[maestro]

Hello all,

I am considering a move from Columbus, Ohio (where I've lived for the past 8 years) to CT in order to be closer to my family in Queens and Long Island. I'd move to one of those places, but it's WAY too expensive there. I'd be moving with my wife and little baby, so it's not like I need a hopping club scene, but I would like at least a fun town with cool restaurants, bars, etc.

I have been eyeing Hartford a bit, since it's closer to NY than Ohio, and it's not quite as expensive as southwestern CT -- there's no way I could afford Stamford/Greenwich area.

My concern is 1) it's still pretty expensive in Hartford and 2) that Hartford will be a little boring. Living in Columbus is pretty boring, and I fear that with Hartford in the shadows of NY and Boston would make Hartford life seem like a bore.

What are your thoughts?

[skytrekker]

Hartford has an excellent arts and theater scene.
From an earlier post of mine-


Metro Hartford has;

The Connecticut Chamber Symphony
Connecticut Concert Opera
Connecticut Opera Association
Goodspeed Opera House
Hartford Ballet
Hartford Stage Company
Hartford Symphony
Harrt Symphony
New Britain Symphony Society

Davidson Art Center Wesleyan Univ (Middletown)
Hill-Stead Museum
Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery
Wadsworth Atheneum-Hartford
New Britain Museum of American Art

Plus UCONN basketball and football- less then hour to the shoreline on Long Island and Block Island sound. Many excellent wineries in the state- you should not be worried about 'having nothing to do'. 'Boring' well perhaps not- If not into bar hopping- there is much to keep you busy.

[westguy22]

There's a lot to do in the Hartford area, as you can see above.

If you want to be closer to the city (about 45-60 mins difference) then maybe northern New Haven/Fairfield County will suit your needs. Suburban towns along I-84 between Danbury and Waterbury offer good schools, cheaper housing than Stamford/Greenwich, and more friendly people. Newtown, Southbury, Monroe and Oxford are all pretty reasonable for the area. Monroe and Oxford are closer to the Merritt Parkway allowing easy access to NYC (about an hour not during rush hour to the Bronx). Homes in these towns start at about $400k.

Milford, Branford and North Haven are also reasonable towns in southern CT. They're right along 95 and the Merritt and are a bit more crowded than the towns mentioned above.

[iqsgirl]

Wow. Columbus isn't that exciting ;o). I used to work on Broad St. and I went to Ohio State. I'm originally from Dayton and my husband and I moved to the Huntington/Shelton, CT are this past December. The home prices and cost of living are absolutely OUTRAGEOUS. The prices have clearly gotten out of hand, but are coming down. We actually found new construction w/2900 sq ft for the same as existing homes in a subdivision of 16 homes. You should definitely consider new construction given the cost of energy in CT. Milford also has decent homes and prices. I am very close to NY. There are park and ride ski trips and restaurants. We are central to lots of activities and shows. We went to a blues concert in Ridgeville--it was fun. We also have gone into the city paid a ridiculous fee for parking, but partied late or at least we tried before the sleep demon attacked us.

We haven't had the Ohio snow, but it does get cold.

iqsgirl

[mels]

Having lived in bigger cities (down south, out west, NYC, etc.), I ended up settling down in greater Hartford. I don't find it boring at all. There are many outdooorsy things to do (many hiking trails, lakes, ponds, beaches), tons of shopping, two large casinos, lots of live music, much in the way of arts as listed above, many towns have different fairs and festivals throughout the year, and of course Boston and NYC are a short ride away, as are the mountains of Vermont. There is always something to do no matter what your tastes are.

Read the local papers and you will always find something. The Hartford Advocate (free weekly paper) and the Hartford Courant usually have a good list of things to do.

[JViello]

Hartford boring? LOL Not at all, and if you find it boring you might want to look in the mirror. I live in the metro (Manchester) and find I can't find the time to take advantage of all the things I want to do.

If you are looking to just pub crawl the latest ticky tacky strip mall version of the bar scene and wobble around the streets, we have not done what others cities trying to give something to the "young" crowd that crys "there's nothing to do." have done. I.E. two streets of solid bars so everyone can get drunk and have "fun". (We've got pubs, bars, clubs etc if you want them). IMO those type of developments come from not having a core of existing real arts and culture.

BUT, if you want REAL things to do we've got it in spades.

Here are a few links, CERTAINLY not exhaustive by any means but gives you an idea. And keep in mind these links are pretty much contained inside the Hartford borders. Add in the metro area (I.E. West Hartford Center etc) and it grows much larger.

