Adios Macaroni Grill, Hola Plaza Azteca?

My family were pretty loyal patrons of the Macaroni Grill in Manchester for birthdays, celebrations, and whatnot. So, it made me a little sad when it closed down a while ago. However, the faux-stone building has a new tenant –Plaza Azteca Restaurante–a chain from south of the border. And by border, I mean the Mason-Dixon line, as it is based in Virginia.

Gathering of the Vibes

I’m not personally much for huge concerts where drunks are wandering around peeing in public, and hippies are too busy chasing around imaginary creatures to notice what’s happening on the stage, hence my avoidance of all things Dave Matthews since college. But since The Gathering of the Vibes is taking place in Connecticut we here at The CuT think it’s our duty to plug it–despite the horrendous name.

Riverfest: No Deal

When I was a kid we would go to Riverfest every year. We’d stay all day while the ‘rents got hammered and I rode my bike around, played on the makeshift slip-n-slide, rolled down hills in giant blow-up contraptions, and bought bracelets that said my name on them. I went a few times for the fireworks after they moved it to Hartford, but for the most part I’ve just watched them from Wickham Park. This year, though, the promise of a “Deal or No Deal” casting lured me back. I thought about tipping my loyal readers off to the potential of a million dollars, but I decided that was against my best interests. Don’t feel cheated; it was laaaame.

Is Ambien the Culprit?

So some dude from Stratford showed up to his dental appointment 5 days late, and naked. When police tracked him down at home he claimed to have been sleeping all day.

I tend to believe the guy. With all the weird stories about things people do while sleepwalking thanks to Ambien and other medications for insomnia, I don’t see why this guy couldn’t have been a nude sleepwalker concerned about his dental hygiene.

Gay Guru: Down in Durham

Hello my babies!

I received an e-mail some time ago, but it was a touch lengthy, and while I appreciated the detailed description, please excuse me while I paraphrase. My loyal reader, “Down in Durham,” tells me that he’s “a little overweight, not too bad.”  Having spent his early adult years in the closet, he now finds himself trying to make up for lost time.  It’s his perception that his looks are getting in the way of his getting out and making friends. He asks, “What can a shy, not completely comfortable with himself guy, do to meet more gay people in a comfortable way? How can I build up my confidence level not only to meet more people, but also to be less insecure in general?”

What a Mess!

I started out planning to mock the woman who set fire to an entire apartment building simply because she “suspected” her estranged husband was sleeping there. You’d think, even if you are crazy enough to set fire to a building, you would at least get visual confirmation that your estranged husband is actually there. But alas, I was distracted by the oddly written headline “Woman Admits Winsted Arson to Smoke Out Husband” and this sentence:

Harry & the Hedge Fund Managers

Apparently some lady reported seeing Sasquatch in Fairfield. That seems like a weird place for Big Foot to be hanging out. What’s he live in a cave sandwiched between two giant houses and their chemical laden lawns?

The lady reported it to the police, and apparently suburban Sasquatch doesn’t move very fast because the police were able to catch up with him.

Stuff To Do On July 4th

I’ve finally found a listing of stuff to do on Independence Day!

Torrington Teens, We Have To Talk

I realize that most teenagers –even the ones who are having sex– probably have no idea what screams of ecstasy (or faked orgasms) sound like, but something about this story still sounds fishy:

TORRINGTON – Police in Connecticut say they arrested four teenagers who misunderstood a woman’s screams and beat a 25-year-old man who was having sex with her in her bedroom.

Way To Not Be Fat!

If there’s one thing we can count on as Nutmeggers, it is consistently being the least fat of all the fat Americans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long said that nearly a third of Americans are obese. The Trust report uses somewhat more conservative CDC surveys for a closer state-by-state look. Among the findings:

Would You Like Fries For Your Munchies?

Why is it that the cops never bust the good-looking drug addicts? If television and movies (and high school) taught me anything it’s that there are plenty of hot potheads and drug addicts out there (think Mark wahlberg in The Basketball Diaries or Jordan Catalano from “My So-Called Life”). Somehow, though, the cops always seem to find the gross ones…which makes me think the police are simply profiling these guys by finding the hottest messes around and then waiting until they do something stupid. Well, this approach seems to be working, as the cops recently arrested some folks for allegedly selling pot in Chicken McNugget boxes. (Hockey hair after the jump…)

Gay Guru: Tolerant in Trumbull

Dear Gay Guru,

Some male friends of mine are straight and in an effort to try and support their lifestyle choices I go out with them. Usually we go to the bar, but sometimes when I feel like I want to be extra inclusive I’ll attend a sporting event of some kind, or perhaps go for target practice at the local firing range. The problem is as follows: sometimes when we’re out, heterosexuals hit on me. Even though I’m a gay male I don’t think there is anything wrong with their lifestyle choice, as long as they don’t make me feel uncomfortable. How can I tell them this without sounding like a total heterophobe? ‘Cause I’m not. I swear.

From,
Tolerant in Trumbull

All This Independence & Nothing to Do

So, I’ve been looking for a fireworks display to attend on July 4th. Usually, I just go to Wickham Park and watch the Hartford fireworks from the hill, but this year the Riverfest display won’t be until July 11. As far as I can tell, Manchester isn’t having any either. It’s all a bit sad, but should you show up at Wickham Park on Saturday you’ll find flying objects of a decidedly less sparkly nature. Bring your reflexes with you because disc golfers are taking over the park that day for The Greater Hartford Disc Golf Open.

We’re trying to get an insider to write about this for us, and maybe take a few pictures but I hear these golfers are intense. In any case, if you find yourself with a ton of hard won independence and not a damn thing to do on the 4th of July, go check out the GHDGO.

In the Name of All Things Holy (and Wicked Gay)

I was lulled into a false sense of security after the Constitution State finally recognized my constitutional right to marry, and had been enjoying a months long slumber. I was, however, jarred awake by a beaten and shrill Perez Hilton. (This isn’t the first time it’s happened, but was certainly the most disturbing.) Before I could deal with my feelngs about Hilton, an out gay man, instigating a physical altercation by calling will.i.am, of the Black Eyed Peas a “faggot,” I found this article describing the exorcism of a “gay demon” from a 16-year-old Connecticut boy at Manifested Glory Ministries in Bridgeport.

Beware the Chicken Rebellion

Today on my way to work I saw a couple of chickens hunting for their morning breakfast on the side of the road. I drive through Easton, so  that’s not all that weird. But if you knew me, then you’d know this is the third commute that has been plagued by fowl of the edible kind, and frankly, it’s starting to get weird.

During a very dark time in my life, I lived in New Jersey. I commuted from Edgewater into NYC every day via NJ Transit bus. Quite often I read, or just went to sleep, but every once in awhile, I just stared out the window. On one such occasion I was rather surprised to see a couple of chickens hanging out on the roadside.