West Hartford, CT

Mark your calendars for the 41st Annual Greater Hartford St. Patrick's Day Parade this Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. The parade is held rain or shine.

It's always a good idea to get to the parade route early and secure your seat! The parade begins at Capitol Avenue by the State Capitol, takes a left on Main Street, a left on Asylum, a left on Ford Street, and then ends by the Memorial Arch. (Attendees should note that there will be some road closures along the parade route before the parade.) Parking is available in various lots and garages near the XL Center area and Convention Center.

Serious St. Patrick's Day party-goers can kick off the Hartford's St. Patrick's Day Parade with a bang at the Black Bear Saloon's "Beer & Breakfast Bonanza" located at 187 Allyn Street in Hartford from 7-11am. Enjoy an unlimited breakfast buffet, plus 4 Drink Tickets for Coors Light or Guiness for ONLY $20. Proceeds benefit the American Lung Association and your ticket will turn into a VIP pass to cut the entry line to Black Bear AFTER the parade. Raffles prizes & giveaways as well!

FOX CT is also sponsoring a photo contest to showcase Irish Pride. Wear your green and enter to win a new laptop computer courtesy of Kaplan Computers! May the Luck O' the Irish be with you!

If you like burgers, there's no shortage of options in West Hartford. Our town has become sort of a mecca of burger joints with everything from diner to custom-built to pub-style to gourmet and everything in between-- West Hartford has it all! At least 10 burger joints easily come to mind and here is a sampling in no particular order:

The Counter Burger - Step into The Counter® and you’re greeted with a clipboard and an extensive list of fresh mouth-watering ingredients that allow you to build your own gourmet burger. The Counter Burger boasts over 312,120 different burger combinations which makes every burger as unique as each customer. Located in the heart of Blue Back Square at 50 Memorial Road in West Hartford.

Max Burger - This trendy Best of Hartford Magazine 1st Runner Up for "Best Burger" in 2011 is the place for burger connesieurs. Part of the Max Restaurant Group,this hip West Hartford Center dining spot features award-winning all-natural burgers, American-style comfort food and a large selection of craft beers in a casual atmosphere. (My personal favorite is the tuna burger.) Always hopping but definitely worth the wait! Located at 124 LaSalle Road in West Hartford Center.

Jake's Wayback Burgers - Wayback Burgers began in 1991 as Jake's Hamburgers with a single restaurant in Newark, DE which still occupies its original location on Route 273. Jake's opened at 450 South Main Street in West Hartford in 2011 and offers big, juicy hand-made burgers and real milkshakes in a casual atmosphere. That’s how they did it way back when, and that’s what they still do today. Every month, Wayback Burgers a brand new "Burger of the Month" and "Shake of the Month."

BGR The Burger Joint - "One burger YOU MUST HAVE before you die", or so says The Burger Joint's website. West Hartford's newest member of the burger community, this is not a fast food place, not a mass production burger operation, but a "joint" -- one that you can make your own, stay awhile and enjoy the food. BGR uses only use grain-fed cattle; all natural, no hormones, fillers or antibiotics. The buns are made locally and delivered fresh every day and the tomatoes are the finest available. Lastly, the burgers are grilled to temperature over an open flame. Relaxed and super casual atmosphere. Located at 983 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford.

Plan B Burger - "Good booze. Great burgers." Plan B Burger Bar was created from a belief that customers deserve to eat healthy, quality food without compromising style and fun. Plan B promises: beef, burgers, bourbon and beer. Breathtaking burgers that are always fresh, never frozen, ground in house daily from whole chucks, never preformed, simple and pure. Most notably Plan B features the most extensive boutique bourbon list in the area. Located at 138 Park Road in West Hartford, this is a fun place to meet friends and ENJOY the evening!

Beachland Tavern -You don't get much more hometown than the Beachland Tavern. For one thing, the new West Hartford restaurant takes its name from the park on South Quaker Lane, where the owners played Little League baseball as boys. Inside the tavern, the setting is contemporary, casual and laid-back. Half-pound burgers ($9) are made with a fresh-ground blend of brisket and top round, with customers' choice of free toppings (and other premium toppings like avocado or caramelized onions for $1.) Not feeling like fries with your sandwich? Choose from any of the menu's sides, from garlic mashed potatoes to bacon cream spinach, for no extra charge. Free parking in this Elmwood neighborhood location, 1128 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford.

