Happy 1st Anniversary West Hartford Mag! Revelers partake in small bites. Meetups among guests. A dazzling exhibit and opening night party for King Tut, the Boy King, at the new children's museum in West Hartford on Wednesday evening.  Hundreds of fascinating replicas were displayed including a stunning funerary mask, mummification couch, weapons, tools, and cultural objects that were placed within the famous pharaoh's tomb to help him on his journey to the afterlife.   Also part of this exciting exhibit is a new show at the museum's planetarium, titled the Stars of the Pharaohs, allowing audiences to see how ancient Egyptians used science to tell time, create a calendar, and align buildings.  It also features their connection to the stars and other astrological phenomena.  There is al... 10/07/2012

Tom Yum Soup.  Pad Woon Sen. Ginger Tofu with Vegetables. Blue Elephant Trail serves up Thai cuisine in West Hartford Center.  I was fortunate enough to sample some last evening.  To start, Tom Yum soup with chicken.  Spicy but not too; fresh tasting.  I've been thinking of it today as the rain pervades.  My dining partner enjoyed the Pad Woon Sen, chicken, egg and vegs stir-fried with clear noodles.  My ginger tofu had an overly chewy quality (meaning it was difficult to chew).  I asked for a replacement dish as well-the same with steamed tofu.  The waitress hesitated, but agreed to check with her manager.  Mission accomplished.  I enjoyed the steamed tofu.  Swimming a bit in sauce however.  Thai dishes photograph beautifully.  Service was attentive without being overly so.  Decor was... 09/28/2012

What's new in the West Hartford real estate market this week?  Today I viewed six West Hartford homes on the Broker Open House Tour.  Interested in taking a peek?  Check out my photos and comments.  I've highlighted the most outstanding features of each.  If you're looking, great!  If you're curious, go ahead and be a voyeur!  If you can't wait for my personal favorite, go ahead and scroll on down.   5 Bishop Road, West Hartford A unit is for sale in the Bishop Condominium.  Walk to the Center.  I couldn't access the inside as the lobby was locked.  Priced at $209,900.   33 Wiltshire Lane, West Hartford. Near UConn, West Hartford Campus.  Quiet neighborhood.  Great starter home.  Move-in condition.  Priced at $274,900.     52 Ironwood Road, West Hartford.   Condo, 800 Mountain Complex. ... 09/25/2012

West Hartford, Connecticut was recently named one of "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade".  Add this to the list of: Top 10 “Great Cities for Raising Families” (Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine ) One of the Coolest Suburbs Worth a Visit (TravelandLeisure.com) One of the top 100 Best Places to Live in the Nation (CNNMoney.com) U.S. News & World Report ranked both Conard and Hall High Schools in the top 10 public high schools in Connecticut, and bestowed the gold medal distinction for ranking in the top 500 of schools nationwide Conard and Hall High Schools ranked tops in Newsweek's America's Best High Schools Among the 20 Great Places to Retire in Connecticut (Connecticut Magazine) This may be one of the reasons that people who move to West Hartford tend to stay in West Hartford.   ... 09/18/2012

West Hartford single-family home sales during August, 2012 increased by over 20% when compared to August, 2011 following the year-to-date upward trend.  While sizzle may be a bit of a stretch, a closer look at the stats reveals that more houses were sold, they took less time to sell (average 48 vs 51 days on market), AND the average sales price per square foot was up as well (albeit slightly!) This is good news for West Hartford homeowners, especially for those who are thinking of selling.  According to Houselogic, it's also good news for our local economy since one job is created in the U.S. for every two homes sold and each purchase generates as much as $60,000 in economic activity over time.    Strong demand and low inventory continue to help West Hartford real estate rebound.  Multi... 09/06/2012

What's new in the West Hartford real estate market this week?  Today I viewed seven West Hartford homes on the Broker Open House Tour.  Interested in taking a peek?  Check out my photos and comments.  I've highlighted the most outstanding features of each.  If you're looking, great!  If you're curious, go ahead and be a voyeur!  If you can't wait for my personal favorites, scroll on down. 140 Montclair Drive, West Hartford. Nice lot.  Updated bathrooms.  1.5 baths.  Quiet street.  Listed at $349,900. 16 Coolidge Road, West Hartford. Fabulous home.  Major updates.  1st floor master.  Listed at $439,900. 25 Coolidge Road, West Hartford.  Nice lot.  Needs updating.  Doesn't compare to it's neighbor at 16, but then again the asking price is lower.  $329,900. 15 Arlen Way, West Hartford.   B... 08/29/2012

