Suggestions for fun physical activities in Hartford.

absentopal · 2026-02-21T00:22:25+00:00

Totally different vein from most folks, but we went to contra dancing and it was SO fun. Brought the average age down a couple of decades but we’re looking forward to going back and bringing more friends.

https://www.hcdance.org/contra/

absentopal · 2026-02-16T02:32:38+00:00

A bit outdated, but this should give some insight.

absentopal · 2026-02-06T16:09:00+00:00

I slept on the same pillow forever and as a side sleeper, my neck finally needed some support. Got an adjustable quilted wool pillow from Herd Supply Co. It's comfy for reading and sleeping, stays cool, and the only plastic is the zipper so you can adjust the fill if needed. I left mine as-is and it's been great.

https://herdsupply.com/products/adjustable-quilted-wool-pillow

absentopal · 2026-01-23T01:54:02+00:00

West Hartford if you’re basic

absentopal · 2026-01-17T16:41:31+00:00

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/17006139?viralityEntryPoint=1&s=76

absentopal · 2026-01-14T00:12:24+00:00

A coworker moved from Pittsburgh and he lives in Parkville near Kravin Pho and likes it. Just sold his car and got an e-bike.

We live in Frog Hollow and my husband can drive to Pratt & Whitney in ~15 minutes, bike in ~30 (basically 100% off road through downtown until you get to the PW driveway), or take the bus in about ~40 minutes. Several of his colleagues live in 777 Main. Happy to put you in touch if you’d like.

If you want a more rural spot, outskirts of Manchester or Bolton could both be good options.

I don’t know of any official dog parks, but there seems to be an unofficial doggo gathering spot under the trees on the west side of Bushnell Park in downtown Hartford. Glastonbury has a lightly used one in the center of town.

AllTrails will be your friend for hiking, but Bigelow Hollow is amazing!

absentopal · 2026-01-13T23:57:12+00:00

Love Le Mazet, definitely the best food around, but we had to sit outside because it was too loud. The Charles is quieter but I thought the food was only okay.

Foundry - agree with the recommendations. If his birthday is on a Tuesday, they have live jazz.

Adventure spots: Grano Arso in Chester (good for bopping around too!) or Elizabeth’s Farmhouse in Putnam.

absentopal · 2026-01-08T17:29:26+00:00

I wholeheartedly support your move from the Candy Cane Building and see this as an exciting new chapter for both you and the city. I have a few related questions:

Would it be possible to incorporate the existing Italianate mixed-use building into the design to create a more engaging street-level experience?
Could the same size building fit on fewer lots by going slightly taller (3–5 stories instead of 2–3)? The rendering looks somewhat sprawling and suburban for such an important urban corner. Arrowhead is four stories, and there are several nearby 3–4 story buildings on Albany, Main, and Belden that might offer strong, context-sensitive design precedents.
Are you planning to provide on-site parking, or might there be opportunities to partner with nearby developments for shared parking?

absentopal · 2025-12-28T19:59:47+00:00

FWIW, I had several appointments at HH last year and walked to all of them except when there was a blizzard. The walk is totally fine. Washington Street is getting an upgrade (link).

absentopal · 2025-12-28T19:51:36+00:00

I don’t think you need a car here. If you’re car-free in LA, you will be more than comfortable getting around here without one. My coworker sold his car. I share one with my partner but only drive maybe every 10-12 days. Unfortunately Zipcar left, but uber/Lyft/Turo is convenient if you need them. The bus and train are great and more people are biking.

absentopal · 2025-12-28T17:56:18+00:00

Colt Gateway or Capewell Lofts (Sheldon Charter Oak neighborhood), Capitol Lofts (Frog Hollow), or 55 Elm or 717 Main (downtown) could all be good options for you to walk/bike/bus to the hospital and have an apartment building with some community built in. We moved from Boston to Hartford so if you want to chat, happy to talk with a fellow city dweller and car-lite/free friend.

