[paper doll]

I'm not big on the Hartford area nightlife. I've never found it especially fun. There are way too many screaming drunk college students scantily-clad in their Sunday best (no stereotype, in this case) and that's not me. I'm a little more low key and prefer a wider range of age groups around me.

What other alternatives are there besides staying at home and going out only to restaurants? Is there really no other place where people meet each other?

[riteshb]

I would like to know as well since I moved here from the Midwest for a job and have zero friends in the 6.5 months that I've lived here, which is a first for me. There definitely seems like a huge gap in the number of young professionals here in the 24-32 age group, as well as diversity. I found that the Hartford metro area is for families or college students so far.

[hfd]

Hartford suffers from the brain drain. Young professionals leaving the state after college. The problem is the region has a little bit here, a little bit there. Bars and restaurants in Hartford, sports leagues in one town, shopping in West Hartford, etc.
Also hurting young people who grow up in suburbs have bad impression of Hartford, so they live at home well into their 20s, even 30s!

[skytrekker]

Originally Posted by hfd

Hartford suffers from the brain drain. Young professionals leaving the state after college. The problem is the region has a little bit here, a little bit there. Bars and restaurants in Hartford, sports leagues in one town, shopping in West Hartford, etc.
Also hurting young people who grow up in suburbs have bad impression of Hartford, so they live at home well into their 20s, even 30s!

Your critique has the stereotypic image of New England- but where do the young go? To congested Atlanta? Water without Phoenix & Tucson (both with high crime rates) How about Raleigh NC that actually has higher real estate costs then Hartford- Where? It's easy to be negative about New England- but then again why are so many increasingly interested- go beyond the simple- and look towards the future- and the future is not the south.

[kidyankee784]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

Your critique has the stereotypic image of New England- but where do the young go? To congested Atlanta? Water without Phoenix & Tucson (both with high crime rates) How about Raleigh NC that actually has higher real estate costs then Hartford- Where? It's easy to be negative about New England- but then again why are so many increasingly interested- go beyond the simple- and look towards the future- and the future is not the south.

Most of the young grads that I know who leave CT go to NYC, Chicago, DC, Philly and Boston. I can't say that I know any kids who I graduated college with that moved to AZ or NC. I think most of them know better than to move to those places (or at least I hope so!) I think the folks moving to NC are the families with parents in their 30's and 2.5 kids.

That said, every last person I know who left CT has a serious case of "the grass is greener." We are losing lots of CT college grads, but we're also gaining many young professionals from other areas of the nation.

[WILWRadio]

New Englanders are a bit different than many most parts of the country. Most people that I know forge their friendships early in life during their school years and keep those people in their social circle for the rest of their lives. My Mother at 78 has friends dating back to her grade school years. My best friends are also from grade school and high school. I've only added a couple of people into my social circle over the last couple of decades.

Be thankful you don't live in Kansas City. I've been here for two years and don't have any friends. Don't have much in common with these people either.

[boushwam]

Originally Posted by paper doll

I'm not big on the Hartford area nightlife. I've never found it especially fun. There are way too many screaming drunk college students scantily-clad in their Sunday best (no stereotype, in this case) and that's not me. I'm a little more low key and prefer a wider range of age groups around me.

What other alternatives are there besides staying at home and going out only to restaurants? Is there really no other place where people meet each other?

Check out Dish - it's a new restaurant/bar located on 900 Main St. I know some of the people that run it, so they told me about it, but it's a nice place to go for great food and a cool vibe bar area. They're always busy for happy hour into the night, esp. on Thurs - Sat. The prices are what they are but if you're looking for something not so college-driven draft specials, cover at the door, etc. type places I'd recommend checking it out.

[uconn99]

Have you tried Room 960? It is in the old G. Fox buidling and is one of the better club/lounges I have been to. There is usually a older crowd of young professionals there.


There are plenty people who move to Arizona from New England. Have you ever been to Scottsdale and witnessed the amount of people from the Northeast in the bars/clubs?

It is true a lot of people in the Northeast think the grass is greener on the other side. I for one moved to Arizona not to escape Connecticut but rather to expereience something new. I find myself wishing I was back home every day.

There are things I like about Arizona but there are more things I miss about Connecticut.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by riteshb

I would like to know as well since I moved here from the Midwest for a job and have zero friends in the 6.5 months that I've lived here, which is a first for me. There definitely seems like a huge gap in the number of young professionals here in the 24-32 age group, as well as diversity. I found that the Hartford metro area is for families or college students so far.

You should check out Stamford, if you have an option to move. It's loaded with the age group you mention. It was named one of the best cities in the US to date a couple years ago.

[riteshb]

Originally Posted by WILWRadio

New Englanders are a bit different than many most parts of the country. Most people that I know forge their friendships early in life during their school years and keep those people in their social circle for the rest of their lives. My Mother at 78 has friends dating back to her grade school years. My best friends are also from grade school and high school. I've only added a couple of people into my social circle over the last couple of decades.

Be thankful you don't live in Kansas City. I've been here for two years and don't have any friends. Don't have much in common with these people either.

I've noticed that around here, which is why I"ll be moving out of here later this year. It's not a social area for people who aren't from here unless you can find other couples to hang out with.