When this West Hartford CT homeowner and I first discussed his possible short sale, his biggest concern was never missing any payments and preserving his stellar credit. My client was headed out west to care for an ailing relative, but was stuck with a property with significant negative equity on his two Bank of America mortgages and no way to cover the loss. Its a common misconception that in order to be approved for a short sale you have to be be behind on mortgage payments. While some lenders do require a default, many have come a long way and do approve current borrowers for short sales. The investor on this particular loan was Freddie Mac - who I have seen approve current borrowers in recent months...a feat that was seemingly impossible even a year ago. I do frequently see the lend... 07/04/2012

Remember the days of Friday night football games?  Something about the excitement of the end of the school week combined with the prospect of seeing your friends and cheering for your team created lasting memories.  Well, not for West Hartford students and athletes, at least not yet. A coalition of parents, students, teachers and community leaders has recently formed to lobby for the installation of stadium lights at Hall and Conard's athletic turf fields.  The group, called "West Hartford High Schools Unite for Lights", is circulating an online petition to demonstrate support fo the project which would be funded by private donations and state and federal developments assistance.  Many in town feel that the installaton of lights at the high school fields is long overdue.  According to t... 05/15/2012

It's sort of surprising to me that Walmart will be opening a West Hartford location.  I'm not sure why, but the recent announcement that a "Neighborhood Market" by Walmart will be opening in the long-vacant Adams supermarket site at Bishops Corner in West Hartford stirred mixed emotions in me.  Don't get me wrong-- I think it will be a welcome addition to the shopping plaza, but something about the Walmart image doesn't quite jive with my own notion of West Hartford as a trendy, upscale, hip locale.  However, Walmart's Neighborhood Market is promoted as not just a grocer but also a "gathering place".  And who wouldn't like another gathering spot in town? According to the Walmart website, the "Neighborhood Market" will offer a quick and convenient shopping experience for customers who ne... 04/11/2012

Mark your calendars for the 41st Annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade this Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.  The parade is held rain or shine. It's always a good idea to get to the parade route early and secure your seat!  The parade begins at Capitol Avenue by the State Capitol, takes a left on Main Street, a left on Asylum, a left on Ford Street, and then ends by the Memorial Arch.  (Attendees should note that there will be some road closures along the parade route before the parade.)  Parking is available in various lots and garages near the XL Center area and Convention Center. Serious St. Patrick's Day party-goers can kick off the Hartford's St. Patrick's Day Parade with a bang at the Black Bear Saloon's "Beer & Breakfast Bonanza" located at 187 Allyn Street in Ha... 03/04/2012

If you like burgers, there's no shortage of options in West Hartford.  Our town has become sort of a mecca of burger joints with everything from diner to custom-built to pub-style to gourmet and everything in between-- West Hartford has it all!  At least 10 burger joints easily come to mind and here is a sampling in no particular order:  The Counter Burger - Step into The Counter® and you’re greeted with a clipboard and an extensive list of fresh mouth-watering ingredients that allow you to build your own gourmet burger.  The Counter Burger boasts over 312,120 different burger combinations which makes every burger as unique as each customer.  Located in the heart of Blue Back Square at 50 Memorial Road in West Hartford. Max Burger - This trendy Best of Hartford Magazine 1st Runner Up fo... 02/29/2012

Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let this one speak volumes! It's hard to believe that while everything we buy has gone up tremendously in price, housing has become more affordable than ever before.  With mortgage rates this low, if you've been thinking about buying real estate my advice is don't think about it, just do it! Home sales in West Hartford are brisk this month with 46 single family home sales pending (as of 2/28/12) compared with 33 during the same time in February, 2011.  That's a whopping 39% increase!  Perhaps it's the warm, snowless winter, better employment outlook, or the historically low mortgage rates that are driving home sales, but no matter, the point is that while it's tricky to time the market there's no question that spring has arriv... 02/28/2012

While it seems like West Hartford real estate sales are off to a good start in 2012 with 32 closed sales last month (compared to 31 during the same time period in 2011), a closer look at the numbers reveals that while home sales remain steady, prices have not yet stabilized.  The average sale price of a single family home in West Hartford was $270,403 last month compared to $365,860 in January, 2011.  (Since the average sales price over the past 12 months was $351,363, the wide variation may be due to the small sample size on a month-to-month comparison.)  Overall, sales of West Hartford single family homes fell by 7.6% year over year (560 closed sales in 2011 vs. 603 in 2010) with the median sales price holding steady at about $300K.  West Hartford Condo sales were even more bleak with... 02/19/2012

Looking for something different to do this weekend?  Check out the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 3 p.m. at the West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street in West Hartford Center.   Performances will include Waltz of the Flowers, O Holy Night, Seigh Ride, White Christmas, Hanukkah music and much more!  Teresa Eickel (soprano) and Frank Sweeney (tenor) will be featured.  The WHSO is composed of volunteer musicians, ranging from ages 14 to 88, talented amateur and professional musicians alike.  The glue that holds the orchestra together is a love for music and the desire to share that music with the community.  Tickets range in price from $12 for seniors/students to $24 for reserved table seating.  Call 521-4362 for more information o... 12/09/2011

