Went to the Hartford Magazine cover party tonight at Black Eyed Sally’s and I just have to say: I gotta get out more! I’ve never been there for any length of time. It just reminded me that there’s a world out there outside Wood-n-Tap, Half Door, and Tisane. It’s so easy to get caught in the same rut when the question of “Where do we go?” comes up.
Hartford may not be New York or Boston, but it’s got a decent assortment of bars and restaurants, and there are more opening pretty regularly. I mean, I also went to Bin228 for lunch and it was fantastic. I love Trumbull Kitchen, especially for a happy hour situation. I had a great time when I went to Agave a couple of months ago.
The main complaint with the downtown bars– and there are some good ones: namely, Vaughan’s and BES– is the parking. Good god the parking. NYC and Boston have these problems, but they also have other options: public transportation. I know there IS parking in Hartford, but let’s face it … it’s expensive and kind of sketchy.
What Hartford could really use is cheap, plentiful parking somewhere close to, but outside, the city and a shuttle running between them. Sort of like a park and ride. This parking lot would need to be well-lit and well-staffed. There would also need to be a waiting room of sorts, also well-lit and well-staffed. The shuttle would really just be an extension of the star shuttle, which is already in operation. However, I’m not sure that it circulates much at night or on weekends.
Or, hey, a monorail would solve many problems.
Yeah … a girl can dream, can’t she?