"I feel like a number I'm not a number…read moreDammit I'm a man" (Bob Seger) We didn't visit the Oakwood Sports Center to run on their 40,000 square feet of turf fields, bounce a ball on their 30,000 square feet of basketball/volleyball courts, smash a forehand on one of their 6 pickleball courts, or workout somewhere on their 5,000 square feet of turf for strength and conditioning training. Oh no, we were there to check out the sixty-five home repair and maintenance exhibitors at the Hartford Home Show. The exhibitors represented a very wide cross section of things a homeowner has to deal with. Want some examples? Of course you do. Here's a few samples of the vendor categories (and you might want to take a deep breath before you read this). Kitchens, Bathrooms, Windows, Roofing, Siding, Landscaping, Gutters, Solar, Decks, Dormers, Sunrooms, Awnings, Basements, Doors, Fences, Flooring, Pavers, Waterproofing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Garage Doors, Painting, Custom Woodworking, Skylights, Security Systems, Tree Service, Chimney Services, Energy Conservation, Insulation, Lawn Care, Liquid Vinyl Coating, Mattresses, Furniture Refinishing, Millwork, Storage Facilities, Real Estate Sales, Mold Remediation, Power Washing, and Wireless Internet Services. I guess that covers everything except nosy neighbors. The Home Show was inside a large open area where we walked up and down the aisles and answered the same questions countless times about the condition of our roof and gutters. We checked out the rest of the facility, and saw they had a full bar, food service, and a nice seating area overlooking the indoor athletic fields where youth leagues were going at it. Oakwood Sports Center really is quite an impressive facility.

I stayed at Meadowbrook Estate for a work trip. This house absolutely blew me away. It was stunning…read moreinside and out and the hosts were some of the nicest most helpful people I've ever met. I would highly recommend staying here if you have the opportunity

Great customer service and space! Really enjoyed our stay here for our visit to Connecticut!read more

I went to Farmington Polo Club for a dog fashion club fundraiser. This is important - coming from…read moreFarmington, there are three entrances to the banquet hall - C, A, and B. C is for horses and food trucks, A is for goats and the main stables, and B is what I would consider a separate property. Also, an event behind door B is not necessarily known behind gate A. I wasted 20 minutes trying to find anyone who knew what was going on. I would have ripped off a goat! I did eventually find the right place, and the venue is lovely. There's a lot of parking, More lots on the right side. The inside is beautiful with marble and a disco ball horse. I imagine other great events are held there. Bathroom are okay, although a little cramped by the sinks. The restroom stall doors opened right in front of them.

We recently went to a polo match here and it was wonderful! The grounds are kept so nice and it was…read morea fantastic event.

A beautiful park! It was the perfect place for the Head of the Riverfront Regatta wasn't pleased…read morewith the parking situation but that had nothing to do with the park. When the crew races are there it is extremely packed so it's not really a good time to take a leisurely stroll as there are literally thousands of people there. Beautiful place to take pictures by the water or the boathouse especially at this time of the year with the leaves.

What a hidden gem within Hartford! I was here for a low-key corporate picnic. The Boathouse sits…read moreright on the Connecticut River and functions as both practical boathouse (lower level) and event space (upper level). The parking was incredibly convenient and directions to the Boathouse itself were very clear. We did have a small spot of difficulty finding the door to go to the upper level however. Once upstairs, the view of the CT River, East Hartford, and Hartford was spectacular. The late summer afternoon sun plus faint breeze made for a perfectly comfortable time. People mingled at standing tables and around the benches on the upper deck (and there were a respectable number of benches, which isn't often the case). Inside the event space were polished wooden floors and high ceilings. A coworker noted the restrooms were somewhat oddly placed behind a long hallway closed off by a door and there were some cobwebs in the window frames, but otherwise the space was quite nice. The staff at the bar on the deck poured wine just shy of the adjective "liberal" which was great. However, some other coworkers had to request adjustments of the food arrangement to prevent cross-contamination for those with allergies (adjustments were made promptly). The food - seasonal tapenade for appetizers and build-your-own pasta bar for the main - were well done otherwise with a good array of options. On the whole, a respectable event space on a scenic river. There were other groups actively using the rowing space/lower level, but you could barely tell because the upper level was high enough away.

