A round-up of openings, closings, and other news about West Hartford businesses.
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That was certainly a long week.
It was the first full week of back-to-business – in some people’s eyes the first week of non-summer, but summer doesn’t officially end in my book until very early Saturday morning, and I wore white pants several times last week.
It was a week full of humidity, flooding, early morning phone calls while in the middle of a run (happened twice), hosting roundtable shows on WHCi (A Connecticut Party candidates and Republican candidates were last week, Democrats are coming up), Ted transitioning back to the office three days a week, and several days of no hot water. I ran 11.31 miles as part of my half marathon training on Saturday. Sadly, two people I know died way too young this past week.
As for the hot water, who knew a furnace could suck up water from a flooded window well? We didn’t. On Wednesday, after attending the Breakfast on the Bridge at Town Hall (congratulations to Helen Rubino-Turco on receiving the Build No Fences award), there was torrential rain. When I finally made a mad dash out of the building, I drove around taking photos of some of the flooding that occurred on West Hartford roadways, but I wasn’t particularly worried about my own home which is on fairly high ground.
There’s a corner of our basement – the unfinished part, where there is a sump pump – that has gotten wet a few times this year, but there’s nothing there that could get damaged, or so we thought. We figured the water was coming in through a leaky seal at the bottom of the window well. Once before, a number of years ago when the ground was frozen and then it rained really hard, that window well filled up and water was really flowing into the basement and I was outside with a bucket trying to bail it out.
But I was washing the dishes after dinner on Wednesday night, and the water wasn’t getting hot. Our nice new gas furnace that was installed just over a year ago has on-demand hot water, but it wasn’t responding to my demand. “We’ve got a problem,” Ted said when I returned from recording the WHCi roundtable. He had checked on the furnace and found not just a flashing red control panel but also a puddle of water inside the panel area even though the ground below was not wet.
It was ultimately determined (after multiple calls and visits from a technician) that the window well must have filled with water during Wednesday’s downpour, and that water, along with mulch from the landscaped area in front of the window well, got sucked into the furnace’s intake pipe. The repairman drained several cups of water from the system and had to clean out the mulch and install a new motherboard before finally getting it working again. It was fixed by about 7 p.m. Friday, and we are thankful that the part that was needed arrived via FedEx, and I am thankful for family in town so I could take a warm shower.
I know people have had much worse problems from flooding, but this was such a crazy thing that I thought I would share it in case anyone else has an intake pipe in a vulnerable location. The furnace company is going to extend our pipe so it’s farther above the base of the window well – and we plan to have the drainage in the well fixed, too.
After needing to drop off Ted’s car at Modern Tire on Thursday night (where it received four new tires the next morning), a beer, pretzel, and casual dinner at World of Beer was just the antidote.
World of Beer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Giant pretzel at World of Beer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Chipotle BBQ chicken flatbread at World of Beer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Asian salad at World of Beer. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
We went to the UConn football game on Saturday (nuff said, except to add that our 7-week-old grandchild, who stayed for the entire game, was calmer about it than the rest of us were). Rather than going out to dinner after that, take-out Chinese from the always-delicious Black Bamboo ended up being the perfect choice.
Lo mein, beef with broccoli, and egg roll from Black Bamboo. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
I’m including this commenting info again, because I’ve gotten quite a few more attempts this past week from people trying to post comments without providing their full names. A few didn’t even seem to use their first name. I can see the email addresses in the back end of the site and email all who attempt to comment, and when a few of the emails were returned as undeliverable (because they came from fake email addresses), those were immediately deleted. One person provided their full name in response to my request and I posted their comment. The others have been informed that theirs will be deleted from the queue if I don’t hear back within a week. The person who submitted a comment laced with profanity didn’t provide a full name, but that one couldn’t have been posted even with a name.
If you’re looking for news about West Hartford in print please note that many stories from We-Ha.com, as well as other local news, is published in the twice-monthly issues of the West Hartford Press.
If you have information to share about local businesses, please provide details in the comments or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].
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Here’s this week’s Buzz:
Signage is in place and Boqueria will be opening this fall at 46 South Main Street. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Boqueria has been hiring front and back of house staff in preparation for opening in October. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Former chapel at One Park. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
One Park. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Future Sweetspot at the corner of Prospect Avenue and Park Road. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Sweetspot rendering with signage. Town of West Hartford website
Danielle Hunter. Courtesy photo
Hunter Design Studio. Courtesy photo
Build-out of Soul Bowls is underway at 1128 New Britain Avenue. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Plenty of progress has been made since July on the build-out of a physical therapy clinic in Elmwood Plaza. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The awning is up and the interior is getting set up for the opening of Lil Hope at 18 LaSalle Road. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Jenny Steadman. Courtesy of Women’s Funding Network.
It’s not in West Hartford, but nearby and qualifies for a mention because General Manager Elizabeth Ackerman is a West Hartford resident: The Shops at Farmington Valley are excited to announce the addition of new outdoor amenities and interactive experiences at The Shops, including the new “Putt at The Shops” a custom designed 9-hole mini-golf course with themed golf holes, outdoor Sunset Socials special event fundraisers, and A Place for Art with a new abstract sculpture titled “Family” by artist John Guthrie. “We are so excited to add some really fun experiences to The Shops for our guests to enjoy outdoors this fall like the complimentary custom designed mini-golf course, which is a nod to our history as a former public golf course, and features whimsical themes at each hole, like The River Bend, The Barnburner (aptly designed after our red barn), a menagerie maze, and a hole with a cute dog-theme design,” Ackerman said in a news release. “Guests are also welcome to enjoy updated outdoor seating options, the new art display featuring a beautiful, bright red sculpture designed by abstract artist, John Guthrie, and new special events like our Sunset Socials.” I was particularly interested in “Putt at The Shops” – which is being billed as “a fun, interactive experience for guests of all ages, featuring a 9-hole custom designed mini-golf course with themed golf holes” that is free and has been created in partnership with Golf Lounge 18. “Putt at The Shops” is open to the public, from Monday-Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Guests interested in playing can pick up their mini-golf clubs and balls at Golf Lounge 18. Guests are encouraged to pre-register through The Shops website.
Putt at The Shops. Courtesy photo
Remember, if you have any business news to share, add it in the comments section below or email Ronni Newton at [email protected].
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