[HumpDay]

Connecticut is like New Jersey. It's just one of big suburban sprawl with mixes of rural and urban areas. New Jersey is squeezed between Philadelphia and New York City while Connecticut is squeezed between New York City and Boston. I consider Connecticut to be a state stuck between things people care about. So many people drive through our state and don't stop because Boston and New York City are so close which already offer more than our cities.

[RunD1987]

I think if New Haven became capital it would of been amazing. Be a bustling city that probably have a ferry system to Long Island. Better traffic designs and parking. Probably have the Havens together. Have at least 5 cultural neighborhoods. Have a theater district with great Restaurants. Have a bustling hospital scene with the VA and Yale.

Have universities to attract students.

Maybe a trolley system to bring you around downtown during the warmer day's.

Bluefish Stadium and Webster Arena be in the Western end. Also a Soccer Team probably. The Yale Bowl attract not only football, but huge track meets.

The Milford Mall be in one the Havens. Casino's would spring up and Hard Rock Hotel already be built in CT.

Union Station be the new Grand Central. Maybe trains run from Hartford to Bridgeport to New London through Union Station.

Probably bikes and bike paths be utilized more.
Could see a path from Stamford to New London. Maybe the one from Cheshire to New Haven be completed up to Hartford area.

[RunD1987]

I heard Fète Music Hall in Providence is really good never been though.

[metalmancpa]

Originally Posted by SeaDoo342

CT is well aware what it wants to be. There's "NYC metro" CT that solely aligns with NY, there's eastern CT that aligns more with Providence and Boston, and there's Hartford... a metro that stands alone but is physically and mentally connected to both...

Your answer sort of leans towards my point.

If CT had it's own identity, it wouldn't consider its southern part an NYC metro, nor would eastern CT align itself with cities not in its state. I can think of no city in MA that thinks itself anything other than MA.

Having not stayed in Hartford for many years, and only seeing changes visually driving through, in my mind Hartford is the only city that can cornerstone the identity for CT.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by metalmancpa

Your answer sort of leans towards my point.

If CT had it's own identity, it wouldn't consider its southern part an NYC metro, nor would eastern CT align itself with cities not in its state. I can think of no city in MA that thinks itself anything other than MA.

Having not stayed in Hartford for many years, and only seeing changes visually driving through, in my mind Hartford is the only city that can cornerstone the identity for CT.

Fairfield County, Greater New Haven area is just NYC suburbs

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by metalmancpa

Your answer sort of leans towards my point.

If CT had it's own identity, it wouldn't consider its southern part an NYC metro, nor would eastern CT align itself with cities not in its state. I can think of no city in MA that thinks itself anything other than MA.

Having not stayed in Hartford for many years, and only seeing changes visually driving through, in my mind Hartford is the only city that can cornerstone the identity for CT.

I'm not sure why, when you say "identity", it solely means stand alone to you. Southwest CT is geographically in the shadows of New York, so even if CT had this "single identity" you speak of, it would be still be part of the New York metro (which more than 50% of CT's population resides). So, CT has different identities depending on the area. Just because the core of the identity is several miles over the state line doesn't mean the state is "confused". It means the largest city in the US is a short drive away and just happens to be in a different state.

I'll add that much of CT's identity is in its aesthetics. Usually in movies or TV shows, I can tell when they're filming in CT. It's usually green and leafy, winding roads, stone walls and very colonial in general. The highways are even more well kept in CT (believe it or not). This drastically changes the second you cross the line into MA, RI and NY.

[Sigequinox]

This is a "beaten to death" topic. Yes, CT cities are lame. When family and/or friends come to visit, no one is like "OMG, can we go to Hartford for the night!?". That did happen with NYC when I lived on LI and it will happen again wherever I end up next.

I don't know if anyone else shares the following opinion with me-I think Providence is much better than any CT city, but I would much rather live in CT than RI. RI literally does nothing for me.

I think CT, in general, is overpriced for what it is, overrated by those who praise it and falls short of having the qualities that would make young people, even young families,to want to stay here. I now very few people from CT who are staying here for reasons other than family ties. I definitely don't know anyone staying here because our cities are so awesome and prosperous.

[Stylo]

I always thought New Haven fares VERY favorably to other small to mid size cities. You can't compare it to large cities like Boston and NYC.

For its size, New Haven is a culinary treasure trove, has some world class museums, multiple music and theater venues, a symphony hall, amazing architecture in one of the top universities in the world, decent nightlife, etc. What more could you ask for a city of 130,000 people?

Stamford is a decent city considering it's basically a bedroom community of NYC a la White Plains (and is a better city than White Plains, IMO).

Hartford and Bridgeport are disappointing, although they have their attractions.

[RunD1987]

I say New Haven out ranks Hartford. However, it's saturated with poverty and crime. Very few job opportunities and limited sport attractions. However, does have good food, theater, culture attractions, and nightlife. It's a city that almost could stand alone.

[Sigequinox]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

I say New Haven out ranks Hartford. However, it's saturated with poverty and crime. Very few job opportunities and limited sport attractions. However, does have good food, theater, culture attractions, and nightlife. It's a city that almost could stand alone.

"almost"...

I think NH is a bit embarrassing considering it's the city that is home to one of the most elite research institutions in the world. However, Stylo makes a good point about how much it does offer (even if thats comparatively little) considering it's population is only 130k.

It's certainly not fair to compare it to boston or NYC, but the real question is "WHY is NH, the city of Yale University, only 130k?" Why is NH/CT not making greater efforts to keep the graduates from Yale here? These students take their education to NYC, boston, silicon valley, sand diego, and more recently dozens of other cities. New Haven (and Yale) have been around since colonial times. If it was ever going to be something great, it would've been so by now. A few little incubator companies from UConn and Yale aren't going to attract talent by the thousands, that's for sure. It's unfortunate, but I think New Haven, which is arguably our best city for attracting young talent, is as good as it's gonna get.