"Oh, I want to sit on my porch and pick on my old guitar And…read morejust hope you're hangin' loose where ever you are" (Johnny Cash) Our group of 40 had a blast at the Tine Dale Party Porch tonight. It's a group venue at Dunkin Park. Our group deal got us a two and a half hour buffet chock full of these goodies - 1/3lb Grilled Burgers, Grilled Hot Dogs, Pulled Pork, Mac N' Cheese, Pasta Salad, lettuce/tomato/cheese, Potato Chips, Chocolate Chip Cookies and Non-Alcoholic Beverages. The Party Porch is in the upper deck rightfield corner, just by the foul pole. There were at least a dozen tables and chairs for us to hang out, chit chat with our friends, eat and drink and occasionally watch the ball game. The game ticket and food ran us about $45 per person, so it was a pretty good value considering what we received. Tickets were e-mailed to us and we had the choice to paper print them or download them on our phone to be scanned at the gate. I want to give a big shout out to the two staff members we interacted with. Cassandra was our bartender and buffet stocker. Anthony was our greeter, wrist band provider and a very genial host. Both were outstanding.

We are very surprised there has been no mention of the new event center before this. This…read moreconference/convention space is a lovely addition to central Connecticut that opened just about a year ago. It is an attractive, well-spaced and well-staffed facility that we found absolutely first-class when we attended a conference there last week. They have lots of room though it's not a giant facility: they can accommodate up to 600 people for celebrations and weddings and up to 850 for theater-style presentations. We found the seating comfy, plenty of clean restrooms, a very capable and friendly staff, and surprisingly tasty banquet food (served buffet style)., Honestly, don't know what more we could ask. There is plenty of parking in a below-ground garage as well as above ground lots. There are two hotels within walking distance. Really, we came away very impressed, and we have no hesitation in recommending the event center if you find yourself in attendance.

I held a family reunion at the Keney Park Pond House. I feel it was the ideal spot the fee was…read morevery reasonable I got a clean facility with restrooms, the use of two rooms,all the tables and chairs I required. There was a freezer, a warmer for trays, a very nice kitchen with a fridge, and sliding doors that led to a beautiful view of the pond. There was a nice wooden platform in front of the pond which was perfect for a family picture. I believe there's also a little Bridge. People fish out in the pond, the park has a public swimming pool,there are little grills and tables for people to cook out there. I had plenty of room to put up my full volleyball set, to put out a horseshoe set,for the teens to play football, for double dutch, etc. Although Keney Park sometimes gets a bad rap, we felt safe. Outside of people who were interested in possibly renting the place, or the occasional person knocking on the locked door, who might've wanted to use the bathroom, we really weren't bothered. And the facilities manager tells you that you are not required to allow people to use the bathroom because it's personally rented for your use it's not for public use. I felt it was perfect for our event, I was comfortable. Just leave the place the way you receive it. Theres a dumpster outside. Book in advance, I was only able to get a Sunday because this place books up quick. A great venue in Hartford.

Surprisingly great little art museum / historical home. It's on the more expensive end of tours at…read more$18, but the previous owners were big art collectors: so you'll see Monet, Manet, Degas, Chippendale, and more. There's a great art range, and the tour guide was very informative to the Pope family and the daughter Theodate who did a lot of the architectural designing. The house has a lot of great things to look at (between the art and furniture in all the rooms) and at the visitor's center there is a small art exhibit. No photos in the house allowed though. There are trails on the property and a sunken garden. On a nice weather day, it's great for walking around the property. It was crowded when I went on a Saturday, and tours are on the hour, so don't show up at the last minute. Overall, a great site to visit!

Came here for a work catered event so cannot speak to the actual museum. Had no idea that this…read morehidden gem was nearby to where I work. The grounds are beautifully kept and well maintained. Great photo ops for all occasions. Plenty of parking available. The event inside space can easily be opened up to the outside to make the venue space bigger for larger groups. Great event space with plenty of privacy for intimate gatherings and parties.