Cities all have personalities. Some cities are like the party girl who can drink the night away, wake up, have brunch the next morning, and still look as though she stepped out of a magazine. Some cities are serene in their bearing. Other cities exude a sense of vitality that draws people in, much like a celebrity or political personality. Then, some cities are the crotchety old relative who drives you crazy but whom you continue to invite to holidays because the familial and historical stories are too intriguing to live without.
Hartford, in very many respects, is that last city. Having lived near or in Hartford for my whole life, I’ve always said that I love Hartford. I love the access to a city, even a small one. I love the opportunity that being in or near a small city affords. I love that there is the sense of culture that goes with a city and the sense of excitement that even a city like Hartford can afford.
Then, I go into Hartford to do something. This is where I find myself frustrated. Over the last year, we’ve taken Monster to various events in the city. We’ve gone to the Wadsworth Atheneum. We’ve gone to the Festival of Trees (aka The Festival of Floodlights). We’ve gone to Bushnell Park Carousel. We’ve gone to the new CT Science Center. As a suburbanite, I realize that my experiences of the city are entirely different from those of residents. However, Hartford, I find, continues to make itself one of the single most uninviting places I can imagine you would want to go.
Here’s the main thing. The events that Hartford hosts and the opportunities in the city are wonderful. We had a great time attending Riverfest for July 4. We loved taking Monster to the historic carousel. We enjoy reliving things and going to jazz festivals or Irish music festivals. We love the fact that the CT Science Center is such an asset to his ability to engage in science. All of these qualities make Hartford an amazing city of potential.
This potential, however, is something that Hartford often fails to live up to. A typical drive to Hartford for us takes about ten to fifteen minutes, depending upon where we plan to go in the city. The short drive makes the city accessible. At least, it makes the city accessible in theory. Hartford’s attitude and personality, however, are a different story.
Poor Hartford, situated directly between Boston and New York City, has no sense of self. A visit to Hartford often involves a level of frustration that I find outweighs the joy of the activities in which I am taking part. For instance, a drive into Hartford is short. Parking and getting to the event can often take as long as the drive. This, for someone with a toddler, makes going to an event something that takes a solid half-hour trip door to door. In order to decide whether we want to attend an activity or event in Hartford, we really have to think about whether the trip is worthwhile.
The most recent event happened today. I love the CT Science Center. I think that, as a museum, it has a lot of wonderful learning opportunities. However, as a place dedicated to serving the educational needs of a community, I find it lacking. This museum is supposed to be the crowning glory of Hartford’s renewal – bringing in people from all over the area and other areas. In many ways, it does that. However, it very obviously cares more about making money than it does about its patrons. First, we purchased a membership back in October. Averaged out, three visits to the museum with a toddler over the course of a year make the membership pay for itself. Figuring that the membership also came with an early opening on Saturdays for “Members Only,” we went ahead and purchased it. The visits during this Members Only pre-opening hour were wonderful. It was quiet. Monster could play in the Kidspace at the water tables and not get run over. He could explore the older areas as well without being in anyone’s way. Since he only lasts an hour and a half somewhere, this worked out pretty well for the little early riser. Apparently, however, the museum ended the early opening two months ago. Supposedly, they sent an email telling people or buried it in other messages. However, we showed up bright and early at 9am this morning and were turned away. While this is probably my fault, the guard mentioned we were not the only members who had come before 10am. If it had just been me, maybe I would say that it was totally my fault. However, this is just an example of the attitude many visitors to Hartford face. When something should be happening, it doesn’t. When something is advertised, it fails. There comes a point where the potential leads to disappointment enough times that people give up. Yes, this is a single experience, but these kinds of frustrations have happened with almost every visit to Hartford I’ve had in the last year.
One of the problem that Hartford encounters is that outside of the hotel next door, there are no real food or beverage options in the direct vicinity. When I asked the guard about options, he had no real options other than the hotel next door, the cafeteria in the convention center, or the Dunkin Donuts or Burger King up the street (not his fault, I didn’t think we’d be able to go too far with Monster in tow). Two or three blocks away is Pratt Street. For the records, that’s a solid ten or fiftteen minute walk with a two year old. In case you were wondering. Upon returning to the museum, a few minutes before 10, we were told that it was too early to even, as members, get our tickets in. We had to wait. Looking behind me, I realized that the security guard was keeping people out (we entered from a side door). This would all be well and good. However, birthday parties were being allowed in and registered for already. School groups were getting ready to be ushered in. Another overnight party of some sort was just leaving. The people behind the counters were staring blankly at computers and not engaging anyone. The guard held the rest of the visitors back as though he was guarding a VIP nightclub. This is a museum. This is also a museum that charges, in my opinion, an inordinate fee for what you get. In fact, it charges so much that it acts as a tease to the surrounding community who can see it from their homes but who cannot afford to visit it. If I’m paying more than $100 for a membership that only includes admission to a single museum (and apparently discounts on additional purchases which involves spending more money), then I expect better treatment than to stand, waiting, while my child screams. Moreover, when my phone tells me that the time is, in fact, 10am, I expect the lines to be opened up and not to see the workers starting new chats with each other while the public waits. I also expect to not have to tell the employees that I have the time as 10am and that they should start letting us in while the line of people grows, especially when all the workers are firmly in place to let people in. Once again, this is an attitude that permeates many events in Hartford. You are invited to come and experience the city. However, once you arrive, the hassles are continuous and ongoing. The treatment of people when they are at events, not by city residents but by event organizers, often lead to frustration.
While we were walking to Pratt Street, we encountered someone else having as bad an experience. Visitors to the city for an event at the Convention Center were meandering around lost. They asked us the way back to their hotel, which was inconveniently located all the way across town and under the highway overpass. Why were they meandering, lost? Their hotel shuttle dropped them off somewhere, but it refused to pick them up. True, this is just one hotel. However, the hotel that they said they were staying at is not exactly an inexpensive hotel. Visitors to Hartford deserve better. They deserve to, at minimum, experience the city in a positive light. If the institutions and businesses refuse to provide this experience, those businesses and institutions will lose those customers. The basic principles of a service industry apply here.
A city’s personality is more than its attractions. Hartford has a lot of problems that its residents need to have addressed. The bringing in of outsiders is among the least of them, this I realize. Hartford also needs to attract more people to living there and to visiting, if for no other reason than tax income. However, Hartford acts like the emotionally walled off boyfriend who won’t let you in. It will court you. It will give you all sorts of gifts to enjoy. It will entice you into falling in love with it. Deep down, you can see its potential. You can see the city it could be. You can see the shining beauty underneath. However, just when you think that you’re going to make a commitment to it, it runs from you. It treats you as though you have angered it or have pushed it too hard. It acts towards you as though you have invaded its privacy. This walled off attitude repels potential suitors. It repels those who want to love it. You keep trying. You give “just one more chance.” In the end, you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship – one where you do all the giving, it does all the taking, and neither of you are happy with the situation.
Hartford, I love you. I want to remain committed to you. I want us to spend time together and grow old together. However, some days, your personality makes me question our relationship. Or maybe, you’re just not that into me?
