That Hit And Run in Hartford

The outrageous hit-and-run story that has received national attention here in the U.S. has spread worldwide. The world is holding a mirror up to the people of Hartford, and what's looking back at them is not pretty.

The shocking surveillance video (see it on the Hartford Courant website below) shows 78-year-old Angel Arce Torres being struck by a vehicle that swerved over into the wrong lane and does not bother to stop to help him. Neither do the 10 -12 other vehicles who drive by as the man lies helpless in the street. Several bystanders appear to do nothing, and they do not approach Torres until a police car comes into view. It is known that there were at least four 911 calls from the scene.

Wherever those bystanders are today, no doubt they are looking inwards and asking themselves why they did not help. It's the question the world is asking them. And asking Hartford itself. Has it gotten so bad that we have no regard for life?

"At the end of the day we've got to look at ourselves and understand that our moral values have now changed." Police Chief Daryl Roberts said. "We have no regard for each other."

Torres is paralyzed from the neck down and remains in critical condition in Hartford Hospital.

Hartford Courant

Sydney Morning Herald

Save the Mark Twain House

Mark Twain's 3 Story Victorian mansion in Hartford is a Connecticut landmark, and it is in danger of closing due to financial problems.

Mark Twain said of this house, "To us, our house . . . had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with; and approvals and solicitudes and deep sympathies; it was of us, and we were in its confidence and lived in its grace and in the peace of it benediction." www.twainquotes.com

To help save this landmark please visit:
http://www.marktwainhouse.org/

Park Street Portraits

Take a look at the stunning photography of Steve Miller, in Park Street, the Frog Hollow section of Hartford, CT.

http://issuu.com/xmitman/docs/park_st_med

Titanic Exhibition at the XL Center

The Titanic Exhibition is educational and fun for all ages!! Don't miss out!!


The Exhibition has been designed with a focus on the legendary RMS Titanic's compelling human stories as best told through nearly 300 authentic artifacts and extensive room re-creations. Visitors are quickly drawn back in time to 1912, as each receives a replica boarding pass of an actual passenger upon entrance. The Exhibition will then takes guests on a chronological journey through life on the Titanic. Attendees will marvel at authentically recreated first and third class cabins, view the Ship's Boiler Room, feel the temperature drop as they press their palms against the iceberg, and learn of the passengers and their countless stories of heroism and humanity.

One of the many galleries is dedicated to Connecticut connections where visitors discover the State’s reaction and ties to the events. In the “Memorial Gallery” guests will take their boarding pass to the memorial wall and learn if their passenger and traveling companions survived or perished.

Exhibit Times:
Monday- Thursday: 9:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday - Sunday: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Dates: Saturday April 12, 2008 - Sunday, August 31, 2008
Phone: 860 249 6333
XL Center, Hartford, CT
Box Office: 860-525-4500
Admission: Adult $22, Child $18, Senior $20, Audio $7

Purchasing tickets on-line at www.Ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster location, or charging by phone (860) 525-4500.

Cirque du Soleil Returns to Hartford with Kooza

KOOZA tells the story of The Innocent, a melancholy loner in search of his place in the world.

KOOZA is a return to the origins of Cirque du Soleil: It combines two circus traditions – acrobatic performance and the art of clowning. The show highlights the physical demands of human performance in all its splendor and fragility, presented in a colorful mélange that emphasizes bold slapstick humor.

The Innocent's journey brings him into contact with a panoply of comic characters such as the King, the Trickster, the Pickpocket, and the Obnoxious Tourist and his Bad Dog.

Between strength and fragility, laughter and smiles, turmoil and harmony, KOOZA explores themes of fear, identity, recognition and power. The show is set in an electrifying and exotic visual world full of surprises, thrills, chills, audacity and total involvement.

DATES:

KOOZA opens on April 1, 2008 and runs through April 27, 2008.
Showtimes 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm. No shows on Mondays.

