way that I wear a seatbelt or a bike helmet. It might be futile, but then, it might not, and it does not hurt me to do so.

Instead of framing the outcome of an election as a sign that Hartford residents do not care, why do we not ask instead why better candidates are not running for political office?

I do not care about Perez
Sure, I care about him as a human being. He’s never been unpleasant in my very few interactions with him. But I do not care about his trial. There. I said it.

The media cares about the Perez trial because it is scandalous (low grade scandal is what I would call it) and scandal sells papers, gets viewers, and allows “reporters” to sit in a court room tweeting inane, irrelevant observations, passing that off as news.

It’s not that I am a supporter of corruption. If the Mayor did in fact do something illegal, he should be punished appropriately for it. But — here’s a shocker — his fancy counter tops do not affect my everyday life. They are not the first thing I think of in the morning and the last thing before I go to sleep. No, the last thing I think about when going to bed is how the “noise ordinance with teeth” is more like one with dentures, in that when residents call for enforcement, the teeth have been removed. I care about the need for stronger enforcement of leash laws. There are people who let their pit bulls roam, which causes problems when they tangle with other dogs; there are some in my neighborhood who are afraid they will be bitten. Another thing I care about is how lackadaisical traffic law enforcement is. The police only need to park themselves at the corner of Broad and Capitol to meet any ticket quotas they might have. Every single time I am at this intersection I see people running red lights, speeding through the intersection, and doing other amazingly idiotic things, like texting while turning. Sit by the highway on and off ramps. I would feel safer standing in the middle of a driving school parking lot. I care about low literacy, bullying in schools, and the lack of employment for residents. I care that in certain neighborhoods where there are high rates of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure, I see prominent billboards advertising alcohol and fast food. I care about the way downtown landlords price out low income residents or new small businesses, how the city demolishes buildings they own rather than maintain them so that they can be used, how the parks are not maintained as they should be, and how a minority of violent thugs make life unbearable in small sections of the city.

When I do not have so many other things to care about, then maybe I will have room in my brain for caring about a rather minor accusation made of a politician, who, by the way, has not gotten us into a war (or two), permitted torture, or wrecked the economy. Let’s prioritize our outrage. If Perez acted illegally, then he should be punished, but there is no need to sensationalize the trial, as this is not worthy of sensationalism.

categories Crime & Justice, Economics, Education, Hartford, Raving Diva Post, Suburbs, commentary, community, corruption, elections, global issues, media, myth busting, perception bias, political b.s., quality of life, system, transportation, war

Best of…Hartford?

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By Kerri Provost, April 21, 2010 2:28 pm

The Hartford Advocate’s 2010 Best of Hartford Readers’ Poll results were released. Congrats to:

  • La Paloma Sabanera — third place for Best Local Coffeehouse
  • The Russell — third place for Best Jamaican Restaurant and third place Best Soul Food
  • Tangiers — second place for Best Middle Eastern Restaurant (not in Hartford)
  • O’Porto –  Best Portuguese Restaurant

I take food seriously and was glad to see these folks made the list.

Congrats also to:

  • Jumping Frog — third place Best Indie Book Store
  • WWUH — second place Best College Radio Station (not in Hartford)
  • Urban Compass — third place for Best Local Blog (should have ranked first, in my opinion)
  • Connecticut Science Center — Best Local Attraction
  • Maria Rodriguez — Best Local Hero
  • West End — Best Neighborhood*
  • Frog Hollow - third place Best Neighborhood*
  • Bushnell Park — second place Best Park  Continue reading 'Best of…Hartford?'»

categories Hartford, Raving Diva Post, Suburbs, myth busting, not Hartford, photos, quality of life

Blaming Hartford Means Not Having to Examine Our Own Behaviors

comments Comments (3)
By Kerri Provost, March 29, 2010 4:12 pm

Sadly, another person has been killed after being hit by a vehicle. Instead of holding responsible the driver, the anonymous loudmouths who comment on most Courant articles have placed the blame on Hartford, Obama, and various ethnic groups:

As the population of Hartford keeps looking more and more like Africa and Mexico, the lawless atmosphere which is systemic in most of Africa and Mexico is brought to Hartford. Just a big 3rd world city full of Obama voters, just sit back and watch the crime happen.

