Is Manchester the New Sundance?

Last Thursday, the MARC (“a non profit organization that helps people with disabilities to live full enriching lives”, according to their website) of Manchester hosted a fundraiser event for the first annual Silk City Flick Fest, set to take place October 8- 11. I decided to go, wondering if there was really any interest in bringing a film festival to Manchester, the land of malls, big box stores, and slowly closing chain restaurants? After leaving the event, I can safely say: Umm…sure, there’s some interest! I wouldn’t expect Robert Redford to show up, though. Maybe, if you’re lucky, Tara Reid will put in an appearance.

Old Man on the Right Side of History

I heard a wonderful story yesterday on NPR about a CT man who wanted to attend the Red Sox-Yankees game for his 100th birthday and to be the bat boy. It would seem that he’s one of the few elderly Sox fans who didn’t just give up after the 2004 World Series and go to their maker happy.

But I must urge you to listen to the short story and pay special attention to the jersey he’s going to wear. The way the reporter says it makes my skin crawl.

We’re Turning into New Jersey

Way to go CT, you’ve finally done it. You are officially turning into New Jersey. No, I am not talking about the rampant consumerism, or the hideous sub-development. No, I’m talking about our water quality.

HARTFORD, Conn. — The Department of Public Health urged residents in several Connecticut towns to boil their drinking water for one minute before consuming it.

Walk of Shame

Another Brilliant CT Film!

more about "Walk of Shame ", posted with vodpod

Tea Party?

When I hear the words “tea party” my tea-loving British ears perk up. But this shit is not what I had in mind:

Get Your Haunt On

The box office has been kind to a new movie based on real events in the Nutmeg State. The Haunting in Connecticut raked in $46.5 million, according to imdb.com, in three weeks of wide release. Not bad!

But is the movie any good? After seeing the movie, this CuT reporter can safely say: Yes, it’s decently good. Is this the greatest horror movie that’s ever been put on celluloid? No, but it’s not Plan 9 From Outer Space, either.

He Said/She Said: Women’s Basketball

Tonight, the UConn’s women’s basketball team will most likely win another national title when they destroy Louisville for the third time this season. Going into this game, there’s really no drama involved. UConn is expected to win, to win big and have the game over by half time. Still, some people just don’t care about women’s basketball, no matter how talented the players, or bitter the rivalries. Other people are practically fanatical. We think it’s time to explore these attitudes.

Kung-F-U

A couple of geniuses tried to rob a restaurant using knives. In case the irony is lost on you, I will explain: this is funny because restaurants have lots of very sharp knives in them.

The chef at the Hartford restuarant, simply used his butcher’s knife to fend of the idiots with what were probably nothing more that Swiss Army knives. On top of all the rest of this idiocy,  the restaurant happened to serve Chinese food. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say the cook was very likely Chinese.

While the Asian Persuasion is living proof that not all Chinese people know martial arts, I think it’s a safe bet to say that there was a better chance this guy knew Kung Fu than the “chef” at the McDonald’s down the road.

Just Another Saturday Night

I don’t know about you folks, but my idea of a good time often includes hanging out and getting liquored up with my family before shooting off firearms in a densely populated residential area. So, I was a bit surprised to find out that one can be arrested for such a thing.

Bill the Pony Under Attack

I’ve got a nomination for most depressing story of the year!

A pony named Billy in Sherman was mauled by two pit-bulls. Bill the Pony (as I like to call him) survived the ordeal but “will never look the same.”

‘Nuff said.

You Be the Judge

I may be proven wrong in the days to come, but something about this story seems fishy to me.

NEW HAVEN – New Haven police divers have come up empty after searching Long Island Sound following the discovery of items in the water, including an electronic monitoring bracelet.

The bracelet and other items including clothing apparently belong to a parolee who may have gone into the waters off Long Wharf.

The Coast Guard was called in as soon as those belongings were found Sunday.

Officials say a jogger found clothing along with boots and an ankle bracelet that’s typically used as a tracking device for criminals.

It would be one thing if they’d found half a leg with the bracelet still attached to the ankle, it’s another thing to find a bunch of clothes and the bracelet all on the beach. Sounds like someone staging their own death to me. That guy is half-way to Plum Island by now.

Oh man…

There are so many reasons why this story is not funny…but so many more reason that it is.

Michael Smith, 54, of 19 Dower Road, was charged with drunken driving, risk of injury to a minor and failure to drive in the proper lane after he allegedly crashed into a utility pole on Rye Street about 3 a.m. Sunday.

Police charged Smith with risk of injury to a minor because they learned his wife and 4-year-old child were in the car at the time of the crash. The woman walked home with the child, then returned to the accident scene, with their child, in another car, police said.

I feel terrible, really, for laughing at this.

A Bridezilla’s Dream Come True

Have you always dreamed of being a Bridezilla but saw those dreams dashed by a crappy economy and your parents’ gambling away all the money they saved for your wedding? Well, we’ve got the perfect solution for you. Enter to win “Your Dream Wedding at the Society Room.“

I’ve seen every episode there is of “The Gilmore Girls” and I’ve never once seen any mention of The Society Room so I can’t say whether or not it would actually be a good spot for a dream wedding, but in this economy beggars can’t be choosers. So hop to it!

Goatswood, CT

If you didn’t get out to see The Haunting in Connecticut last week, don’t worry about it — we’ve got reviews coming down the pipe for ya! Word!

For now though, you can read this interview with formerly haunted resident of Goatswood (Southington), Carmen Reed. In case you don’t have the time to read the whole thing, here is the best part:

CNN: And yet you stayed for two years! If what you were experiencing didn’t drive you to move away, what did?

Reed: I couldn’t go to the grocery store without people telling me their ghost stories. I was usually there for three hours.

That does sound awful. Talking to crackpot strangers in a grocery store is way worse than having demons attack your family and drive them crazy.

Aquanett Rocks Hartford

It was 1987 all over again at Up or On The Rocks on Friday night. For about two and a half hours, Aquanett turned Hartford into a 1980s style soddom and gomorrah. Needless to say, for once, I felt like I really belonged.