1. Is It New Britain Or New Britski?
New Britain has the largest Polish population of any city in Connecticut, which is why the city is often playfully referred to as "New Britski." The city's Broad Street neighborhood has been home to a considerable number of Polish businesses and families since 1890 and in 2008, the New Britain City Council unanimously passed a resolution officially designating this area of the town as "Little Poland."
While meandering through Little Poland, expect to find unique amber jewelry, handcrafted items, blown glass, unique Christmas ornaments, carved chess sets, as well as your fill of Polish food.
2. Get Your Polka On At The Little Poland Festival
Every year, on the last Sunday of April, there's a Little Poland Festival, which celebrates the polish culture in New Britain. Thousands of people attend this event ready to hear some traditional Polish music and eat some traditional delicious Polish food! Speaking of which...
3. Pierogies, Anyone?
Don't miss Staropolska Restaurant in Little Poland. A favorite of many in New Britain, Staropolosa is where you'll find potato pancakes and deep fried pierogies so good you'll wanna slap you mama!
4. Let The Spirit Move You At Most Beautiful Churches In The State
New Britain boasts some seriously beautiful churches. There are the historic churches like Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church and the Holy Trinity Byzantine Catholic Church. Also, be sure to check out The First Lutheran Church.
5. Unleash Your Inner Child At The Walnut Hill Park
This two-level park is a must-see in the Spring. Frequented by active New Britainites of all ages, there is an open field surrounded by trees and a walking path where people run and workout outdoors in the warmer seasons. There are also two small tennis courts that are open to the public as well as a baseball diamond.
Plus, you'll get a beautiful view of some of New Britain's older, more colonial-looking homes as you walk through the park. And don't miss the upper level, where there are gardens and a famous war memorial.
6. Every CCSU Student Knows Where To Go Saturday Mornings: Captain Al's Kitchen
If you are a student at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), then you undoubtedly have stories of breakfast at Captain Al's. Known for its delicious breakfast, and the fact that it's open 7 days a week, Al's is a staple in the community, voted Best Breakfast Restaurant by readers of The New Britain Herald. It's also undoubtedly voted No. 1 by CCSU students seeking out breakfast sandwiches after a long night of partying.
7. To Continue The Party, Head To East Side Restaurant
Step into this Old World, German restaurant and immerse yourself in German culture. The food is incredible, but the beer is what they're known for. With so many different German beers on tap, you can't go wrong grabbing a drink at East Side. Plus, the entire staff wears traditional German attire, so get ready for a unique dining experience! Oh, and did I mention rooftop seating?
8. 13,000 Square Feet Of Trampoline,Yep I Said 13,000
Who wouldn't want to jump around on over 13,000 square feet of connected, world-class trampolines? Flight Trampoline Park in New Britain is an indoor park that features over 50 trampolines, including the famous angled wall trampolines and a series of launching decks at different heights. If you're looking for a new and different workout routine, try the intense trampoline workout at Flight Fit Boot Camp. Oh, and don't forget, Club Flight.yes, you can jump on trampolines while a laser light show, set to club music, goes on above you. It's pretty epic.
9. Underground Deli!!! (So Good It Earns All Three Of Those Exclamation Points)
Another favorite among CCSU students, the Underground Deli is a hidden, yet well-loved, lunch spot. Try any number of their creative sandwiches, which are always made with fresh ingredients, including fresh bread. It's located within walking distance from CCSU's campus, the price is right for the food, and they offer free Wi-Fi. It's the perfect place to grab breakfast or lunch.
10. Stop And Smell The Roses--Literally
If you're at Walnut Hill Park in the Spring, don't miss the Walnut Hill Rose Garden. It's a spectacular sight to see the roses after they first bloom.
11. Rock Out(doors) With Summer Concerts In The Park
Walnut Hill Park also hosts free summer concerts in the park. At the Darius Miller Memorial Band Shell, a small amphitheater, New Britainites from all over come to see jazz, blues, country and western, big bands, rock 'n' roll, and children's concerts. The concerts go through July and August, and best of all, they're free!
12. Stanley Quarter Park Has Something For Everyone
A serene park with a fishing pond, playground, jogging track, state-of-the-art trails, skate board park, sports fields, basketball courts, ice skating.shall I go on?
13. Head To Stanley Golf Course "Fore!" A Good Time
Stanley Golf Course is a 27-hole public golf course in New Britain. Stanley Golf offers three, 9-hole courses and a distinguishing feature of the golf course is that the topography and surrounding environment is different on each of these three courses. Basically, it's hard to get bored at Stanley Golf Course. Also, be sure to check out Whinstone Tavern at the golf course for some great food and excellent drink deals.