DeborahHemu (03/28/2010, 8:54 AM )

Hob Nob, Sadly it is about Hartford, This happens far too often in Hartford.. I remember Providence being like this 30 years ago.. What did they do? They made the city into a real showcase..
They can do the same with Hartford, it just takes a strong political base. and a strong police department.
Chief Roberts and Perez need to go. Bring outsiders in and let them do what they need to to clean up the sewage

brtrains (03/28/2010, 7:44 AM )

No, this *is* about Hartford. Yet another senseless tragedy, another reckless driver.

jh06415 (03/28/2010, 5:29 AM )

Hi brtrains, idiot, have you ever seen an ambulance pull into HH? What do you think, they pull to the ER lot at 70 miles/hour???

xyzz898zzyx (03/27/2010, 9:35 PM )

Good old Hartford, the arm pit of New England… To the idiots that think there should be speed bumps…. How is an ambulance supposed to go over them near the hospital in emergencies?

Clean up hartford and throw all the illegals out including all the crooked politicians

brtrains (03/27/2010, 8:26 PM )

sjsj (03/27/2010, 2:25 PM ) Hartford is a Cess Pool….lmaooooooooooooooo

DeeboBigWorm (03/27/2010, 7:30 PM )

They really should start putting speed bumps in Hartford,or atleast the grated concrete that makes your car shake when you go too fast. There’s too many idiots there w/ no license or insurance or regristration, and especially no respect for anyone else.

melycabrera (03/27/2010, 6:21 PM )

Said it before, I’ll say it again. The main reason my family doesnt go into Hartford isnt the crime or lack of parking. The cops do not enforce speed laws and residents dont know what a stop sign means. I’ll take my business where human beings live.

obkenobie (03/27/2010, 6:10 PM )

The streets around Hartford and St. Francis need multiple speed bumps for jackasses who think human life is nothing compared to the suspension on their cars.

CrazP (03/27/2010, 4:49 PM )

Way to go Hartford. Another Headline about death that will be National News.

DeeboBigWorm (03/27/2010, 1:19 PM )

As long as people can point the finger at false causes, they never have to examine the real problem. Reckless/Inattentive people + a ton or more of steel and plastic = Disaster. People in rural areas have fewer hit and runs involving humans because what there is to hit in those areas are trees, deer, and guardrails. Drive out to the rural areas of Connecticut and what you will see in the road are not human victims but countless squirrels, opossums, raccoons, and cats. In suburban and urban areas, there are lots of other vehicles for the bad drivers to crash into. There are plenty of car-versus-car accidents around shopping centers. In urban areas, we have more pedestrian traffic, and while a single fatality is too many, we do not even near the number of car-versus-opossum incidents as one sees proof of along country roads. The problem is not Hartford, Africans, Mexicans, or even the politicians. The problem is that there are too many reckless and distracted people everywhere driving who ought not be.

Recent Hit and Runs in CT (that have made the news)

As you can see, reckless driving, evasion of responsibility, and genuine confusion-behind-the-wheel are not problems remotely unique to Hartford.

categories Crime & Justice, Immigration, Race & Ethnicity, Raving Diva Post, Suburbs, commentary, media, not Hartford, perception bias, quality of life, transportation

Thoughts on Urban Biking

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By Kerri Provost, January 27, 2010 3:47 pm

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'»

categories Hartford, Raving Diva Post, fun, how to, media, myth busting, transportation

What It Means to Boycott Connecticut

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By Kerri Provost, December 17, 2009 5:25 pm

People of Connecticut: What have u done 2 this country? We hold u responsible. Start recall of Lieberman 2day or we’ll boycott your state.

One man stands in the way of universal health care. He’s your man, CT. We can’t control him. U can. What r u waiting for? Boycott coming.

Yo Michael Moore,

Ima let you finish, but boycotting Connecticut is cold. It’s also about as counterproductive and impossible as the ill-conceived boycotts of Israel. Maybe you mean that you’re just going to not visit Connecticut, but if you are going to really boycott, then you’d better be prepared for all that this entails. Here’s a preview:

This means you can not purchase anything from Aetna, Anthem, CIGNA, UnitedHealth, Phoenix, The Hartford, or St. Paul Travelers. No ING either.

