Parker Memorial Rec Center/Kelvin D. Anderson Gymnasium

Please forgive the blurry pictures. It's a new camera, and beyond that I'm just a crappy photographer.

Last week, I was treated to a tour of the newly renovated Parker Memorial Center/Kelvin D. Anderson Gymnasium, a Recreation Center on the North End of Hartford.

Walking in through the back door, I was greeted with a beautiful, wall-sized painting outside of the Kelvin D. Anderson Gymnasium. Most people probably would've said, "Hey, who is Kelvin D. Anderson anyway?" But I'm not really good at the whole attention to detail thing, so I kind of just nodded and smiled as my guides showed me the piece and said, "That's why we placed this picture outside the gym." It wasn't until the end of the tour that someone told me that Kelvin Anderson was an Olympic boxer who died in a plane crash on his way to compete in Poland back in 1980. Oh...so that wasn't Muhammad Ali...good to know.


Right now, the gym and fitness area are the only parts of the Center that are open for public use, and I suggest you get some use out of them. Most of my experience in gyms involved sitting on the bleachers and faking illness while other children threw balls at each other. But with all the natural light that beamed in, I could see playing basketball on one of the 6 hoops in there being a pleasant experience for active people.


The fitness center was more my cup of tea. The equipment was clean and new, with about a billion free weights and some benches, 2 treadmills, 1 elliptical, a recumbent bike and an upright one. I know gyms are advertising their $10 a month specials right now, but this is free dollars a month with hours that are just as convenient. And I know some of you wise-asses are gonna say, "it's not free, I pay taxes!" First off, you probably come running in City Hall on the last day they're due, just like me, so let's not get all indignant. Second, this is one of those rare opportunities we get to see our tax dollars in action, so stop by and pump some iron just so you can feel like you're getting some justice.





In the front of the building is the Multipurpose Room. Right now it's set up with some long tables and fun green chairs, all facing a large dry erase board with a projector hanging from the ceiling; sort of like a lecture hall. But this room can also be used as a cafeteria since there's a chromed-out commercial-style kitchen attached. The room also serves a much more important purpose: In 2012, when the Mayan calendar is up and tidal waves crush our homes, it can double as a community shelter for families in need using a generator for up to 2 weeks. Hahaha, I'm just kidding! About the Mayan tidal wave...the shelter part is very real and very awesome. Let's hope we never have to use it, but if we do, Parker Center will hold us down.

There will be a computer lab with about 8-10 computers available, but they weren't yet installed so no blurry pics of those exist. There's also an arts & crafts room with some large tables to work on. This room will double as a classroom for community classes that will be available, such as parenting courses, GED training, literacy programs, tutoring for students and so much more. So while your kids are playing around the center, you can get your own stuff done. Another feature is a room with a smaller, round table that I think would be a great space for smaller groups to hold meetings in.

Art lab


Meeting room

The pool is beautiful and will be used for lifeguard training and swim classes. As much as I enjoy children, when I'm trying to be all fitness-y and do some laps, I don't want them splashing and jumping on top of me while I'm trying to do my thing. So they'll have an adult swim period for those of you who share my sentiment.


The pool is closed for the summer since there are outdoor pools open all around the city, hence the cover, but it also serves a "green" purpose; it keeps the heat inside the pool, using less energy to keep the water at the proper temperature. Your tax dollars ain't playin around.

In the center of it all is the game/TV room, where you'll find some couches, a few tables and chairs, air hockey, foosball and pool tables.


Last but not least is a garden out back, tended to by some local children, and some local members of the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Commission. Right now, it's a "pizza garden" meaning they're growing ingredients that would go on a pizza. Did you hear that? That's my bio-clock ticking because that's a-friggin-dorable!


