More Hartford Parking Woes

It's one thing for people who come in and out of our beloved capital city to be upset about parking in downtown Hartford, but when the media takes notice, something has to be done about it. If you didn't hear this morning's commentary from sports reporter Scott Gray, well read on. He's virtually waged a long overdue war on the city of Hartford and it's ass backward ridiculous parking laws. Finally.

For starters, how many of you have ever driven into downtown on a Friday night to find just about half or more of the downtown meters bagged with NO PARKING signs on them? For what? Why is the street near Hartford Stage continually affected by this? What about near the Hilton Hotel or Civic, excuse us, we mean XL Center? Get the idea?

If you didn't catch the commentary this morning on WTIC-1080, then check it out below. We couldn't agree more. Tell us what you think. We'd love to know!

Friday, February 1st 2008 - Sports Commentary

"It's been a difficult week for me. For three and a half decades I've been one of Hartford's staunchest advocates. The beginning of my career in this market's media and the groundbreaking for the Hartford Civic Center came within a year of each other. I'm the only member of the media to hold season credentials for, and attend the first game ever played at the Civic Center by, every team that has called that facility home, even "home away from home", including such obscure teams as the Major Indoor Soccer League Hartford Hellions, the CBA Hartford Hellcats and the World Team Tennis Boston Lobsters. I was there the night John McEnroe and Boris Becker locked up in their classic seven hour Davis Cup tennis match. For more than half my career my employer was based in downtown Hartford. For most of my life my heart has been melded with the heart of Hartford. But for the last week it's felt more like an antagonistic relationship, ever since I took the city's police department to task for ticketing cars parked on the street by visitors to the city who's main crime was enjoying an evening's entertainment. I've recieved dozens of E-mails, including one from a Hartford city councilman, all in support of my position, and heard personally from downtown business owners and managers, including officials with the XL Center and the Wolf Pack, also in support. One highly placed XL Center official asked the critical question. "Have you gotten any feedback from the city?" When I answered to the negative he responded, "Don't hold your breath." In itself a sad commentary. I've heard dozens of stories this week from people who have parked for years in the location where the tickets were issued last week, always without incident. I myself for years on game nights parked in that same spot outside the radio station while I did post game work, even parking my car while manned police cruisers were on site. Most disturbing was the state legislator I heard from who's car, with legislative plates, was parked in the offensive zone at the time the tickets were issued, but he did not recieve one. If the purpose of the tickets is to punish offenders who create a safety hazard or a hindrence to businesses that aren't open at the time, that legislator deserves no better treatment than the constituents who elected him. If there is to be inconsistent or selective ticketing of evening visitors there should first be a warning. People should be notified the rules are changing and from this date to the date of the change warning tickets should be issued informing them of the change. It's troubling that there has been no action from the city at a time when it's reputation and future are circling the drain, when for lack of a seventy five thousand dollar fee payment we sacrifice an event that would have returned millions. Now I'm an advocate again. What six figure payment was made for that slogan that became a punchline, not to mention an affont to dozens of other New England cities, Providence, Springfield, Manchester, New Hampshire, that take pride in their own, often more impressive, rise. I've got something for the city officials of Hartford, and they can have it for nothing. No royalties necessary, just a promise that visitors to Hartford will be treated like guests. Let them park on your streets carefree when they come in for an evening's entertainment and I'll give you this slogan for nothing. "Hartford. You'll be glad you came!" Just be damn sure you make good on that promise. With a comment from the sports world, I'm Scott Gray."

Oh No! Not Another Poorhouse!

Just what Hartford needs. Another Pourhouse. Could the news on nightlife in Hartford get any worse? The Brickyard is over and our sources tell us that it's going to be a new club owned by the same people behind the Pourhouse. Great. Just f*cking great!

So this "yet to be named" club should appropriately be called the Sh*thouse, if you ask us. Rumor has it that they're trying to turn it into an upscale lounge club, which will ultimately get lost in translation as it did with NV and Life. Does anone really think that $1 pitchers, Top 40 music, nickel nights and beer pong will appeal to the so-called upscale crowd? The Pourhouse has specialized in this act for ages and appeals to the lowest-of-the-nightclub-low. It won't be any surprise to us when they go trash from the get go.

Now that you know how "cool" this place will be, we'd love to hear your thoughts on what the owners should name it. Any ideas?

RIP - Brickyard

Cool promos at the Pour House! Cheap beer , happy holidays and penis envy (see "Size Matters" above windows!)

Here We Go Again

Here we go again!! How is it that a city rampant with political corruption over the years creates a new job and gives it to our ex-convict governor, John Rowland?!? You have to wonder if people even remember the scams, scandal and corruption of Rowland. I doubt many do. So with that said, good luck Waterbury and keep him out of Hartford!!!

Wine a Go Go

Finally. For those of us who are downtown residents, we can finally walk out of our door and buy a bottle of wine. It's something that's long overdue and we salute the good people at Spiritus Wines for making the move downtown.