Do not visit or give any money to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center –  ill children in Connecticut would benefit, and we know that they had a lot to do with Lieberman getting elected and reelected. They should suffer so that you can make your point.

ESPN is a major employer in Connecticut, so make sure you do not watch that station. If you were planning to drop by Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods, drop them from your itinerary. You can also remove Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, and Mystic Pizza from your list of places to go. The Nathan Hale Homestead? Forget it. Want to see where Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Noah Webster lived? Nevermind. No Essex Steam Train, Goodspeed Opera House, Bushnell, Gillette Castle, Real Art Ways, Wolfpack games, TheaterWorks, Wadsworth Atheneum, Yale Center for British Art, IKEA (they employ residents), Beardsley Zoo, or Hill-Stead Museum. No CT Science Center. No Dinosaur State Park or Yale Peabody Museum.

Forget about stopping off at Lyman Orchards, or any of the other orchards in Connecticut. No lunch at Shady Glen or Louis’ Lunch. No Newman’s Own products.

You may not go watch a movie at the Mansfield Drive-in. While you’re being hardcore about this, refrain from purchasing movie tickets or dvds of films with Connecticut residents — past or present — starring, producing, or involved in any way. No more Katharine Hepburn and Paul Newman films. Prisoners and The Witches of Oz are currently being filmed in CT. You will not get to see those. Since this is retroactive, if any of these films are on your to-see list, just forget they were made.

Skip the Barnum Museum, XL Center, Lake Compounce, and Quassy Amusement Park. I hope you didn’t want to see the two-headed cow on display at the Old State House. That’s off limits too!

Don’t donate any money to the CT Humane Society. Sweet puppies and kitties should definitely suffer because of Lieberman.

No Book Barn or Atticus.

I hope you are not a fan of Wiffle Ball or Frisbee, because those are on the “no” list. Anesthesia was first used in my state, so if you have to undergo a serious medical procedure, you’ll have to be brave and wide awake for it. Also invented in Connecticut? Sewing machine, can opener, and hamburger. I sense you’ll have difficulty boycotting all three of those items. Do you like to vacuum your house? Sorry. Broom and dustpan from now on. Like color television? That’s also a Connecticut first.

Do not speak at or give any money to a single college or university in the state, no matter how much the students might benefit from your sage advice. Do not go to any UConn games either.

I’m sorry. Am I giving you a headache? Depressing you? Don’t try to treat your aches with anything from Pfizer.

You will have to bypass Bradley International Airport, even if you’re heading to Massachusetts. If choosing air travel, ensure you are not going to fly in a jet that uses parts made at Pratt & Whitney. Also, no rides in helicopters, as the first one was invented in Connecticut.

I’m happy for you, Mr. Moore, because you’ve made a successful career out of activism and entertainment; but to hold an entire state’s population responsible for one man is bogus. Lieberman lost in the last primary and has fallen out of favor with many who originally voted for him. Local religious figures have  spoken against his stance on health care. Maybe you did not know this, but Connecticut does not have the ability to recall politicians. Of course, since government is a human construction, humans can change it, but to suggest that Connecticut residents are responsible for removing a man when we have no current power to do so, well, I think that assumes we all have as much time on our hands as you do. Many of us, like myself, work more than one job and still do not have health care. I have never voted for Lieberman. Your tactic to push for health care has the potential to harm exactly those who need it. We need health care, but we also need our jobs! We have mortgages and rent to pay. We have groceries to buy. Lieberman is a problem, yes, but solving that problem should not involve harming thousands of Connecticut residents.

categories Activism, Raving Diva Post, health care

All Dressed Up with No Place to Hoe

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By Kerri Provost, August 21, 2009 10:19 am

If you’ve never had that feeling of being stood up, then consider yourself lucky. What does it feel like? After the first few minutes, one tries to imagine that the date is stuck in traffic. Maybe he was reeled into a conversation that he could not politely untangle himself from. Then, as time ticks by one might become annoyed, perhaps angry. Then comes the guilt. What if he was in an accident? What if he was sick? One begins to feel selfish for being annoyed in the first place. And then he shows up. He offers a brief apology and then says he has only a few minutes. (Very Big from SATC) But this is the modern age, right? If a person is delayed by about half an hour, he can make a phone call to express his regret for being late.