I'm not sure when the official grand opening for the center is, but I'll make sure to update as soon as I do. Growing up, the rec centers I visited were poorly maintained, woefully understaffed and technologically behind. Hartford is changing for the better in terms of making sure its children are up to snuff, including the opening of some amazing, state of the art magnet schools and libraries. The Parker Memorial Center/Kelvin D. Anderson Gymnasium is a huge step in the right direction for the North End of Hartford, assuring that state of the art facilities are available out of the classroom and closer to home, where it matters just as much.

If you live nearby, or just want to check it out, the address is 2621 Main Street. It's impressive! And when you leave, stop by Crown Fried Chicken. Besides your grandmother's, it's the best fried chicken you've ever had.

Still Wavy 375: Janelle Monáe in Bushnell Park

I love free shit. I'm a sample grabber and a huge fan of health/career fairs. If it's $0 and I'm not there, it's probably not really $0. But I will be at Still Wavy 375, a free concert headlined by a Grammy nominated, Prince-honoring, Espy-performing singer; in other words, a BFD for the Hartbeat.

We don't do things like this here. I've been a resident of Hartford for years and sang alto for the There's-Nothing-To-Do-In-Hartford Chorus from the ages of 12 til about 22. And finally, in recent years, I've seen people doing something to change that. I have friends who put on great parties, start up phenomenal programs for children and are making big moves in the ways of fresh things to do in the city. The TNTDIH Chorus is thankfully losing members.

Since I found out about this concert, I've been asking a ton of questions to all involved, so I'm going to answer some frequently asked questions that I've gotten:

How can the City of Hartford afford this?
It's actually not only the City that is putting this on. The Hartford Party Starters Union teamed up with the Wadsworth Atheneum to put this on, and the City threw down some money for the shindig as well. It's kind of like Hartford's bffs wanted to throw it a big birthday party and it was like, "Oh thanks guys, that's so special! Why don't I pay for the cups and plates though? I'd feel bad not doing anything!"

Why is it starting at 5:00 on a Friday?
Why not? Sure, it could be an all day thing like Jazzmania 2010 that just happened last week, but it's like I said before: Hartford doesn't do things like this. You've gotta kick it off somehow and if they're bringing in major artists free to you, why not do it differently? I'm pretty excited to have something to do on a Friday night that's different from my normal routine (taking a nap after work and waking up with a severe case of drag-ass).

What are the other artists like?
The songs that I've familiarized myself with tell me that this is going to be a high energy show. The style is music that you wouldn't typically hear on the radio, but until very recently, Janelle Monáe is someone you wouldn't hear on there either. I like to know what I'm getting into before I go to a show with musicians I've never seen or heard of, so I checked them all out. If you've got a finicky ear I suggest you do the same, but honestly I don't think any of these performers will disappoint.

Can I bring my kids?
Hells yeah! As long as they don't mind people saying "hells yeah" because I plan to shout that a lot.

What does "still wavy" mean?
It boggles my mind that you don't know what wavy means. Where'd you grow up, under a rock? You're so frodunk for that! No sir, I dunno what it means.

Other than that, you need to just get yourself out here and see the show. A lot of work is going into making sure this goes off without a hitch. Not only that, but just showing up says you are in favor of future things like this happening in Hartford. You'll be wishing a happy birthday to the home of so much of this country's history. More importantly, someone brown is coming to Hartford for free and that's awesome! You know how we're usually treated like children who aren't allowed to congregate? Not this time buddy boy! Congregate your ass off! Then support some local Hartford restaurants by having a drink and a nosh after the show. Go to the Wadsworth on Saturday and thank them for the good time, and have a look around. When's the last time you've been to the Wadsworth? Remember that lady in the lawn chair with the sunburned skin that freaked you the hell out as a kid? Go back now! I swear she's not as scary!

The thing of it is, the reason there was nothing to do in Hartford is because no one was doing anything in Hartford. The time is now. So let's all go be brown in public and listen to some good music. Ok? Ok.

