1. Connecticut Is By Far The Best East Coast State
Not only is Connecticut the best place to live in New England, it’s the best place to live on the East Coast. The people here are actually nice, contrary to the typical East Coast stereotype, and the state is strikingly beautiful in every direction, from its many wooded areas to its beaches. The list could keep on going, but it’s better if an out-of-towner just witnesses the greatness that is Connecticut with their own two eyes.
2. What “Nutmegger” Means
The origin of the “nutmegger” name always seems to be up for debate. Some people think it was coined due to the huge number of nutmegs that Connecticut imported during Colonial times, while others view it as a derogatory term synonymous with a “con artist” thanks to locals that once sold fake nutmegs made of wood in order to clear a higher profit. Either way, it’s now commonly used to refer to someone from Connecticut.
3. The (Many) Alternatives To “Nutmegger”
While some people prefer Nutmegger, there’s also Connecticutian, Connecticuter, Connectican, Connecticuties, and my favorite, Connecticutlets. People love to bicker over their favorite nickname around here.
4. Huskies Aren’t Just A Breed Of Dog
Known around the world for being fluffy, winter weather canines, in Connecticut, “huskies” refers to the University of Connecticut Huskies, a favorite college squad in the region. Known for dominating basketball in recent years, it’s never surprising to see blue and white flood the streets on game day.
5. “Deer” Rhymes With “Fear” For Good Reason
With tons of wooded areas and winding roads, there’s a good reason that Connecticuters get a little tentative when they’re behind the wheel late at night. Most people that have spent more than a few years in the state know several people that have totaled their car by colliding with one of these forest animals.
6. Whaler Pride Is Alive And Well
Though the Hartford Whalers might have left in 1997, Connecticut still shows love for this team nearly 20 years later. Recognized for their green “w” logo topped with a blue whale’s tail, the Whalers might be gone but they’ll never actually leave.
7. It’s All About The Grinder Here
While most of the East Coast insists on calling their sandwiches submarines, hoagies, or heroes, Connecticuters prefer the term “grinder.” Of course, when your sandwiches are that much better than anywhere else in the state, you have to do something different to make them stand out.
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8. People Aren’t Shipping Things From The Package Store
In Connecticut, the “package store” is just another name for a liquor store, commonly shortened to “packie.” This unique name stems from the Prohibition Era, as after the banning of booze was lifted, stores were required to wrap or package purchases to keep them hidden from the public eye.
9. “The City” Usually Means New York
While Connecticut is vastly different from New York, especially New York City, if someone in this state says they’re headed to “the City”, it probably means that a trip to the Big Apple is in their future. It’s super close by train and there’s nowhere else in Connecticut that even comes close to comparison in size or population. However, keep in mind that most Connecticuters probably won’t cross the border unless they’ve got a good reason.
10. Everyone Isn’t A New York Sports Fan
Despite much of the state being so close to New York City, Connecticuters think outside of the box when it comes to picking their favorite professional sports teams. Stuck between New York and Boston, there are plenty of awesome teams in the area to throw support behind, resulting in a bit of an identity crisis. If only the hometown Whalers were still around.
11. Apizza Is A Pizza For The Record Books
Connecticut is so cool that it’s even got its own style of pizza. Originating in the New Haven area, it’s got thin crust and is coal-fired, kept simple, but flavorful. Two local favorites to try out for some of the best hot slices around are Sally’s Apizza and Modern Apizza.
12. The Bulldogs Here Fight Back
Hailing from the Ivy League school Yale, local fans cheer for the Bulldogs in droves every time the team marches onto the gridiron. The football team here is one of the oldest in the world, starting in 1872 and winning 27 national championships since.
13. Yes, Hamburgers Really Were Invented Here
A story that every Connecticuter should be proud of, one day in 1900 a rushed man walked into Louis’ Lunch demanding a quick meal on the go. Thinking on his feet, Louis Lassen threw a patty between two thick slices of toast and the most American dish ever was born. The place is still open, too, if you want to try the predecessor of this revolutionary plate.
14. It’s Patriots Or Go Home
While Connecticuters might be torn when it comes to most sports, as professional football season starts to gear up, they’re Patriots all the way. After all, this state’s part of New England, not New York.
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15. Tag Sales Aren’t Selling Tags
Believe it or not, there aren’t tons of huge sales every weekend around this state specializing in the selling and trading of antique tags. In Connecticut, a “tag sale” is what the rest of the country would call a “yard” or “garage” sale.
16. Things Get A Bit Pricy Here
Despite the well-known stereotypes about the East Coast being filled with wealthy people, how expensive everything is in Connecticut still comes to a shock to out-of-towners. If you want to live in a place that’s this awesome, obviously you’ll be paying top dollar.
17. Foxwoods Isn’t Vegas, But It’s A Lot Closer
Nestled in the town of Mashantucket, Foxwoods is a very popular gaming resort in this state. It’s massive, home to six casinos, 380 gaming tables, over 6,000 slot machines, and a hotel. It’s not Vegas, but it’s the next best thing.
18. Boat Shoes Might Help You Fit In
People love looking fancy around Connecticut and during the summer everyone seems to be constantly ready for a great boat day. Out-of-towners should expect to see plenty of boat shoes, pastel shorts, and button-ups.
19. Fall Is Every Nutmegger’s Favorite Season For A Reason
As summer starts to fade and temperatures start the slow decline towards winter, Connecticut turns into a colorful paradise of beautiful foliage that stretches for miles. If it’s not perfection, it must be close.
20. Drive-Ins Are Still Cool Here
While drive-in movie theaters around the country seem to slowly be dying off, they’re still alive and kicking in Connecticut. Of course, if everywhere had evening weather that was this perfect in the fall, these theaters would still be in full-swing nationwide.
21. Fresh = Brat
Saying something is “fresh” is usually a good thing, meaning that something is new, clean, and pristine. That’s not always the case in Connecticut. If someone says that their kid is “fresh,” it doesn’t mean they’ve taken a bath recently, it just means they’re being a bit ill-mannered and bratty that day.
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