East Hartford, CT Restaurants, Restaurant Menus & Dining
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“Yes Virginia, there is a Podunk”

Well yes, but not exactly.  The term that applies to an absolutely nowhere town could have referred to East Hartford as well as a number of other places. You see, the Podunk Indians lived on the land where East Hartford was incorporated when separated from Hartford in 1783. To begin with, the town that was the virtual birthplace and continuing home of that aviation pioneer, The Pratt and Whitney Corporation could hardly be termed backward.Today’s East Hartford could be termed a town that is a city and a city that is a town. With a population of about 50,000, it is a town.  But with its urban setting and working class population, it is a city. This is a town / city with immense diversity.  For example, in the East Hartford schools, there are sixty-seven different dialects spoken from Ghanaian to Vietnamese and everything before, after, and in between. An important element in East Hartford’s vital growth is the UConn football stadium, Rentschler Field, which opened three years ago, in tandem with UConn football’s elevation to the Big East. The Podunk Indians are given their due with the annual Podunk Bluegrass Music Festival, which is held at East Hartford’s Martin Park and the East Hartford Community Cultural Center. (podunkbluegrass.net)   But it is the Riverfront Recapture Program that is a most thrilling positive inspiration to the people of East Hartford. This joint Hartford – East Hartford project has engaged people with the Connecticut River in Metro Hartford.  With parks, hiking trails, as well as multiple youth programs, it has successfully brought the outdoors to the inner city! Yes Virginia, there is a Podunk, but it ain’t East Hartford.