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Romantic Getaways |
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The Spirit of Hartford, Connecticut
By Sheree Bykofsky
“Spirit… has fifty times the strength and staying power of brawn and muscle,” said Mark Twain. His love of spirit is surely why Mark Twain chose to make
Hartford his home for 17 years. Even though Mark Twain is gone, he
has left his unique mark on this earth, and nowhere is that more
evident than in Hartford, Connecticut. At the Mark Twain house you
And Hartford itself is a city with as much spirit as Mark Twain himself. The Mark Twain house is such a special place that it’s worth a trip just for that (it could entrance a curmudgeon for a whole day), but there is so much art and culture alive and thriving in the city that one needs at least a weekend to just begin to appreciate the artistic pulse of this newly thriving city. Theaters abound. From the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts
to the Hartford Stage, which features famous actors like Estelle
Parsons and Richard Thomas, to the funky Real Art Ways gallery and
cinema, there’s something to suit everyone’s taste in Hartford. Speaking of food, one block from the Goodwin Hotel, the two-tiered very cosmopolitan Trumbull Kitchen is an ideal place to have drinks and delectable tapas or a multi-coursed meal of unsurpassed cuisine. The experience at the Trumbull Kitchen is like the best of New York City at a fraction of the cost. What’s your pleasure: a watermelon martini or the Trumbull Woo? Either way it’s just $7.75. Some outstanding dishes are the Rock Shrimp and Sweet Potato Fritters, Crispy Five Spiced Calamari Salad, and the Stone Pies. Comforting entrees include Hilda’s Meatloaf, Macaroni and Cheese and Apple Teriyaki Seared Salmon. Even if you have no room, most will be tempted to end their meal with Macoun Apple Fritters or Warm Chocolate Pot Pie (all desserts $6!) The Goodwin Hotel, wonderfully situated in this very walkable
city, is an historic hotel with comfortable A three-mile ride by bus or car down Farmington Blvd. to the shopping district of West Hartford, known as West Hartford Center, is a must for those seeking high-end shops, boutiques, and sidewalk restaurants. Reminiscent of Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, this upper class neighborhood is a jewel of Connecticut. Caution: The arts in Hartford are addictive. But Hartford has mercy. For $99 you can order The Hartford Arts 6-Pack (Call 860 527 0713), which will allow you to choose from among The Bushnell Broadway Series, The Bushnell Dance Series, Connecticut Opera, Hartford Stage, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, TheaterWorks, and the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art. As they say: six venues: twenty-nine options. Since 2000, 13 community groups have joined forces to revitalize Hartford and their results are apparent. And to ensure the arts and cultural light never dies the grassroots arts community of Hartford has infused the love of the arts in its younger residents. The Charter Oak Cultural Center a transformed synagogue features a place where children dance on a spring wood floor, learn crafts, and display their art. Charter Oak hosts a dazzling dance series where the audience is integrated into the choreography. At the Artists Collective, young people from the community who are trained by master artists’ll entertain you. Whether it’s dancing, jazz, drumming, or drama, you’ll experience spirit filled performances that emphasize the art and cultural of the African Diaspora. The Artists Collective makes the arts accessible and available to all people of all ages, and they’re proud to tell you about so many of the talented artists who got their start there, such as (ER’s) Eric LaSalle. Experience the essence of Hartford; it is very much a city on the rise. Mark Twain would be proud. If You Go: The Goodwin Hotel Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Trumbull Kitchen The Artists Collective The Bushnell Charter Oak Cultural Center Connecticut Opera Association Hartford Symphony Orchestra Real Art Ways Sheree Bykofsky is the author of The Best Places to Kiss in and Around NYC and the 52 Most Romantic Dates in and Around NYC
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can
learn everything Mark Twain said, while touring his magnificent
whimsical Gothic Victorian house and grounds. What’s special about
the Mark Twain museum is that, unlike most mansion museums, there
are no ropes. Tour groups are escorted right through the rooms where
Mark Twain cogitated, dreamed, dined, paced, smoked, lounged, played
billiards, and wrote.
sleigh beds and marble baths. From the WIFI Internet connection to
the white warm plush robe they’ve spared little by way of luxury
amenities. The atmosphere is highly poised but with a sort of
gracious sophistication.