Deets:
Showtime: 5pm
Artists: Janelle Monáe, Holy Ghost!, Tobacco, Maluca, Cubic Zirconia & DJ Rizzla
Dress code: Come comfy
Food & Drinks: vendors will be parked on Trinity Street (by the Memorial Arch)
Cover charge: Free!
All ages
Address: Bushnell Park Pavillion, Downtown Hartford

Bonus: Check out the registration on the Still Wavy website. It's still free, but you'll be entered to win prizes and more. I already did it because I love free stuff.

Charmagne & Porter Soul at Airport Road Cafe

Today is the start of the Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, which if you've lived in Hartford for even a day I'm sure you know. Your black friends, your white friends and your taupe friends are probably washing their blankets right now. And if they're not, I dunno what's wrong with them. You're not doing Hartford right if you don't at least stop by. It's a Hartford law: A man isn't allowed to kiss his wife on Sunday and you must stop by the Jazzfest. But I'm not going to get much deeper into that because if there's one thing Hartford doesn't lack, it's reviews of New England's Biggest Free Jazz Shindigapalooza. So assemble your crew, pack your picnic basket and listen to some local legends. But don't plan your evening around only that, because I have even bigger plans for you...

Airport Road Cafe: You know the "biker bar" on the corner of Airport Road? It's actually a very cool bar that has local bands stop through all the time. And every third Friday of the month (hey, that's tonight!), my girlfriend Charmagne stops in with her band Porter Soul and graces them with her soulful presence. That's right: I'm plugging. And why the hell not? I'm dating a Grammy Award winning artist who has black people in Hartford coming to her shows on a regular basis. So sit here and listen to how awesome she is for a second.

Her style fits in with the tone of the weekend, as she's a neo-soul/R&B artist with some jazz undertones. But that's if you're asking her. As someone who's been to almost every show she's done in the last 2 years, I can tell you that her performance is much more interesting than someone standing on stage belting out ballads. In addition to her beautiful voice, her banter is hilarious and usually risqué. The band is extremely talented and can follow her on any musical tangent she'll go on (and sometimes lead her back to the task at hand if the Patron is flowing too freely). A show can start with you nodding along to her cover of "A Long Walk" (Jill Scott) and by the second set she's added a rap to "Cruising" (Smokey Robinson) as she pretends to swim on the floor or has a breakdance battle with a member of the audience. When she needs a quick breather, sometimes she'll provide some eye candy for the ladies by putting the saxophonist, David Davis, out front for some "good sax"; that's kind of like a fully clothed lap dance with a woodwind. It's probably more like watching a musical circus than a smooth R&B show.

The venue itself is a treat. The bartenders are of the no nonsense variety, so if you're an "ummer" who doesn't know what you want, or you want some special drink with a lot of ingredients, they're not afraid to bust your chops about it. Some of my favorite food in the world is bar fare, and this stuff doesn't disappoint. Of course you should eat the chicken wings because they serve them. Who goes out somewhere that serves chicken wings and doesn't order them? Unless you're a vegetarian, then that's understandable. They probably make a ripping grilled cheese. They might even have a good salad but I wouldn't know because I don't want to be the woman eating a salad at a biker bar. I have a rep to maintain. And I know I keep saying "biker bar", but that's only because that's the reputation Airport Road Cafe has had for as long as I can remember. This isn't the type of place that's acrid with cigarette smoke, everyone clad in leather and the record scratches when you walk through the door in stilettos. The tables are set up lounge style around the dance floor, the bar is fully stocked, large and gorgeous, and while the regulars are sometimes clad in leather themselves, they're fine with seeing you. And no one's scratching any records because this is 2010; the jukebox is digital.

