February News, CVS Petition

After its four-year hiatus and only ten days of ticket sales, the 10th Downtown Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by the SoDo NRZ, is almost sold out (as of this morning, only six tickets left). If you’d like to attend, get your tickets ASAP at the link below. And if you are considering hosting, we’d love to have you. Sign up at the link below or email sodonrz@gmail.com if you have questions about what hosting entails. (More Hosts = more space for more Attendees!)

In other Downtown news, CVS has indicated they will close their store at 777 Main Street (corner of Pearl). Some concerned SoDo neighbors have drafted a petition asking them to keep that location open, or move to a nearby location to serve downtown residents, office workers, and visitors. Please scroll down and add your name and voice to this appeal.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, February 19 at 6:00 pm. Due to the anticipated temperatures, this meeting will be Zoom only. Here are links to the Zoom Meeting, Agenda, and Minutes from the January meeting.

2025 Progressive Dinner Tickets ON SALE NOW!

 
Don't miss one of Downtown Hartford's most fun events! The Downtown Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by SoDo brings together a jovial group of Downtown Hartford neighbors for food and drink and to foster active community participation. Hosts and Attendees will meet at a cozy SoDo location for mingling, wine, and appetizers and get their dinner location assignment. After dining at their hosts' neighborhood homes, everyone will regroup at another local spot for dessert and more catching up. At past events, many said they were reluctant to leave their respective dinner parties, as they were having such a good time!

We hope you'll join us Saturday, March 8, 2025, for a wonderful, walkable evening of conversation, food, drink, and community with your fellow Downtown neighbors. Sign up in advance as a Host or Attendee (no tickets will be sold at the door) to attend, or if you have questions, send us an email at sodonrz@gmail.com.

Profits from the Progressive Dinner are used for programs and neighborhood enhancements supported throughout the year by the SoDo NRZ. Click here for more information about the NRZ and its mission.

Monthly Neighborhood Coffee Hour

Join your neighbors every second Sunday of the month for coffee, tea, pastries, and conversation while supporting a local SoDo coffee shop, Cafe Amore. 389 Main Street, at Capitol Avenue. Check them out on Facebook & Instagram.

2025 Progressive Dinner Hosts Wanted!

The Downtown Hartford Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by SoDo: Saturday, March 8, 2025

After a four-year hiatus, one of Downtown Hartford's most fun events has returned! The Downtown Progressive Dinner, Sponsored by SoDo brings together a sociable group of Downtown Hartford neighbors for food and drink and to foster active community participation. Hosts and Attendees will meet at a beautiful Downtown location for mingling, wine, and appetizers and receive their dinner location assignment. After dining at their Hosts' neighborhood homes, everyone will regroup at another local spot for dessert and more catching up. At past events, many said they were reluctant to leave their respective dinner parties, as they were having such a good time!

We hope you'll join us Saturday, March 8, 2025, for a wonderful, walkable evening of conversation, food, drink, and community with your fellow Downtown neighbors. We are currently signing up Hosts, and Attendee tickets will go on sale the first week of February (no tickets will be sold at the door). Have questions? Visit this page. Still have questions? Send us an email at sodonrz@gmail.com. 

A portion of the proceeds from the Progressive Dinner are used for programs and neighborhood enhancements supported throughout the year by the SoDo NRZ. Click here for more information about the NRZ and its mission.

January Neighborhood News and Meeting

 

Happy New Year, Neighbors!

Although we did not meet in December, it was still a festive and neighborly month for SoDo: our Holiday Happy Hour at Sol y Luna was a fun night with drinks, mini-tacos, and Santa (aka SoDo VP Frank Sentner), and just before the holidays, a small team of volunteers managed to hang up some of our lit evergreen garlands at the East end of Capitol Avenue.

In other neighborhood news, the proposed apartment building at 17 Wells Street (currently a parking lot behind 525 Main Street, facing Pulaski Circle) has been in the news as the developers seek $7M in CRDA funding. The original scope of this project was shared at our February 2024 meeting, and you can read the most recent articles here.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, January 15 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small brick building to the right of the main church.) Or join us via Zoom. Here are links to Join the Meeting, November Minutes, and January Agenda. And be sure to check out this month's newsletter for more neighborhood news, including a list of restaurants/cafes in SoDo, the return of the 311 app, City Snow Parking Ban info, the date of the 2025 Progressive Dinner, and more free stuff for Hartford residents.

Holiday Happy Hour

 

The Board of the SoDo NRZ invites our residential and business neighbors to join us in celebrating the season!

Wednesday, December 18
5:00 - 7:00 pm

Sol y Luna*
10 Capitol Avenue

Cash Bar

For those who are driving: on-street parking (free after 6 pm) and a paid lot on Linden behind the Central Baptist Church.

Please note, this event is in lieu of our December meeting. Our regularly scheduled monthly meetings resume January 15, 2025.

*formerly known as Social Republic and Republic at The Linden

November Neighborhood Meeting

 

And just like that, it’s November and Thanksgiving are on our doorstep… which also means Winterfest Hartford is also on our doorstep (literally and figuratively). The SoDo NRZ proudly supported them during their Sustainable CT matching fund drive. Winterfest costs upwards of $300k for five weeks of FREE skating, skate rentals, and lessons. Please consider donating so that more Hartford children (and adults) can enjoy skating in our beautiful Bushnell Park. Any donation amount is welcome. Looking for something to do that is less outdoorsy? Visit the “Things To Do” page of our website, or the Hartford.com website.

Our next SoDo meeting is Wednesday, November 20 at 6:00 pm at First Presbyterian Church of Hartford, 136 Capitol Avenue (enter through the small white building to the right of the main church.) Or join us via Zoom. Here are the Meeting link and Agenda.

Your NRZ has two big projects in the works right now:

1) In conjunction with updating our NRZ Strategic Plan, we are also developing a ten-year Neighborhood Plan, with help from the City of Hartford Planning Division and FHI Studios. All neighbors are welcome to their upcoming meetings and workshops. The next one is Monday, November 25 at 5:30 pm and includes a Mini Tour of the 55 Elm Annex. If you are interested in participating, please contact Leah Beckett for more info and to register to attend.

2) Our newly formed Community Outreach Working Group is hard at work planning a campaign to engage more of our neighbors. If you own a business or run an organization in SoDo, please take this two-minute survey. Your input will be very helpful as the committee develops a welcome/info kit, marketing materials, door-knocking, and social activities for this campaign. If you are interested in volunteering for any of the above, send an email to sodonrz@gmail.com. All are welcome!