WHERE:

Under the Grand Chapiteau, on Market Street, Hartford

PRICES

	Adults	Children 2-12	Students & Seniors 65+
Price level 1	$85.00	$59.50	$76.50
Price level 2	$75.00	$52.50	$67.50
Price level 3	$50.00	$35.00	$45.00
Tapis Rouge	$215.00	$152.00	N/A

Telephone Booking: 1-800-678-5440 (US)
Purchase Online: http://cirquedusoleil.com/

DIRECTIONS AND OTHER INFORMATION

• I-91 North (from New Haven): Take Exit 32-B (Trumbull Street). At the light at the end of the ramp, turn right onto Market Street. The Cirque du Soleil parking lot will be on your right.
  
• I-91 South (from Springfield): Take Exit 32-B (Trumbull Street). At the light at the end of the ramp, turn right onto Market Street. The Cirque du Soleil parking will be on your right.
  
• I-84 West (from Boston): Take Exit 50 (Main Street). At the light at the bottom of the exit ramp, turn right onto Market Street. The Cirque du Soleil parking will be on your right.
  
• I-84 East (from Danbury): Take Exit 50 (Main Street). At the end of the exit ramp is a light (Trumbull Street) - go straight through that light. Go straight through the second light (Main Street). At the third light (Market Street - on your right will be Talcott Street Garage), turn left and go under the highway. Continue straight past two lights and the Cirque du Soleil parking lot will be on your right.

The Grand Chapiteau (Big Top)
The Grand Chapiteau seats over 2,600 spectators per show, with an adjoining entrance tent.

Duration
2 hours 30 minutes, including a 30-minute intermission.

Get Your Green On, St Patrick's Day Parades in Connecticut

2008 Greater New Haven Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Sunday, March 9th, 2008 at 1:30 am
The Greater New Haven St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 9 starts its march at 1:00 pm. It will step off from Derby Avenue and Chapel Street, marching down Chapel Street to Church Street. It passes the reviewing stand in front of New Haven's City Hall and continues on Church Street to Grove Street, turning right and ending on Orange Street.
http://www.stpatricksdayparade.org/


2008 Greater Hartford Saint Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 15, 2008 - Starting at 11:00 am
The parade starts on Capitol Avenue to Main Street to Asylum Street and ends at the Memorial Arch at Bushnell Park.
http://www.centralctceltic.com/


Stamford St. Patrick's Day Parade
Saturday, March 15th at noon
With more than 80 marching units, including Greenwich Pipe Band, Connecticut Firefighters' Pipes and Drum, Governor's Horse Guard, Trinity College Pipes and Drums, school and youth groups, Irish dancers, military groups, and more. It runs up Bedford and down Summer streets. For more information, call 249-3270.


2008 Greenwich Saint Patrick's Parade
Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Greenwich Hibernian Association is sponsoring their 33rd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. The parade will form at the Greenwich, Connecticut Town Hall at 101 Field Point Road, Greenwich, CT and march down Greenwich Avenue.


The 26th annual Bridgeport St. Patrick's Day Parade
Monday, March 17, 2008 at noon
Beginning and ending at the Arena at Harbor Yard, 600 Main St. The parade goes up Broad Street, then right onto Fairfield Avenue, right onto Main toward the Barnum Museum, and back to Harbor Yard.


2008 Mystic Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 1pm
Mystic Connecticut will host a Saint Patrick Parade on March 30th starting at 1PM in the afternoon. Over 650 marchers scheduled to participate and for us it is a first for our corner of Connecticut. Everyone is cordially invited to attended. Please note arrive early as parking is anticipated to be a problem. The parade accessible off Interstate 95 at either exit 89 or 90. Just follow the signs for directions.



For more St. Patrick's Day Parades around the U.S.A. please visit:
http://www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/


And for more Irish-themed events check out:

Celtic Woman
The Irish ensemble has enriched popular music with their fusion of Folk, Pop, and Classical influences. In 2005, Celtic Woman released their self-titled debut album which reached #1 on Billboard’s World Music chart. The album held the #1 spot for an incredible 68 weeks breaking a previous long-standing record. Since the breakthrough success of their first album, Celtic Woman has released two additional albums, including Celtic Woman: A Christmas Celebration and Celtic Woman: A New Journey.
Friday, March 14, 2008, 8:00 PM
Tickets: $60.00, $45.00
Mohegan Sun Arena
Mohegan Sun, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, CT 06382
Phone: (888) 226-7711
www.mohegansun.com


Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance
This international Irish dancing phenomenon has performed to sold-out houses in more than 45 countries. Audiences have an opportunity to experience this extravaganza that has helped catapult Irish dancing into the global spotlight and created a new wave of Celtic dance mania.
Friday, March 14, 2008, 8:00 pm
Saturday, March 15, 2008, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $39.00, $45.00, $48.00
Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT
SCA Box Office: (203) 325-4466
www.scalive.org


The Irish Rovers
These international ambassadors of Irish music have charmed and entertained people around the world. They continue to delight audiences with their exciting stage shows, never losing their timeless ability to deliver a rollicking, rousing performance of good cheer that will soon have everyone singing and clapping.
Thursday, March 20, 2008, 8:00 pm
Tickets: $21.00, $26.00, $31.00
Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT
SCA Box Office: (203) 325-4466
www.scalive.org

First Night Celebrations in Connecticut 2007!

Bring in the new year with First Night celebrations around Connecticut.

First Night Danbury

There will be music, dancing, and children’s entertainment with fireworks on the Green at 8:00 PM.
Downtown, Danbury, CT 06810
December 31, 2007 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Admission: $5.
Phone: (203) 792-1711
www.citycenterdanbury.com



First Night Westport Weston/Westport
First Night WW is an alcohol-free Celebration of New Year's Eve through the Arts. Not only can you enjoy 9 hours of unequaled entertainment, you can enjoy the safe surroundings of beautiful downtown Westport while you walk in the town's holiday atmosphere. Or you can also choose to ride the free shuttle buses between the venues.
Admission: $10
Button Sales Locations: Available online
Chef's Table, 44 Church Lane, Westport
Phone: (203) 226-3663

Trader Joe's, 400 Post Road East, Westport
Phone: (203) 226-8966

Oscar's Deli, 159 Main Street, Westport
227-3705

Senior Center, 21 Imperial Ave., Westport
Phone: (203) 341-5098

Westport Public Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport
Phone: (203) 227-8411

Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport
Phone: (203) 341-1111

Westport-Weston Family Y, 59 Post Road East, Westport
Phone: (203) 226-8981

Commerce Bank, 185 Main Street, Westport
Phone: (203) 341-0490

Whole Foods/Wild Oats, 399 Post Road West, Westport
Phone: (203) 227-6858

Webster Bank, 244 Post Road East, Westport
Phone: (203) 291-7880

People's United Bank, 371 Post Road East, Westport
Phone: (203) 227-1284

Super Stop 'n Shop, 1790 Post Road East, Westport
Phone: (203) 254-2188

Weston Hardware Store, 190 Weston Rd., Weston
Phone: (203) 227-7995

Chef's Table, 1561 Post Road, Fairfield
Phone: (203) 255-1779

Wilton Family Y, 404 Danbury Rd., Wilton
Phone: (203) 762-8384

Green Demolitions, 19 Willard Rd., Norwalk
Phone: (203) 354-7355
http://www.firstnightww.com/

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First Night Hartford 2008
It is Hartford's premiere New Year's Eve party, a multicultural, artistically unique, alcohol-free New Year's experience with hundreds bof professional musicians, artists, performance groups and exhiits.
Fireworks at 6 pm and midnight. For more information about First Night Hartford, call 860-722-9546
Admission to all First Night Hartford events is available with the purchase of one button:
Adults: $15 Youth: $2 (under 15)
Button Sales Locations:
Buttons will be available for purchase from Friday, November 23 at the following locations:
American Automobile Association
Both Big Sky Fitness Locations
Bushnell Box Office
CT Transit Information Booth
Hartford Stage
Hartford Welcome Center
Highland Park Markets
Old State House
Sovereign Bank
http://www.firstnighthartford.org/



HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE NEW YEAR 2007!!

Hartford's Seal of Approval

Ok, I apologize. I admit to enjoying goofy headlines a little too much.

On Tuesday, a harbor seal swam up the Connecticut River into Hartford, apparently hot on the tail of a snack. The seal spent the afternoon sitting on the east side bank of the river across from Hartford. Officials say seals will occasionally stray from familiar water if they find fish in other areas.

Other places to see Seals in Connecticut include Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration, the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, who have daily harbor seal feedings at 11:45 a.m., 1:45 p.m. & 3:45 p.m. and Project Oceanology who conduct seal watch cruises.