Guide:
http://www.visitctriver.com/pdf/VisitorsGuide2007_rivervalleyct.pdf (broken link)

General:
http://www.bushnellpark.org/poi.html (broken link)
http://www.bushnell.org
http://www.connectthedots.org/happening/fol.html (broken link)
http://www.hartford.com
http://www.wadsworthatheneum.org/do/tour.php (broken link)
http://www.hartfordmag.com
http://www.harrietbeecherstowecenter.org
http://marktwainhouse.org

Food:
http://www.hottomatos.net/web/braza.html (broken link)
http://www.agavehartford.com
http://www.bin228winebar.com
http://www.tapasonline.com/about_tapasOnAnn.htm (broken link)
http://www.spris.cc/ct_index.html
http://www.hottomatos.net/web/HT_hartford_home.html (broken link)
http://www.maxrestaurantgroup.com/lo...down_index.php
http://vivohartford.com
http://www.carbonesct.com
http://www.vitosct.com/vitobythepark.html (broken link)
http://www.maxrestaurantgroup.com/lo...s/tk_index.php
http://www.citysteambrewerycafe.com
http://blackeyedsallys.com
http://www.mayormikes.com

Arts:
http://www.amistadartandculture.org
http://artistscollective.org
http://www.artworksgallery.org
http://www.chambermusicplus.org
http://www.charteroakcenter.org
http://www.cinestudio.org
http://www.ctforum.org
http://www.chs.org
http://www.connecticutopera.org
http://ctsciencecenter.org
http://www.greenstreetartscenter.org
http://www.hartbeatensemble.org
http://www.hijf.com (Hartford Jazz Festival)
http://www.hartfordstage.org
http://www.hartfordsymphony.org
http://www.ctosh.org
http://www.lapalomasabanera.com
http://www.realartways.org
http://www.theaterworkshartford.org

I would also like to add that Hartford is really CT only major stand alone metro that is not tied to a larger city. It has it's own identity and feel of being it's own city. (All the people from NH, Stamford etc don't get in a bunch, it's not a slam - just reality.)

[drumlin]

New Haven is currently going through a blow-out renaissance. They're really focusing alot of energy on creating a more vibrant city. I personally love the Connecticut Shoreline, and it's proximity to New York and even Boston. Clinton is still a sweet, affordable town; Branford is getting too blighted and crowded. I bought a house in Prospect because it was the nicest town I could afford at the time, centrally located and close to highways, but the schools are terrible, and it's so close to the crime and grime of Waterbury and Naugatuck. I would have very much preferred to live in Cheshire, mines or no mines. Now THAT'S a gorgeous town if you want to be inland.

[DuaneM]

I just moved to CT from Cleveland, Ohio and I love it here. I too moved to be closer to family, mine are in western Mass. I have not been bored since getting here. It is close to so much. The beaches of RI, a 2 hour train ride to NYC, 1.5 hours to southern Vermont, 2 hours to Boston and so much more! I bought in West Hartford. Great community. I have to say also the weather here sure beats Cleveland's weather!!

[MH65]

We are moving from Cincinnati OH to the Hartford area. I did already a lot of research on the internet about the area, have never been in the Hartford area. We are Urban people, love to be close to everything , so far I have looked up I like West Hartford the best it was nice to read that DUANEM likes West Hartford. I am also looking at a middle school and High school . So far I liked by the online information I found Sedgwick middle school and Conard High school . My daughter goes now in Cincinnati to a creative performing Arts school, so I like a school what at least offers a Drama program after school. The only shocker for me is that the housing prices are so much higher then in Cincinnati. a lot of smaller older homes I see in west Hartford. Hope some people can give me some information about the area and schools. I will be going March 4 for a week to Hartford with my husband , he starts his job that week . Planning to move is around July.
Thanks for any info.

[skytrekker]

MH65

Hall HS is preferred over Conard- As for middle schools- a local 'townie' would be able to give more exact data. Cincinnati has a very nice downtown along the Ohio river- Hartford is rebuilding as a river city- and the region has some of the best arts venues in the nation, be they Opera, visual, stage and theater.

I understand your 'sticker shock' regarding housing- housing especially in West Hartford will be higher then other local towns. Housing here is generally cheaper east of the Connecticut river- new homes of 1800 square feet run around 280K. Good luck in your move and welcome! Hope the weather is good when you visit in March- Happy house hunting.