The Corner Pug - Inside and out, The Corner Pug (named after the owner's pet pug, Mac) has the feel of a classic English pub. Friends meet at the bar, couples snuggle into mahogany and leather booths for late night bites and families come for the comfort food. Formerly an Elmwood neighborhood bar, the West Hartford Restaurant was remodeled, expanded and reopened in 2001. In addition to the delicious black angus burgers cooked on a live-fire grill, hearty portions prepared to order from the freshest of ingredients and a tempting daily array of blackboard specials keep people coming back! Located at 1046 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford.

A.C. Petersen Farms - "West Hartford's Favorite Family Restaurant" While not necessarily a burger joint, A.C. Petersen Farms has been serving up delicious eats since 1940. They offer a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options including "Build Your Own Sliders", famous Clubs, Sandwiches, Wraps, Paninis, Legendary Burgers, Classic Sandwiches, Dinners, plus Soup and Salad. Open 7 days/week and located at 240 Park Road (right next door to the Playhouse on Park) A.C. Petersen's feature free parking, free wi-fi and delicious ice cream in 40 flavors!

McLadden's Irish Publick House - "There are no strangers here, only friends you haven't yet met." This statement says it all; good food in a loud and lively environment. Choose angus, veggie or turkey burger with a variety of toppings. Features a pub lunch special Monday through Friday for $9.95. True Irish warmth and hospitality in the heart of West Hartford Center at 37 LaSalle Road.

Red Robin - "It's good to have a burger every now and then." This sit down burger joint is casual and fun with a HUGE menu. All gourmet burgers served with bottomless steak fries! Located at 1509 New Britain Avenue this eatery offers a nice respite after a day of shopping at nearby Westfarms Mall.

So there you have it. West Hartford is not all glitzy martini bars and fine dining.

Oh, by the way... Which is your favorite??

Well, they say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let this one speak volumes!

It's hard to believe that while everything we buy has gone up tremendously in price, housing has become more affordable than ever before. With mortgage rates this low, if you've been thinking about buying real estate my advice is don't think about it, just do it!

Home sales in West Hartford are brisk this month with 46 single family home sales pending (as of 2/28/12) compared with 33 during the same time in February, 2011. That's a whopping 39% increase! Perhaps it's the warm, snowless winter, better employment outlook, or the historically low mortgage rates that are driving home sales, but no matter, the point is that while it's tricky to time the market there's no question that spring has arrived early this year! No incentives, no gimmicks, just savvy consumers making great investments. Stay tuned as we track spring pricing trends...

Looking for something different to do this weekend? Check out the West Hartford Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 11, 2011 at 3 p.m. at the West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main Street in West Hartford Center. Performances will include Waltz of the Flowers, O Holy Night, Seigh Ride, White Christmas, Hanukkah music and much more! Teresa Eickel (soprano) and Frank Sweeney (tenor) will be featured.

The WHSO is composed of volunteer musicians, ranging from ages 14 to 88, talented amateur and professional musicians alike. The glue that holds the orchestra together is a love for music and the desire to share that music with the community. Tickets range in price from $12 for seniors/students to $24 for reserved table seating. Call 521-4362 for more information or to order tickets and click here for directions.

Well, it's one of West Hartford's cutest neighborhoods (they even have their own street signs!) and it's also pretty convenient to everything. Need groceries? Five minutes away from Stop & Shop. Feel like taking a swim? Five minutes to Cornerstone Aquatics Center. Love to shop? Five minutes to Westfarms Mall & Corbin's Corner. Like to run, bike or hike? Five minutes to the West Hartford Reservoir. Is golf your thing? Buena Vista 9-hole golf course is right around the corner (for those not familiar with the area, it's a great place to take the kids to learn to play golf). Okay, by now you probably get the convenience factor.

Nestled on the west side of town between Tunxis Road and Farmington Avenue, Buena Vista homes are noted for their neatly manicured lawns, mostly compact design, and low traffic location. Many were built in the 1950's & 60's (some much earlier) and a few homes have gorgeous views of the Hartford skyline. Buena Vista home owners even have their own association with an e-mail newsletter, business directory, events & photo gallery!

My listing at 44 Meadow Farms Road is right smack in the middle of this wonderful Buena Vista neighborhood! It's charming interior is perfectly matched with the lovely perennial gardens that the owner has taken great care in creating. This 2-bedroom ranch-style home features an eat-in kitchen, fresh paint & hardwood floors throughout, updated bath, 3-season porch, new central air, 1-car attached garage and beautiful landscaping-- filled with hydrangea, lilac, peony, lavender, iris & viburnum among others! It's a great starter home or condo alternative (priced at $235,000) and located only about 1-1/2 miles from West Hartford Center & Blue Back Square. Easy commuter access to Route 9 & I-84. The perfect place to call home!