Hartford

Capital of Connecticut, and "Insurance Capital of the World," Hartford is one of the oldest US cities. Dutch fur traders set up a local post in 1614 and English settlers from Massachusetts arrived in 1635. After the Civil War this was America's wealthiest city and Mark Twain wrote of it In 1868: "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief." For almost 20 years, he lived here, writing The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn during this period. Harriet Beecher Stowe of Uncle Tom's Cabin fame lived out her last years just around the corner. Their houses are today a museum and research center respectively. Samuel Colt, who perfected the revolver, settled here to build his armory complex alongside the Connecticut River. The park that bears his name was once part of the estate behind his mansion, Armsmear.

Some of the beauty Mark Twain saw survived industrialization, and a vibrant arts scene of theater and music thrives. The Wadsworth Atheneum is the nation's oldest public art museum, and institutions such as Trinity College, the University of Hartford and St Joseph's College bring youthful energy to the city. See theater and stage listings at our map and listings tab above.

Connecticut's gay scene is centered in New Haven (the largest city), Hartford, New London, and Danbury. Each has local pubs and bars, gay-popular restaurants, and several big gay nightclubs. People circulate between these cities for the nightlife offered by each. The bear group Northeast Ursamen, while based in Hartford, sponsors events all around the region.

Besides providing health services, the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective, or HGLHC, (1841 Broad St), is a local community center of sorts, with meetings, events and resourses.
 

Getting here

Bradley International Airport  is in Windsor Locks to the north, between Hartford Connecticut and Springfield, Massachusetts. With low-cost airlines flying here, this is a good arrival option for anywhere in Southern New England. Just 15 minutes drive from Hartford if you rent a car, the Bradley Flyer bus service from CT Transit is another option for a few dollars fare.

Getting around

CT Transit provides bus service around Hartford and surrounding areas, as well as other cities in Connecticut. For out-of-towners however, their website is hard to follow, so taxis or a car rental might be a lot less hassle for getting around.

Local Media

Metroline covers gay Hartford, all of Connecticut, and some other adjoining parts of Southern New England and New York.

The Hartfort Advocate is the alternate weekly paper, and the Hartford Courant is the local daily -- the oldest continuously published newspaper in America. Each has general news, reviews, arts and events listings.

Going Out

Chez Est (458 Wethersfield Ave) mostly men dance club and party bar, monthly beer bash, bear events.

Koji (17 Asylum St) mixed crowd, busy early cocktail lounge, contemporary Asian cuisine restaurant.

Polo Club (678 Maple Ave) 18-plus cabaret and dance club, gay mix, hip-hop/r&b, Friday Latin Nights, Saturday drag shows, theme and holiday parties

Shish Lounge (904 Farmington Ave), upscale mixed cocktail lounge, DJs, house music dancing, international cuisine restaurant, dress to impress, gayest on Sunday nights.

Tisane (537 Farmington Ave), day or night West End Euro-Asian cafe, tea, coffee, liquors, mixed hip crowd.

Up or on the Rocks (50 Union Place) 18+ dance club and live music venue, Sunday night gay party and drag shows.

Vegas Boulevard (233 Sisson Ave) big pizza slices, draught beer, sometimes live music, young gay/straight mix.

See locations, weblinks and other restaurants at our map and listings tab above.