They've been a fixture on Main Street next door to Peppercorn's restaurant, but will now be in the new Hartford 21 building with an official address of 220 Asylum Street. After months of delays, they're finally opening and as we speak they're depleting some of their stock at the old shop on Main Street. Hurry on by if you're thirsty- there's lots of great bottles marked down 20% or more.

Official opening date is "sometime" during the week of January 14th. We give them "big props" for being the first official business to move into the Hartford 21 building. Let's hope they stay.

I Solemnly Swear...

Three time's the charm. That's the magic number for Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez who will be inaugurated for his third term tonight. Throughout his campaign, Perez touted all the good he's done for the city and asked voters and the city to let him finish what he started. Can he?

The Hartford Courant ran a solid article that highlights some of Perez's accomplishments and plans for the future, but it just begs for more questioning, doesn't it?

"Perez is expected to urge that economic development serve as the tie to bind the city's North End to downtown; to push for ways for Hartford to secure affordable health care for its uninsured; and to pledge to determine the future of the Civic Center, now renamed the XL Center." - from the Courant.

Oh boy. Connecting the North End to downtown? Is this really a good idea? Has anyone taken a trip down the North End lately? The last time we found ourselves down that end of town was during the sleazy days of the nightclub Sanctuary (RIP) looking for, well, never mind. If you were there, you know.

Sure, scoring a big title sponsor is cool and all, but what will it really do for the city? Will it help to attract the hordes of live acts and shows that prefer the venues at the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos? We're optimistic that the "powers-that-be" can turn things around and start making use of the Civic Center again. We'd pay top dollar to have a full on gladiator style show and toss a bunch of those mindless city planners throughout the years who have ruined downtown Hartford in the pit. Feed 'em to the lions!

So, what are your thoughts? Can Perez deliver on his promises, or is it just more political empty talk? We shall see.

Smile Joe, smile...

Ok, we're back.

Go ahead, sue us. We've been away for a while. That's the beauty of running your own blog I suppose. There's no boss to answer to, no reports to fill out and you can post whenever you damn well please to. Sorry for our absence. We're back!

So with the new year comes the resolutions that so many of us never keep. New Year's resolutions just make us feel good, right? Shouldn't we be doing these good things all year long?

So instead of boring you with our promises to lose weight, exercise more and other nonsense, we've come up with our Top 5 resolutions that the city of Hartford should follow. They are:

1. Get moving on Adriaen's Landing
Enough is enough. Wake up and get this moving.

2. Rename the Civic Center
XL Center? Are you kidding? From the subhead of the press release: Northland AEG secures historic partnership, affirming Hartford’s status as the US Insurance Capital. Isn't it exciting to be known as the insurance capital of the US? Dream on baby, we lost that title long ago.

3. Three words: Downtown grocery store.
When, oh when, is this ever going to happen? If you live downtown, you feel our pain. Word is that the Northland group is building their own since they can't find anyone to dare open anything in the new Civic Center shopping spaces.

4. Less parking lots.
Someone ought to make it criminal to raze another landmark and put in another parking lot or garage. I personally salute the big middle finger to LAZ and ProPark. Hasn't the city over the last 30 years destroyed enough of downtown? New city law - all new parking facilities must be built underground. Can I get a second on this motion?

5. Affordable downtown living.
nstitute rent control and get people into downtown that get it. Young people, not the empty nesters. Young people get it and will make the city a fun, lively place to be. Right? And speaking of downtown, there are a number of downtown living projects that are simply on hold because of squabble and other bullsh*t. Get it together, or give it to someone who can.

Welcome to 2008! Now, back to work.

Dirty South, meet Dirty Hartford!

This coming Friday night you can find us at Room 960 where we'll be working that room harder than a big city socialite. Over the past three years, Room 960 has become the premier venue for big name deejays that often play in locales like New York City, Miami, London and beyond. Thanks to the efforts of Boramusic.com, Hartford has been taken to a new level where these jet set jocks actually make Hartford a regular stop on their worldwide tours. Tiesto, Gabriel & Dresden, rocker Tommy Lee and Roger Sanchez are a few of the many who have graced the turntables in our capital city.

This weekend Boramusic.com will host an event with Dirty South, currently one of the world's biggest deejays haling from Australia. Dirty South, pleased to meet you, mate!

What makes the Boramusic.com events so fun is that it attracts the glitterati of Hartford. Expect to see lots of pretty people and serious clubbers from all walks of life, which is a very good thing for this city. As the music thumps throughout your soul, the lights blind you and with the crowd screaming in joy, you'll actually wonder if this is Hartford. People say its the closest thing to European clubbing without having to leave, and trust us, from our past experiences it's as close as you'll come that global clubbing experience at home.

Look around for us. We'll be the ones getting sloppy and hanging out in the VIP area, swilling back the martini du jour and prowling the oh-so sexy crowd that's jacked up (and ready to go!) on the primordial rhythms of house music. Rawrr!!!