Real Hartford

Downtown Farmers’ Market

Although the Hartford Courant had reported last week that the farmers’ market had been canceled, it was up and running yesterday. There were three or four tables set up with locally grown produce. I will try to find out if the market has been canceled, or if that was a misprint, as they say.

Free to a Good Home

These organic radishes were grown in the West End Community Garden on Girard Street.

If you like radishes (and we’ve actually met before) and want about ten that were picked this afternoon, contact me.

Strawberry Shortcake Festival

This Friday (4-7pm), the Strawberry Shortcake Festival at the United Methodist Church (corner of Farmington and South Whitney) marks the beginning of this season’s West End Farmers’ Market. There will be free live music and free strawberry shortcake! The farmers’ market will run on Tuesdays and Fridays until October 10th from 4-7pm.

Anti-War, Pro-Pasta

This Saturday there will be a fundraiser at the United Methodist Church (
571 Farmington) to help send activists to the National Assembly Against the War in Iraq, which is planned for later this month in Cleveland. The Anti-war Spaghetti dinner begins at 6pm. Continue reading Anti-War, Pro-Pasta…

How to Build Community (Against All Odds): Part One

The Syracuse Cultural Workers created a poster which I’m sure many readers have seen before, but which I feel compelled to discuss regardless. The items in bold are on their list of ways to build community, and my comments are in a regular font.

Think of no one as “them”: Creating categories based on difference allows individuals to more easily justify the unjustifiable, to excuse the inexcusable. The result? When some kind of crime or wrongdoing occurs in an certain area or to a person who belongs to a different group (race, class, sexuality, ability, gender, religion, political affiliation, you name it…), it is not thought of as something that might concern all in society. Thus, it’s remains to be addressed in a productive way. The “answer” goes something like this: “avoid Hartford,” “bulldoze it and start over,” “more prisons,” “send criminals/undesirables to Springfield.” Those sentiments are not productive by any stretch of the imagination.

Don’t confuse your comfort with your safety: In my walks to work, I have felt discomfort. In my old neighborhood, I would pass a homeless shelter and park where people who were basically up to no good, or had no other place to go, would congregate. Even with the verbal street harassment which made the trip sometimes irritating, I never felt unsafe. Continue reading How to Build Community (Against All Odds): Part One…

The Other Opening Day

Today is the first day for the season that the Farmers’ Market at Billings Forge will be open. Last year they only ran one day each week, but now they will be open on Mondays and Thursdays from 11am-2pm. Last year I found some tomatillos and great bread there. Billings Forge is on Broad Street in Frog Hollow, close to Capitol Avenue (near the Fire Box restaurant). Besides cash, they accept Visa, Mastercard, EBT, and WIC for payment.

edited to add: There are two bread vendors, dressing, pies, asparagus, salad greens, tomato and pepper plants, herbs, granola, rhubarb, maple candy, goat cheese, and things I’m surely forgetting.

New Farmers’ Markets
Although not open yet, there will also be two new markets at different locations in the city.

There will be a market run at the Alchemy Juice Bar from May 31st-September on Fridays from 3-7pm and Saturdays from 10am-noon. There will also be an indoor winter market running in the old G.Fox building (960 Main) from November 6, 2008 through April 30, 2009 on Thursdays from 9am-3pm. Currently, vendors set up tables on Thursdays from about 10-2 (some earlier, some later) in that space, selling jewelry, sunglasses, bags, random junk and crafts.

Euro Cafe Reopens as Bistro 942

The doors are open.

It’s on Main Street near Capital Community College, Dunkin Donuts, and City Steam Brewery.

That’s really all I have to say about it.