[Slipperman]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

Hartford's skyline truly is beautiful and the new science center complements it nicely. It is unfortunate that Hartford continues to be an under-rated city

agree.. i keep rooting for Hartford to get its act together so it won't be as much of a door mat but it never seems to happen. so i'm starting to wonder is it the people of CT that just don't care and accept Hartford as it is or is it possible incompetence on the part of the State?

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

The Wadsworth is the oldest public museum in the US and continues to be recognized as a top-rated museum.

The Wadsworth is nice and under-appreciated, although I just got a sneak peek at the new Yale expansion and I do believe it's going to be the new museum star of the state.

[BPt111]

New Haven and Stamford

[jdhall1]

Danbury's downtown and urban core is huge, for the city of it's size

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by jdhall1

Danbury's downtown and urban core is huge, for the city of it's size

Too bad it's dead.

Seriously, I lived in the area forever and was always really disappointed in how awful the downtown became. It has so much potential, but is probably sucked dry by the mall. That said, with WCSU nearby - you'd think it would be a little better. Part of it is the business/restaurants/bars that do open there are just really generic and low quality, so it's not a destination for anyone in the area.

I recently came back after a few years away and was disappointed to see that's it's probably even gone downhill since I moved away in 2010. The few decent spots on Main Street are now gone.

[marketa]

I like Stamford the best. The area with the main bars is kind of smaller, but I would consider everything around it to be part of downtown as well. I think Stamford is the best, in Fairfield County. Fairfield has a sort of central area, as well, but I think it's oriented more towards families than young adults. Because of UCONN, Stamford has more of the things a person in their early 20s might look for.

[AntonioR]

Not just UCONN, all the fortune 500 companies in the city with thousands of high paying jobs, especially to 20-somethings and 30-somethings, helps a lot in that department. LOL

[Stylo]

Stamford definitely has the best downtown in FFC, there's not a lot of real competition in that sense.

[kidyankee764]

If we're talking largest by square miles, then statistically it would be Hartford. If we're talking opulence, then Stamford. If we're talking things to do, then New Haven.

[Mike 75]

Originally Posted by Slipperman

agree.. i keep rooting for Hartford to get its act together so it won't be as much of a door mat but it never seems to happen. so i'm starting to wonder is it the people of CT that just don't care and accept Hartford as it is or is it possible incompetence on the part of the State?

Having lived there, there is nothing much desirable about living in Hartford. High taxes, high crime, terrible schools, corrupt and incompetent municipal government. The surrounding suburbs are much more desirable, with better schools, lower taxes, lower crime and are relatively affordable. So the single young professional moves to West Hartford or Glastonbury, and the middle class family moves to Newington or Elmwood. If they want to go to the Wadsworth or a UConn game, they can drive in easily.