Last night was the annual community garden tour. For the past week or so I had been visiting my spot in the West End Garden to make sure that it was respectable if the tour happened by there. I had been planning to go to the Niles Street garden at 5:30 to participate, but a friend with a plot at the Affleck Street garden said that he had been asked to be in his garden at 6 for when the tour came around. I was running late, it was hot, and his garden was a five minute walk as compared to the twenty minute sweatfest that going to Niles Street would be. I opted to join him and figured I could always join the group for the rest of the tour.
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categories Environment, Frog Hollow, Hartford, Raving Diva Post

Staycation 2009

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By Kerri Provost, August 7, 2009 11:09 am

When my friend David told me he’d secured a reservation for a trip to the top of the Travelers’ Tower, I had no choice but to invite myself along. This would bring me downtown in the late morning, and since I had plans to be less than a block from there later in the afternoon, I figured I would just spend the time in between downtown.

At eleven we zoomed to the 21st floor. I did not think about the logistics of this. After having walked 2.5 miles to get downtown, the three flights of stairs did not seem so fun. The view was worth the panting. From the street, the tower does not look like it can hold more than two people. We had six people up there, and there was plenty of room for more. I had no luck locating my apartment.
Photobucket

East Hartford
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categories Art, Frog Hollow, Hartford, Raving Diva Post, architecture/design, commentary, downtown, film, food, fun, hpd, library, media, myth busting, parks, perception bias, photos, self-indulgence, shopping, tax money in action

Taxes Shouldn’t Have to Hurt

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By Kerri Provost, July 31, 2009 9:02 pm

A few weeks ago I realized that the City of Hartford had not sent me my tax bill. I had received one at this address before, as well as at my previous residence in the city. I investigated my problem on the City’s website and found it to be the very first question on the page:

Q: What if I never received a tax bill?

A: Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) Section 12-130 states “…failure to send out any… tax bill shall not invalidate the tax….” You are not exempt from payment of all taxes and all interest charges.  If you do not receive a bill for which you are responsible, call the Tax Collectors Office at (860) 757-9630

Personally, I don’t agree with that policy, but there’s nothing I can do about it, so I called the number to find out what was up with my lack of bill.  Continue reading 'Taxes Shouldn’t Have to Hurt'»

categories Hartford, Raving Diva Post, commentary, system, tax money in action, transportation

Rekindled Love

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By Kerri Provost, January 9, 2009 5:11 pm

Richard, who I do not believe I have ever actually met, is the subject of my ongoing platonic lovefest. He recently started a new blog and one post in particular made me want to send him flowers and teddy bears.

On Punkpink is a Bandit’s Tip, he writes about inconsiderate leftist activists:

I would like to suggest that the sponsors, their allies all come out one day this week. It will be called ”Let’s call it clean up our mess day.” On that day they will go around to all the poles, boxes, buildings and other places that they have dumped their non read litter and clean it up. If they don’t I want to tell them get out of these neighborhoods. We have enough problems here just being, just living. Do not come around here if all you are going to do is plaster the place with leaflets, march through our streets yelling and screaming.

In the past, I have written about ill-mannered folks who come into a place to protest something (usually a war) and don’t show any respect for those living here. They come in, yell, and leave. Sometimes they will complain about a perceived lack of parking, which I think is a sign that they did not do their homework. Other times, they litter the area with signs, leaflets, coffee cups, etc. It’s infuriating to hear the chant of “whose streets? our streets!” coming from people who can make no such claims. I mean, they have not even looked up directions to see how to find the jail in relation to where the protest spot is, which, you know, is kind of mandatory when going to protest. I believe in the right to protest, and I believe it is a civil duty right up there with voting, but I think people should be more mindful about how they protest.

Richard writes about leaflets that remain taped and/or wheatpasted around the city. When I saw these signs go up, I sighed, knowing that they would not be removed in a timely fashion. Newsflash: litter, inconveniencing the working class, and being a general nuisance is not going to stop the war in Iraq, and it’s not going to ally you with “the people.”

categories Activism, Hartford, Raving Diva Post

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