Jacked Up Jacknife, 1989 When I began putting together my list of Connecticut movies, I hadn't heard of the large majority of them. This didn't strike me as surprising, as I've never been a big movie watcher. And as far as knowing off the top of my head which movies were, like, Connecticut movies... well, I'm not … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to Meriden
Everything Meriden I’ve been exploring and writing about Connecticut since 2006. After a decade, I began compiling CTMQ guides for each town in the state. I plan on “completing” Meriden CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. If … [Read more...]
Meriden’s Town Trails
Meriden's Town Trails Meriden is the Silver City because there were a lot of silver manufacturers there back in the day. The silver legacy can be found all around town. But it wasn't just silver that put Meriden on the map; it was all sorts of manufacturing and metalworking. Like, Bradley & Hubbard … [Read more...]
The Quiet (2005)
Shhhhh The Quiet, 2005 You’ve likely never seen The Quiet, nor have you likely even heard of it. It did have a national theater release and it wasn’t universally panned, but The Quiet was just a quiet little movie. It’s also very disturbing on a few different levels and most importantly for us, the whole thing … [Read more...]
Concept of Freedom Trail: Meriden (2)
George S. Jeffrey House 66 Hillside Avenue This is one of those stops along the Freedom Trail that has given me more to ponder than I would have ever thought. For one, it’s for sale which recalled (for me, and surely only me) another stop along the Freedom Trail up in Vernon – the Charles Ethan Porter House which … [Read more...]
Castle Craig
Castle Craig Meriden Stone Tower (~32 feet) on East Peak (976 feet) Perhaps the goofiest name of all the towers in the state, Castle Craig is also one of the most accessible. Visitors can drive right up to the base (almost) of it. Reservoir Road up to the tower is only open April to October from 10-4:45 each day, … [Read more...]
Steamed Cheeseburger at Ted’s
Seriously? Ted's Restaurant, Meriden Cost: $4.25 for a burger I asked in the title, “seriously”? Apparently so. Ted’s is iconic in much the same way Louis Lunch in New Haven is. That is, it’s unique and it’s old and therefore it has cache and apparently people like to pretend it’s good. It’s not. See, … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 3
Section 3: I Besecks Thee! Routes 66/147 - Routes 68/157, 5.7 Miles July 18, 2008 Note: This was written in 2008, so please forgive the tiny picture formatting. If you want to start at the beginning of the trail, go the Mattabesett Intro here. Aye! I made up a word! To "besecks!" That is, "when one's … [Read more...]
Mattabesett Trail: Section 1
Section 1: I Have But One Lament... Berlin Turnpike - Country Club Road, ~ 9 miles Berlin, Meriden, Middletown May 23, 2008 ...And that lament is this: Indeed. Lots and lots of it. On the ground, on trees, in shrub form, on my shins, behind my knees, fingers, arms nose, eyelid, ear, stomach, neck, some … [Read more...]
The Rosa Ponselle Museum (Closed)
The Fat Lady Has Sung... Meriden RIP, Mid-00's ... And this museum is over. Yes, another of the Lester Dequaine triumvirate of wildly random museums - the Rosa Ponselle Museum - is closed along with the National Shaving and Barbershop Museum and the Frank Chiarenza Museum of Glass. I have seen Mr. … [Read more...]