So after your children tire themselves out from dancing around and playing with other peoples' dogs at Jazzaroo, you can head out for some grown up fun and get a great show at the same time. Bad ass. Here are the deets:

Showtime: 9p-12a
Music: Neo-Soul/R&B
Food & Drinks: I believe the kitchen closes around 10 or 10:30, but just like any other bar, last call is at 1:45a. They don't usually have drink specials, but ask the bartender, maybe she knows something I don't.
Dress code: Whatever you like!
Ages: 21+
Cover Charge: $5
Address: 330 Ledyard Street, Hartford, CT (there's parking in the back, but you can also park on Ledyard Street if it fills up.)


p.s. I wasn't lying about the not kissing your wife on Sunday thing.

Old School Fridays at Vibz Uptown

If you haven't been to Vibz Uptown on a Friday night, you're doing yourself a huge disservice. Do you like quality drinks at reasonable prices? Do you like delicious food? Do you like live music or dancing to old school hip-hop and r&b? Then seriously...get down here!

Vibz takes the task of planning a night out to the next level. Let's say you get off work at 5 this Friday and you're looking for somewhere to kick back and relax. According to their Facebook page, happy hour starts at 6pm. STARTS at 6pm! I don't know about you, but I usually want to go home and nap on Fridays if I plan to be out all night. By the time I'm rested up all the drink specials are over because happy hour is usually ending by 6. Who the hell is making these early ass happy hours? If I get off work at 5, trek to your bar in after work traffic, I'm maybe making it there at 5:30. What's that? One drink? The great thing about Vibz is that they're running on some lovely CPT, just like me. Reduced priced drinks go until 8pm.

So you've gotten a nice little buzz going for a couple hours, but you're starting to get a little hungry. You COULD leave the club and eat at one of the many delicious establishments nearby, but like I said, Vibz has your night taken care of! Around 8pm, a cook will pop out from the abyss and put 3 hot trays of delicious food on a table by the bar. Tip: eat the macaroni & cheese. It's so good it'll make you wanna slap your mama (which you may be able to do, since old school Fridays are a classy affair for a classy woman like your mom.) And it's all for the low low price of $free.99!

Now your belly's full, the Patron's got you in the zone as they say, and you're wondering what more this night could possibly have in store. What's that happening on the stage? Is that a band setting up? Word, Vibz? You've got live music tonight too? Every Friday night starting around 9pm. And the bands are really good. I have yet to be let down.

For two hours you chill out and listen to the band. Depending the kind of music they play, you're dancing and sucking down drinks. But eventually the band starts packing up their shit and saying their goodbyes. More and more people have come through the door by this time. You've probably already run into your uncle in his lilac and white pinstriped suit with his matching hat and shoes, along with Sister Evelyn from church snapping her fingers on the dancefloor, so how can you leave? The DJ gets on the mic and the music starts. Everyone is on the floor, from ages 24-84. A gentleman taps you on the shoulder and asks if he can buy you another one of what you're drinking. You politely accept, but wonder if you'll have to keep him from humping your leg on the dancefloor all night. In the end, he hands you your drink and walks away simply saying, "have a good evening, pretty lady!" with a polite smile. It's a classy joint, after all. By the end of the night, you'll be dancing and singing along to "Candy" by Cameo with the rest of the room. And trust me, they WILL play that song!

Three tips for the night:
1. If you want to try this mac & cheese, get there early. It goes QUICKLY.
2. Get a mixed drink of anything. They're made beautifully.
3. Get some facebook fame and let the bartenders take your picture while you're there. They'll even let you do a retake if you made a dumb face in the first one.

Here's the stuff you should remember:
Happy Hour: 6pm-8pm **specials** reduced price drinks
Food & Band: 8ish-11ish
Old School party: 11ish-2am
Music: R&B and Hip-Hop. There may be a few newer tracks snuck in there, but come ready to hear music that's at least 15 years old and love it!
Dress code: No sneakers, baseball caps or athletic wear. (honestly, just dress nice. you'll feel a little embarrassed if you come in dirty jeans and everyone else is in their night-on-the-town digs.)
Ages: 21+
Cover Charge: $5 before 10pm
Address: 3155 Main Street, Hartford, CT 06120