Photo of SoDo as seen from Bushnell Tower courtesy of Heather McLarney.
Usually, at this time of year, the SoDo NRZ Social Committee is busy preparing for our annual fundraiser, The Downtown Hartford Progressive Dinner. This would have been our tenth year hosting 75+ neighbors for a fun, walkable evening of drinks, dinner, dessert, and socializing at a variety of private homes and apartments in SoDo, Charter Oak, and Downtown. For many of us, the Progressive Dinner was the last major social event we attended in 2020. Most public events were postponed or canceled in the days following, and then the state went into shutdown just three weeks later.
Modeled (with permission and guidance) after a similar event in the West End, the dinner raises funds used for SoDo improvement projects and donations to organizations that help our neighbors in need. More importantly, it is a celebration of urban living, the walkability of our capital city, and neighborly camaraderie. Over the years, the dining and living rooms of Progressive Dinner homes have witnessed new friendships formed, apartment hunting, job referrals, and at least two first dates!
We certainly hope that there will be future SoDo Progressive Dinners. As wonderful as technology is for keeping us connected (and we love seeing your faces at our monthly SoDo meetings on Zoom), there is little that compares to the joy of breaking bread with one another. In the meantime, we take great comfort in knowing that our neighborhood is more than just a few city blocks outlined on a map, it is the neighbors themselves that make it special.
The next SoDo NRZ meeting of the 2020-21 year will be Wednesday, February 17 at 6:00 pm on Zoom. RSVP by 4pm the day of the meeting to SoDoNRZ@gmail.com for the link and Agenda, or click here to download both.
Our guest speakers include Doug Ovian of Connecticut Public Defenders Community & Housing Courts, sharing information on how Community Court works and its role in the CT judicial system. Also, Sam Pudlin, Transport Hartford Ambassador, on CT DOT's proposed Road Safety Bill. We look forward to catching up on neighborhood news with you!
Our meetings typically include reports from Hartford NEXT, Capital Ave. Redevelopment Project, Community Garden, and the Outreach and Social Committees, reports from HPD and HFD on activity in the neighborhood, and updates from various City offices such as Community Engagement, Planning & Development Services, and Sustainability. We occasionally have special guests who share information relevant to quality of life in the city or the neighborhood.