Well, it's one of West Hartford's cutest neighborhoods (they even have their own street signs!) and it's also pretty convenient to everything.   Need groceries?  Five minutes away from Stop & Shop.  Feel like taking a swim?  Five minutes to Cornerstone Aquatics Center.  Love to shop?  Five minutes to Westfarms Mall & Corbin's Corner.  Like to run, bike or hike?  Five minutes to the West Hartford Reservoir.  Is golf your thing?  Buena Vista 9-hole golf course is right around the corner (for those not familiar with the area, it's a great place to take the kids to learn to play golf).  Okay, by now you probably get the convenience factor.  Nestled on the west side of town between Tunxis Road and Farmington Avenue, Buena Vista homes are noted for their neatly manicured lawns, mostly compact... 09/22/2011

Wow!  West Hartford is truly becoming the place to be for all things food and drink!  Pinkberry Frozen Yogurt is the newest addition to West Hartford's long list of eateries (I was excited about Joey Garlics Pizzeria, but this is really fantastic!)  My first (and only) experience with Pinkberry was about a year ago in Washington, D.C. where we actually stumbled up this fro-yo delight.  As their site proclaims, "Pinkberry is home to Swirly Goodness®".  Inspired by European gelaterias and yogurterias, Pinkberry's distinctive yogurt flavors complement the fresh cut fruit and dry toppings that are available.  The best part is that you get to create it yourself-- choosing from an array of yummy toppings.  Their fresh fruit toppings are cut daily in every store and are never canned, frozen or... 09/09/2011

Avoid These Kitchen Contractors in West Hartford, CT – Connecticut   Avoid These Kitchen Contractors in West Hartford, CT – Connecticut Your kitchen may be outdated, or you may feel as though you need something new and exciting in your home; either way, it is time to search for kitchen contractors in West Hartford. Finding kitchen contractors won’t be difficult, but determining which contractor you will hire for the kitchen remodel can sometimes be challenging. You want quality and craftsmanship in your kitchen, not a mess of mistakes attempted to be hidden. Unfortunately, there are many kitchen contractors that aren’t professional and can put you and your home’s value at risk. To avoid working with an unsafe kitchen contractor, follow these four steps, and feel confident that you will ... 09/05/2011

Dangerous Bathroom contractors in West Hartford, CT – Connecticut   Dangerous Bathroom contractors in West Hartford, CT – Connecticut Your bathroom may be outdated, or you may feel as though you need something new and exciting in your home; either way, it is time to search for Bathroom contractors in West Hartford. It is simple finding Bathroom contractors, but deciding which contractor you will hire for the bathroom remodel can sometimes be difficult. You want quality craftsmanship in your new bathroom, not numerous mistakes attempted to be hidden. Unfortunately, there are many dangerous Bathroom contractors that can put you and your home’s value at risk. To avoid working with an dangerous bathroom contractor, follow these four steps, and feel confident that you will soon be working wi... 09/05/2011

Storm Irene wreaked havoc on many property owners last weekend.  As clean-up continues, keep in mind that the West Hartford Recycling Center located at 25 Brixton Street will be open this Saturday, September 3, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Residents may drop off any storm debris free of charge.  Proof of West Hartford residency will be checked.  Call the Recycling Center at (860) 231-8100 if you have any questions about acceptable items. Directions: Go south on New Park Avenue from Flatbush Avenue (or north on New Park Avenue from New Britain Avenue) and turn onto Oakwood Avenue Extension. After the railroad tracks, take the first right onto Brixton Street. The  West Hartford Recycling Center is on the left in an area enclosed by a chain link fence.   09/02/2011

"Green Monster e-Cycling is committed to providing an environmentally responsible e-waste solution for you".  This is the mission statement of "Green Monster e-Cycling", one of Connecticut’s first electronic recycling facilities.  Founded in 2007,Green Monster had modest beginnings, working out of a garage in West Hartford.  The facility headquarters is now housed in a 20,000 SF processing center, and services everyone from home users to Fortune 500 companies.  Conveniently located at 150 Brook Street in West Hartford, Green Monster accepts "anything with a cord or battery", including: TELEVISIONS COMPUTERS MONITORS PRINTERS/FAX TONER/INK CARTRIDGES WASHING MACHINES DRYERS DISH WASHERS AIR CONDITIONERS REFRIGERATORS TELEPHONES BATTERIES ALL OTHER APPLIANCES STEREO EQUIPMENT MEDICAL EQUI... 08/23/2011