14. New Britain Is The Place To Be On Independence Day
New Britain is hands down one of the best places to watch the fireworks on Fourth of July in the state: Head to Stanley Quarter Park for a perfect 4th of July. There are vendors selling all of the usual goodies at a July Fourth fair (popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, etc.), but local restaurants will also set up booths to sell everything from Thai and Vietnamese food to Greek food. And once the fireworks start, you won't regret having braved the traffic to come here-the show is spectacular.
15. Home Grown High Art In Your Hometown
Founded in 1903, the New Britain Museum of American Art is the first in the country to feature solely American art. Since its founding, NBMAA has had some of the best exhibitions and collections of American art which have drawn crowds from all over New England. Its mission to educate the public about art is also unique compared to other museums in New England.
16. Quick Commutes To Hartford And West Hartford
Hartford and West Hartford are each approximately 15 minutes from New Britain. Being located so near to two, major Connecticut cities right near your home makes New Britain a convenient and fun place to live.
17. Go, Rock Cats!
Everyone in New Britain has gone at least once to see a New Britain Rock Cats game. And who wouldn't? New Britain is home to the 2001 AA Northern Division Co-Champion Rock Cats Baseball Team, affiliates of the Minnesota Twins. Enjoy a hotdog and cold beer while watching a game a Rock Cats game at the Willow Brook Park Sports Complex.
18. You'll Have Blue Devils Pride In No Time
If you're in New Britain there's no avoiding Blue Devils fever. It's contagious! You'll have easy access to events at Central Connecticut State University, like CCSU football, basketball, and everything else Blue Devils. You can also expect to join in at some of CCSU's annual events, like their Spring Concert which attracts famous musicians, bands, and hip-hop artists each year.
19. College Dive Bars Anyone?
Elmer's, a bar/pizza restaurant, is another local favorite. It has great atmosphere and, while it's not known for its food, it's a really great place to kick back, relax, and enjoy a pitcher of beer and some excellent curly fries.
20. It's A Biker's Paradise
Bike New Britain, a fairly new organization, has teamed up with the City's parks and recreation department to make New Britain a bike-friendly community. By establishing safe bike routes between all of the City's parks, schools, CCSU, and also the CTFastrak Bus Rapid Transit lines, the town has seen benefits from slowing traffic in the city's streets to providing safer bicycling routes for children to the City's schools. Plus, quality of life, health, and environmental benefits make this program a great addition to New Britain.
21. Enjoy Organic, Local Food, In A Big City
Urban Oaks Organic Farm brings top-quality, certified organic, fresh produce, year-round to restaurants, specialty markets, and the local community of New Britain. They specialize in salad greens, cooking greens, heirloom tomatoes and herbs. But also grow sweet peppers, hot peppers, summer squash, zucchini, figs, okra, and a ton of other crops you'd expect in the summer in southern New England.
Plus, the farm continues to grow in the winter! You can get harvest lettuces, salad greens, kales, spinach, arugula, collards, herbs and more straight from the Urban Oaks Organic Farms greenhouses.
22. Capitol Lunch Hot Dogs Are The Best Around
Trust me, you have to try a hot dog here. You won't regret it-they're some of the best hot dogs in New England.
23. Step Back Into The Past At A New Britain Car Show
Each year, downtown New Britain fills with beautifully preserved classic cars, pristine '50s era muscle cars and powerful vintage hot rods. This annual event attracts over 2,000 people, and boasts free and convenient parking, a local DJ, and local restaurants providing the food and drinks. Even if you're not into cars, it's a great event to partake in!
24. Stuff Your Face With Some Killer Pizza And Wings
Max Pizza 2 has some of the best pizza around--bar none. Plus, the wings are incredibly good, and there's a premium ice cream counter.
25. Get Your Chinese Tea and Cold Sesame Noodle Fix
Oh, Great Taste Chinese Food.how you've spoiled us. Complimentary Chinese tea and crispy noodles with duck sauce with unlimited refills, incredible service where you're treated like family, and delicious and affordable food? This is the best Chinese food in the area, possibly in the state. Many who leave New Britain are known to pine for Great Taste once they've left, there's nothing else quite like it around.
26. Looking For A Hole In The Wall Theater?
The Hole in the Wall Theater is an amazing community theater. They encourage their patrons to be engaged and involved in the productions and put on everything from "Rocky Horror Picture Show" to "The Tempest." Tickets are relatively inexpensive and you get Broadway-quality shows right in your own community.
27. Tuck Into A Good Book At Leaves And Pages
A hidden gem of New Britain, Leaves and Pages is a used bookstore and café. Enjoy quality English tea or coffee and gelato while also curling up with a good book in a living-room style armchair. Makes for a perfect afternoon in a homey atmosphere.
28. You Can Still See the Stars
The downside to living in a big city is that the stars disappear. Well, in New Britain, you don't have to fret: the Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium at CCSU is a pretty amazing place to stargaze. Plus, all of the planetarium's events are free and open to the public.
Feature Image source: Little Poland, New Britain, Connecticut via Facebook
