Yankee Ingenuity Alive & Well In Hartford

New Englanders are renowned for their Yankee ingenuity, and the spirit of the settlers remains alive and well in Hartford today. While in Hartford's early days we had Samul Colt, Albert Pope, Howard Baldwin, and Eli Whitney, today we have a jeans company,  artist designed bicycles, a burlesque dance troupe, and a brewery figuring out that watermelon makes a good ale, while none of these up and comers have quite "won the west" yet, they could be well on their way.

Today and in the yesteryear, there has never been a lack of good ole' Yankee ingenuity in Hartford.

A Succinct Synopsis

We all have the tendency to sometimes overlook the simpest and most prevalent things. Such is the case with this sign that gives a brief and succinct early history of Hartford. Located at the edge of The Ancient Burial Ground between the Center Church and the Gold Building, we walk by this sign all the time. Many readers probably also do and surely some have these facts memorized. We've read it before, but it has been a while and we would fail a pop quiz on this sign. It sure packs a lot of early Hertford history into six sentences. Very cool and if you haven't in a while, worth taking five minutes out of your day and giving it a read or two.

Billy's Neon At Night

One of the best things about the Christmas season is the many displays of bright lights. Almost makes you wonder why we all just don't display colorful lights all year round. While Bushnell and Goodwin Park have excellent Christmas displays this year, Billy's Package Store is still the undisputed champion of Hartford lights.

Hunting Hartford

We've been perplexed by this sign ever since we first saw it at the corner of Park and New Park. Does this sign make any sense to anyone at all? A hunting association in Hartford? The sign indicates that the association is interested in hunting for some duck and venison. Nothing wrong with that, both duck and venison are pretty tasty, but where are they going to find duck and a six-point buck in Hartford?

A Good Deed? The End of Literal Street Signs

A while back we found a leaning McLean street sign and thought that Hartford might be embracing using literal street signs. Recently we discovered that this experiment is over as the McLean sign is now perfectly upright. Another Sad City good deed or the end of a great experiment?

Stating The Obvious

Public places always need to have rules in place for citizens to abide by. No dogs, glass bottles, and obscenities, (actually misspelled on this sign) are all common and reasonable rules. But no gang activity? Isn't that a bit self-evident. And does anyone believe putting it on a sign will do anything to curb gang activities? Is the idea that gang members will see the sign and go "alright guys, we need to break it up and play a game of bridge instead, the sign says no gang activity."

People of Connecticut: New York's Self-Storage Advertising Mocks You

Do you want more proof that New York laughs at Connecticut? The above advertisement was spotted while wandering around the Upper Eastside yesterday. It's part of a broader campaign for a New York-based self-storage company that can been seen around New York. But let's face it, they didn't zing us as bad as they zinged the Mets.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: We love the Mets billboard.)