Comments (0) There will be another iQuilt presentation and public input session on the evening of January 10th from 5-7 at the Hartford Public Library. The iQuilt project deals with improvements to Downtown.
Archived articles about iQuilt (starting with oldest)
If the police issue several traffic advisories letting the public know that they will likely be unable to use a street during part of the day, and then they barricade that street so that no vehicular traffic can use it, can activists who — after the road has been made impassable already — are physically blocking an entrance ramp on that block be arrested for impeding traffic?
Yes.
A dozen people, including some with SEIU, CCAG, and the machinists’ union, were peacefully arrested after blocking the Broad Street on-ramp to I-84 East. Peter Goselin, with the National Lawyers Guild, said that the arrests were carried out smoothly.
The viaduct — that eyesore that divides neighborhoods and requires repairs or removal — will be one site where local activists gather on Thursday for the “National Day of Action for the 99%” (also being called March and Occupy the Bridge for the Jobless).
Nationwide, people will be marching across bridges and in other public spaces to demand that Congress create jobs. Organizers say that “America’s crumbling infrastructure” needs to be addressed. Of I-84, they say “this interstate needs work and so do we. We could create millions of jobs repairing bridges and roads like I-84 in downtown Hartford, as well as schools and parks — fixing up our country will help us meet America’s education, transportation, and clean energy needs.”
Steve Thornton, who is with SEIU 1199 and will be taking part in Thursday’s action, noted that “public safety is not a priority” when it comes to government spending, “but tax breaks” have been in recent years. This action, he said, is designed to shine a light on “upside down priorities.” Continue reading 'Take it to the Bridge'»
Although many areas in the state have experienced complete devastation, other sections were relatively untouched. A walk from Frog Hollow to the Connecticut River involved no fallen power lines, a few down trees, and many branches strewn about.
All businesses appeared to be open.
Roads were clogged — particularly around gas stations — with impatient and careless drivers. Late last night, the lines at the pumps were only two or three cars deep. East of the Connecticut River, only a few gas stations were open because of the power outage.
Damage could be seen on the State Capitol grounds, in parks, and in residential areas alike. Continue reading 'Storm Alfred: Wreckage and Beauty'»
Since Thursday, all of this and more has been happening in Hartford: Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, Patti Smith extravaganza, Creative Cocktail Hour at Real Art Ways, Hooker Day Parade, and the Discover Hartford Parks Tour. The annual bicycle and walking tour began in Bushnell Park and made stops in various city parks, including Colt, Goodwin, Pope, and Elizabeth.
The way to view the Hartford Marathon is perhaps not by standing next to the medic tent just past the finish line. Continue reading 'Endurance: Hartford Has It'»
The Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon will be held this Saturday morning, and every year, despite endless notices, I hear from people who are shocked that their buses were delayed or that their route to work was disrupted.
It seems that this year, even more notice has been given, between signs posted on certain streets, to the use of the “Amber Alert” signs on the interstate. Some downtown employers have distributed this information to their employees. With the canopies now taking over Bushnell Park, it’s hard to not know that something big is going on this weekend.
According to the marathon’s website, from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pearl Street, Ford Street, State Street, and the Founders Bridge will be closed to traffic. Asylum Street, Farmington Avenue, and 
South Whitney will be closed from 7:30-11:30 in the morning. Capitol Avenue and Broad Street will be closed from 7:30-9 a.m. and from 7:30-9:30 a.m., all of the following will be closed: Sheldon Street, Van Dyke Avenue, Weston Street, Rev. Moody Overpass, Market Street, Prospect Street, and Park Street.
If you plan to move about in those areas during Saturday morning and early afternoon, the easiest way to go about that is on foot or bicycle.
For those who want to check out the runners as they cross the finish line, Bike Walk CT will be providing secure, valet bicycle parking in Bushnell Park from six in the morning until one in the afternoon. There are bleachers set up near the Soliders & Sailors Memorial Arch.
Photo courtesy of Monika Leon
While most Connecticutians were navigating the crowded grocery stores, topping off their gas-guzzlers, or filling their bathtubs with water early on that Saturday morning in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, others set out for a bicycle education class arranged specifically for members of the media. Given that I typically walk or bike to events that I cover when wearing my media hat, I thought it appropriate to attend.
Real Art Ways hosted the event, which was coordinated and taught by Bike Walk Connecticut instructors who received certification from the League of American Bicyclists. Coffee and bagels made the dreary morning more manageable as we settled in for a video that demonstrated street cycling techniques. This was followed by a Powerpoint presentation mainly concerned with “taking the lane,” something that new road cyclists tend to not know they can do, not understand the best way to do so, or are completely terrified of trying. The main point of this lesson: bicyclists should behave like motorists in terms of which lanes to use. Making a left turn? Get in the left turn lane.
For me, a lot of this was review, so I asked questions about more complicated maneuvers. I envisioned how I might run errands in the West Farms sprawl region and asked what apparently amounts to survival techniques. Continue reading 'Schooled on the Street'»
The recent totally-unscientific-but-fun poll told me a few things: nobody buys all groceries from one vendor, Whole Foods is very popular, and people want food to be local and fresh. While digesting this data, I visited four stores in Hartford to see which ones most closely met your criteria of the ideal store; I looked at other aspects, including whether or not I could reasonably shop for basic food and household items. I looked at the two most popular grocery stores in the city, along with two that fewer people shopped at. Continue reading 'A Tale of Four Markets'»
Want updates? Sign up for the Real Hartford mailing list
Follow updates using Networked Blogs or "like" us on Facebook
Panorama theme by Themocracy
