Sad City's Guide To Christmas Shopping

We are within two weeks of Christmas which is followed by the most miserable time of the year, commonly referred to as January and February. With only a few shopping days (we aren't sure how shopping days are calculated, nor do we care) left before Christmas, there's always Amazon.com but some insist on personally venturing into the commercial sector. That's cool, that's what we are here for.

We aren't going to get all super boring and tell you to get some gift cards to a local restaurant,  you aren't amoeba, you already know that. Nor are we going to lecture you on buying only "local only, organic only, no animals, no Republicans, no sugar, all natural" you aren't schoolchildren. What we do have is some fine Hartford area selections. Think of anything we missed? Leave it in the comments.

Without further ado, we bring you the Sad City Christmas Guide, the latest installment in the Sad City Guide series.

The Undeground Park River Video

(Originally posted May 29, 2012. After many misfires, Hakaan and Jumper finally got to get through the Park River thanks to the Hog River Revival dudes. Relive our journey on this post and check out the awesome work by the guys at the Hartford Art Walk tonight 6-8 at the Hartford Public Library on Main St. Check out more of Sad City and the Park River here.)

We've long since had a dream of riding underneath the city in the mysterious Park River.  Yes, we know that as far as dreams go, it's kind underwhelming. But a childhood built upon repeated viewings of The Goonies and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles created a fascination with the subterranean. The mystery that the cement caverns held seemed liked the most amazing adventure promised. Well, thanks to the Hog River Revival guys, our dream was made a reality. And we brought our video camera along!

The video is available after the jump.

Adventures in Urban Kayaking: The Park River

(Sad City has a long and storied history with the Park River. This post is from the first time we attempted to conquer Hartford's hidden river, originally posted back on August 4, 2010 (before Sad City became the soulless corporate behemoth it was destined to become). 

We are looking back on this Park River post to celebrate Art Walk opening this Friday December 7 at from 6-8 at the Hartford Public Library. The Art Walk will be featuring incredible images from our good friend Senator Joe McCarthy, who has spent countless hours on the Park River documenting and photographing the tunnels beneath our fine city. It's really some fine work. Be sure to stop by and check it out. Rumors has it that there may even be a photo of Jumper and Hakaan in the gallery. 

Barber Brings Bling to Hartford

A lot of time our friends will tell us "you have to try this fancy new barber in (Downtown/West Hartford)." Our reply is always the same, thanks but we're all set in that department. For about four years MC's Barbershop on Franklin Ave has been the official barber of Sad City.

Over the last year, MC has been telling us about being entering haircutting competitions and by the look of things, MC has been bringing some impressive hardware back to Hartford. With first place finishes in regional competitions, MC recently entered a large international competition in New York and finished in second place. The competition was also filmed as part of an upcoming documentary on barber competitions which we look forward to seeing MC in. We will keep you posted on details about the film as it gets close to release.

Sad City Hartford Guide to Walmart

Guess where this photo was taken.

(Originally published November 13, 2011)

People often make a big deal about the fact that big box stores homogenize our society and make everything the same. To a certain extent, it's true. They often bring a certain level of standardization to things. But as easily as you can identify the connecting threads like logos and signage that exist from store to store, there are often very telling divides that exist when you examine a single retailer with stores in several communities. Anyone who has ever flipped through pics on Wal-Creatures or wandered into a Walmart in Mississippi knows what I am talking about.

Although they are only 11 miles apart, the Hartford and Avon Walmarts might as well be run by different companies. The inconsistencies between the two stores can create a fascinating, consumerized lens that spotlights the differences between the two communities as a whole. Community wealth, ethnography, cultural preferences and societal issues all come to life when you juxtapose the two stores. To help you better make sweeping judgements and gross oversimplifications of the complex socio-economic forces at play in our great state, we've created a handy guide to help you understand the difference between the Avon and Hartford Walmarts. We're sure you could probably do the same thing if you looked at the respective school systems of the two communities, but that level of access is much harder to come by and the contrasts are far more bleak.

So without further ado, the Sad City Hartford Guide to Understanding Class Disparities Between Hartford and Avon by Examining Their Respective Walmarts.

This Weekend: Hartford Harvest Farmer's Market

How about them tomatoes?

Saturday November 17th 10am-1pm inside the Knox Parks Greenhouse at 75 Laurel St.

Wouldn't you love to be able to do most of your Thanksgiving shopping at one place, all while supporting CT farmers and vendors? Well, Hartford's Farmers' Markets have been working hard to make that wish come true by organizing the 2nd Annual Hartford Harvest Farmers' Market!
Come to this fun and festive market where you'll find potatoes, apples, pumpkins, carrots, greens, eggs, a variety of cheeses, coffee, pies, cupcakes, gelato, beans, rice, and great craft items! A true "one stop shop" for your Thanksgiving dinner!

What To Do? Music at J.Rene Coffee

Sad City has been drinking J.Rene Coffee exclusively for a couple years now and well, if you're serious about coffee, this is where you should be drinking it too. While J.Rene has been roasting up the best coffee in the area for awhile, Jose Rene Martinez, the esteemed owner and roasting maestro, has taken a quantum leap forward and has opened hands down the best coffee shop in the area.

 Don't believe us?  Fair enough, we aren't coffee experts, but we know it's good. If you like coffee, check out J.Rene's for yourself.

Located at 320 Park Rd in West Hartford, J.Rene's offers superb coffee in a great atmosphere. One of the popular attractions at J.Rene's is live music on Friday nights. Tonight the shop is featuring InfiniTango, a band that alone has an interesting enough look and name to make us want to check them out. Eagle-eyed Sad City readers will also note the bands promo shots were taken in Hartford City Hall.