Irish Times In New Britain

For a couple of pale, depressed antisocialites, we here at CT Scenic really put ourselves out there last night, beginning with the excellent party at the brewery and the discovery of our newest favorite beer, Hooker's seasonal Nor'easter, and continuing on with a journey to New Britain Ancient Society of Hibernians to see a friend play with an Irish band, Calley McGrane & the Exiles.

We're thinking we'd like to visit cultural clubs more often. The price was right (free), the crowd was friendly and enthusiastic, and the drinks were large and inexpensive. In addition to what we assume was Irish traditional music, the band flaunted their indie cred with covers of tunes by the Decemberists and the White Stripes, and it must be said that Calley is a quite a fox.

And we thought this sign in the bathroom was about the most charming thing in the world. What can we say? We respect practicality and realism.

Get down with some Hookers

The Hooker Brewery Open House turned out to be just as awesome as expected. For $10 you get a pint glass and all the Hookers you can handle. We tried the Irish red, the Pale Ale and our new favorite, the "Nor'easter" Seasonal Lager. If you wanted to take a Hooker home with you, there were growlers, which I think are about 64 oz., for $10. There was plenty of Hooker merch for sale. Naturally, most of it was branded with some form of hooker joke.


Sometimes we all need a Hooker. If you needed something more substantial to supplement your Hooker, there were slices of Harry's BC pizza for $2, or cheese samples provided by Cabot Vermont. (The chipotle and horseradish cheddars were quite good.) For legal reasons or whatever, the event had to include a "tour", so at one point one of the brewmasters got up on a table and pointed out the fermenting tanks. They didn't seem particularly interesting until some engineers we met attempted to figure out the physical properties involved.


We left around 7p, only slightly more knowledgeable about the brewing process, and by that time the place was pretty packed. Although it was crowded, there were two different bar areas, so you never had to wait too long for a refill. The Open House is held on the first and third Friday of every month, from 5-8. It's definitely worth checking out.

What's Hot at the Lot: Peanut Butter & Cookies

Sometimes you go to the Lot and get some cookies and they're just ok, but it's all ok, because you didn't spend more than two dollars. Other times, like this time, you get some two dollar cookies that are awesome, and taste all dark chocolate almondy sophisticated and you feel like you really won. This was actually my second time buying these wonderful German cookies, and my I don't know how many-th time buying delicious Teddie peanut butter, whose only ingredients, appropriately enough, are roasted peanuts and salt. Teddie is great (at $2.50 a jar) and apparently not associated with any unappetizing peanut recall. And you can put it in a milkshake.

Here there be Vampyres

I was hiking today (when I should have been home-working) at scenic Penwood Park when I came upon this:

And, well, I've seen Buffy, and I know a stake when I see one. So obviously there are vampires.

Alert: Elite drinking night change-up!

Tuesday, Dec. 8: Liquid Lounge v1.2 @ CT Science Center


Your bourgeois Thursday plans have been cancelled. Circle Tuesday instead. I know, I know, you already have gay night at Tisane written in, but we all know that was in pencil, so just erase it. Who's fault is all of this plan-changery? Joe Biden, of course. He's coming to the still-kinda-new CT Science Center on Friday to see what all the fuss is about. (He's really coming to CT to support Chris Dodd, but we won't get into all of that nonsense.) Apparently Secret Service needs to "secure the building" 24-hours in advance, which explains the cancellation of the originally scheduled Liquid Lounge v1.2. The event will now be held Tuesday from 6-10, and contrary to our mediocre review of LL v1.0, it might actually be fun. CSC is promising go-go dancers and... well, we stopped reading after "go-go dancers". We also heard the drink prices went down. Consider us sold.

CT Scenic is now on Facebook!

We are hurtling into the 21st century with a Facebook page!

Please be our friend:

CT Scenic goes Facebook

Fine Art

Ghetto Vase
Anonymous
Plastic grocery bag and empty beer box

This piece was spotted in scenic Bristol. The artist was put in quite a pickle when her pet rabbit knocked over the original vessel, but she wouldn't let her plant go homeless.

Turn those winter blues pink

We admit that we have only experienced a handful of local tanning salons, but when we laid eyes on Tanlines it was love at first sight. The bright pink exterior is indicitive of the delights which await you inside. The staff is incredibly friendly, the waiting area is fully stocked with magazines and the pricing system is WAY superior to the competition (Hollywood Tans, we're looking at you). At Tanlines you pay by the minute, rather than by visit, which for our Seasonal Affective Disorder needs works out to be the much cheaper option. (It's probably cheaper for any tanning needs, really.) We're not looking for a sunburn, just a little Vitamin D. We enjoy the standup option as opposed to the bed, due to what was probably an urban legend about MRSA. You don't have to touch as many surfaces with as many body parts. The music is fine, it's 96.5 or 95.7 or something. Or maybe there's a "Tanning Salon" station on DMX Radio. They all seem to play the same crappy pop music. But who cares, in just minutes you'll be tan and happy!

So, if you're feeling down, or just way too white, check out Tanlines at 60 South Street in very scenic West Hartford. It's near West Hartford Yoga, if you want to kill two birds with one... trip to Elmwood.

What Not to Hear: Matisyahu

Tuesday, Dec. 1 (srsly, wtf!?): Matisyahu @ The Webster, Hartford

I'm a little late throwing it up here, obvs, but speaking of throwing up, I'm sure glad I spent this evening watching the new 90210 and Melrose Place and not checking out Matisyahu's special blend of Hasidic Judaism, hip-hop and reggae. Because religious orthodoxy is fucking stupid.

Spend Friday with a couple of Hookers

No, we're not talking about us, though we might just be there. This Friday, and every first and third Friday, it's an open house and beer tasting at Bloomfield's Thomas Hooker Brewing Company. $10 keeps you drinking, and they send you home with a Hooker pint glass. Isn't that nice? Even nicer: admission helps support the Village for Families and Children, so you can feel extra good about drinking.