Oorah! National Iwo Jima Memorial, Newington & New Britain We all have "those things" that we live near that we just never check out. Be it a museum or a hike or restaurant or whatever. I think the unconscious thinking is, "I live nearby, so it's easy to get to, so I'll make the effort someday." The National … [Read more...]
A Very Merry Toy Store (2017)
Let's Not Toy Around A Very Merry Toy Store (2017) Amato's Toy and Hobby of New Britain closed at the end of February in 2022. I blame this movie. I really wanted to like this awful movie. Believe it or not, on a certain amygdalan level, I happen to like dopey Hallmark/Lifetime movies where everyone is pretty … [Read more...]
New Britain Bees
Bzzzt! New Britain Bees vs. Sugar Land Skeeters, New Britain July 5, 2019 Update: See Danny Noonan's comment at the bottom for some context. For those of you who don’t know me personally, here are two facts that will help you with this particular page: I am not a baseball fan and I write the stuff for CTMQ … [Read more...]
CTMQ’s Guide to New Britain
Everything New Britain 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” New Britain CTMQ-style... as well as the other 168 towns, cities, and boroughs in Connecticut. That is the ultimate goal of CTMQ. … [Read more...]
New Britain’s Town Trails
New Britain’s Town Trails I make no secret of my love for New Britain. I've said it many times on this here website. This isn't the page to explain my feelings, which is probably weird as this is the page that will leave you wondering why. I like to hike. New Britain doesn't really offer anything in the way … [Read more...]
Alvarium Beer Company
Catching a Buzz Alvarium Beer Company, New Britain May 2018 There are two breweries in New Britain (in 2018 anyway), which is two more than there were in 2016. This is a good thing, especially considering New Britain is a city with a history of brewing pride. Alvarium was the first to open in the 21st … [Read more...]
5 Churches Brewing
Preaching the Gospel of Beer 5 Churches Brewing, New Britain May 2018 I have written many times that I'm an unapologetic fan of New Britain. I know that this surprises many people, and I'm always happy to explain. First and foremost, I spent a couple years there when I was dating my (now) wife who grew up in the … [Read more...]
Book Review: Last Night at the Lobster
Paradise by the Live Tank Light Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O’Nan (2007) West Hartford Library True story: Stewart O’Nan’s Last Night at the Lobster is the first book in my life that I sought out, procured, read one page, and thought, “Hey, I’ve read this before!” And I had, back in 2007 when it was … [Read more...]
299. The New Britain Police Museum
A Real Hard Hittin’ Museum New Britain (Google Maps location) August 8, 2015 I can’t even pretend this is a real museum. Keep in mind who just wrote that. I’m the guy that accepts pretty much anything as a museum that calls itself a museum. I’ve been to some very, very tiny museums in Connecticut. … [Read more...]
Polish Plate at Staropolska
Great Place to Polish off a Meal Staropolska, New Britain Ah, New Britski. I could write several thousand words on New Britain’s Broad Street “Little Poland” area. I don’t know why it fascinates me so much, as I’ve been to plenty of neighborhoods with fairly homogenous nationalities. But something is different … [Read more...]