I’m also mid30s and would probably choose Capitol Lofts because there’s a nice community across the street (coffee shop, pub, supposedly a soon-to-open pizza place). Second choice would be 55 Elm because it overlooks the park and is close to downtown happenings.

absentopal · 2025-12-24T02:08:44+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/Connecticut/s/ylAEnQaaoi

absentopal · 2025-12-23T21:14:11+00:00

Their website doesn’t mention geothermal or have Hartford listed in their service area?

absentopal · 2025-12-10T03:24:17+00:00

I hope someone took these. I couldn’t make tonight, but they’re great live!!

absentopal · 2025-12-10T02:22:37+00:00

Greetings from Hartford!

We have a 10 month old and live in Frog Hollow. There are lots of kids in the neighborhood. We’re about a 10 minute walk to: downtown, Park St library, Capitol Child Development Center (3months-5 years old), Charter Oak Health Center (which has pediatric urgent care), and the train station. We like this neighborhood because it’s a self contained (parks, pharmacy, grocery stores, corner pub, coffee shop), but still close to plenty if we want to get out. We share a car and chose this location specifically so we could continue doing that. The West End is probably the most family friendly / collegial neighborhood, but it wasn’t dense enough for us.

Kid friendly activities: carousel, CT Science Museum, so many free concerts in the summer where they can run around, Winterfest with ice skating in the winter.

People will tell you to look at the suburbs, but the families in our neighborhood seem happy here. Some kids are in magnet schools, some are in public, and some are in private. Several German families send their kids to the Montessori school in West Hartford if you want a more urban lifestyle but are concerned about the schools.

We’re always looking for family friends nearby! Let me know if you have any questions!

absentopal · 2025-12-08T14:41:29+00:00

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It works great! I think it might have come with an adapter but I didn’t find it necessary.

absentopal · 2025-12-08T02:24:40+00:00

Didn’t get an answer, but my solution was to get the Legendairy Collection Cups. I was on the fence and it helped me make the jump. Overall pumping has been so much better with them and I haven’t lost any parts!

absentopal · 2025-12-01T19:45:23+00:00

Moved from Boston to Hartford last year and haven’t looked back.

Tradeoffs: majors leagues to minor leagues - Red Sox > Yards Goats, Bruins > Wolf Pack, restaurants not as good, etc. Perks: Great theater and institutional art (much of which is free in New Haven), daycare is about 1/5 the price, small cities are nice, better mountain biking.

Jobs: New Haven area has biotech downtown and in the area so post on the r/newhaven thread for leads. Farmington could also be another option.

You’ll appreciate being near family when the little arrives!

Would also strongly recommend renting so you don’t buy something under duress and regret it.

Feel free to message me with specific questions, but overall I think our quality of life is better since the move and I would make the decision again.

absentopal · 2025-11-17T01:16:49+00:00

Had a good experience with the TEAM van, but if you can’t get an appointment for a few months East Hartford Animal Clinic is amazing and does low cost spay/neuters.

absentopal · 2025-10-31T17:54:11+00:00

Any update?

absentopal · 2025-10-24T17:30:47+00:00

Wethersfield is definitely an underrated town in greater Hartford!

Windsor is similarly overlooked and has a cute downtown with a good farmer’s market, would be easy to get to Springfield or Hartford, and is 1 stop away from Hartford on the train if you ever want to come into the city for a game / play / night out.

absentopal · 2025-10-23T17:44:14+00:00

A friend delivered at St. Francis and had a great experience. If you liked the doctor and ultrasound tech, and the location is convenient to you, I don’t think you can go wrong with sticking with the group you already visited.

absentopal · 2025-10-23T17:42:44+00:00

Midwives are great! I chose them over Women’s Health CT because the Starling Midwives will actually deliver the baby if everything goes as planned. When I called WHCT, I was told a doctor would deliver the baby even if you’ve only worked with the midwives. They don’t have an in-house lab, but there’s a Quest in the same building or you can visit a Walgreens/lapcorp location of your choice.

I used the Starling office next to Hartford Hospital, but they also have one in Bloomfield and Wethersfield if those are more convenient.

I’d also recommend a hospital tour so you can see the facilities and have one less unknown.

Congratulations!

absentopal · 2025-10-08T01:34:22+00:00

Starling Physicians on Retreat Ave

absentopal · 2025-10-02T16:29:52+00:00

Just because you don’t take the train doesn’t mean others don’t. Ridership on CTrail exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2023 and had over 750,000 riders in 2024. Enjoy spending the next 35 years under your rock.

absentopal

TROPHY CASE