Lets take a look and see what is happening in the area!

New Britain:
Friday: February 10
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Trinity-On-Main, 69 Main St, New Britain • www.trinityonmain.org
Daryel McCrorey Presents “Everything I Miss at Home”
Doors open @6, showtime @8. Relationship comedy stage play. Tickets $20-30 adults, $10-15 children under
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Community Central 117 West Main Street New Britain, CT
Unmasked: Echoes from a child’s soul: An art and education project by CCSU Professors Jerry Butler, Barbara Clark, and Joss French. Special guest artist Larry Hunt. Showing the work of Gaffney Elementry and DiLoreto Magnet School Students. 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. • Free • Contact Hannah Hurwitz 203-843-2121
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Welte Hall, Central Connecticut State University 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT • http://thevirtuosi.org
Mozart: Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra in C major, K. 299 • Mozart: Symphony No. 41, K. 551 “Jupiter” • Jill Maurer Davis-flute, Megan Sesma-harp • 8 p.m. • Free, but donations are accepted via mail or PayPal • Abundant free parking in the garage next to Welte Hall at the corner of Stanley Street and Ella Grasso Boulevard.
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The Hole in the Wall Theater, 116 Main Street New Britain, CT • 860-223-9665 • www.hitw.org
Life X Three: 8:00 p.m. • Directed by Matthew Skwiot • The French playwright Yasmina Reza is one of the most gifted writers for the stage today. Her plays explore modern, chaotic reality in simple forms of disillusionment and hysterical humor.“Life x3” represents all that is most distinctive and prominent in Reza’s writing: sharp and witty language, examination of detail in everyday life and precise form that speaks for itself. Prosaic situation becomes a pretext for speculation of starry consequences. The outcome is only one…or…three… • $20, $12 Seniors and Students
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Art League of New Britain, 30 Cedar Street, 860-229-1484 • www.alnb.org
“2012 Working from the Figure” Exhibit/Sale: Selections from the ALNB life drawing/marathon sessions.
Work bought can be taken immediately! Cash or check. 6-8 p.m. Show continues through Sunday, March 4.
Gallery Hours are Saturday & Sunday 1-4 p.m. or by appointment.

Saturday: February 11
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The Hole in the Wall Theater, 116 Main Street New Britain, CT • 860-223-9665 • www.hitw.org
Life X Three: 8:00 p.m. • Directed by Matthew Skwiot • The French playwright Yasmina Reza is one of the most gifted writers for the stage today. Her plays explore modern, chaotic reality in simple forms of disillusionment and hysterical humor.“Life x3” represents all that is most distinctive and prominent in Reza’s writing: sharp and witty language, examination of detail in everyday life and precise form that speaks for itself. Prosaic situation becomes a pretext for speculation of starry consequences. The outcome is only one…or…three… • $20, $12 Seniors and Students
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New Britain Downtown Visitors Center 66 West Main Street • www.hitw.org
GHAC “Arts Day”: 10:00 a.m. – 3 p.m. • The Greater Hartford Arts Council in conjunction with the City of New Britain is sponsoring an “Arts Day.” Stop by the New Britain Downtown Visitors Center to design a card of what the arts in our town means to you. These cards will become part of a paper mosaic mural to be used regionally in the kick-off of the 2012 United Arts Campaign. Refreshments, music and a chance to see the monthly Greater New Britain Arts Alliance Second Saturday and Sunday Arts Mini-Market. Come celebrate the importance of the arts in our community • Free • Free parking on the street and in the City garage 1/2 block north of the Visitors Center on Washington Street • Contact Anne Pilla at apilla@sbcglobal.net for more information
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New Britain Downtown Visitors Center 66 West Main Street • www.hitw.org
Second Saturday & Sunday Arts Mini-Market, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sunday Noon – 4 p.m. A regular opportunity to purchase handcrafted work, provide local artists with a regular opportunity to display their work, and be a fundraiser for the Greater New Britain Arts Alliance • Featuring in February Clymenza Hawkins, Katia Porter, Anna Murfin, Jean Rill-Alberto, and Paul Gobell • Free admission • Free parking on the street and in the municipal garage 1/2 block north of the Gallery on Washington Street
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New Britain Museum of American Art, 56 Lexington Street, New Britain, CT, (860) 229-0257 · nbmaa.org
NEW/NOW: Marc Swanson: Feb. 11 – May 13, 2012 • Opening Reception: 2-3:30 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012
Marc Swanson, automythologist: one who excels at crafting sparkling, enigmatic totems from the messiness of his own history. Self-identity, development, conflict, and nostalgia are all re-occurring themes found in the works artist Marc Swanson. Born in New Britain, Connecticut, and now residing in Brooklyn, New York, Marc has re-located to several areas across the country. His continual struggle to find a place secure and comfortable enough to call home can be detected in his artwork.

Feb. 11, Saturday
10:30 a.m.-noon Art Explorers: Suzy Jorsey-Balay *
11-11:45 a.m. Art Start: Margaret Freedman *
11 a.m. Welcome tour/11:30 a.m. en español

Feb. 12, Sunday
1-2 p.m. American Masterpieces Tour
2-3:30 p.m. Opening Reception: NEW/NOW: Marc Swanson
3-4 p.m. Sunday Music Series with African drum and dance company Sangbanyi Fare De Afrique

Berlin:
Saturday, Feb. 11
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Mooreland Hill School, 166 Lincoln St, Berlin, CT • www.­mooreland.­org
Mooreland Hill School Open House, 9:00 am, FREE. Mooreland Hill School is an independent, co-educational day school currently serving central Connecticut students in grades 4-9. Announcing grades K-3 starting Fall 2012. For more information or to register, call 860.828.0571 or online at www.mooreland.org

Golf Fitness Connecticut, 598 Deming Rd, Berlin, CT, GolfFitnessCT.com.
Learn About Your Golf Swing, 12:00 pm. Golf Fitness Connecticut presents: How Your Golf Swing and Body Are Connected. The workshop will be conducted by Eric Lunt and Pete Asadourian. $15 For more information or to sign up, contact Eric Lunt at eric.lunt@GolfFitnessCT.com. Please wear athletic attire.

Golf Fitness Orientation, Noon to 1 p.m. Cost of event is $15. This event is an introduction to Golf Fitness and how proper physical training can help improve your golf game. This event is being put on by Berlin resident Eric Lunt, who is a Certified Golf Fitness Instructor and Pete Asadourian, owner of Future Fitness, LLC. There will be some lecture and interactive portions of this event, so we are asking people to please wear atheltic attire. Cost of event is $15. Please contact Eric Lunt to register. Contact 860-578-2860 email at eric.lunt@golffitnessct.com.

Peck Memorial Library, 234 Kensington Rd, Berlin, CT
The Annual Meeting of the CT Community Gardening Association will be held February 11, 2012 at the Berlin-Peck Memorial Library from noon to 3 p.m. Join members for a free showing of ‘URBAN ROOTS’, a documentary about urban agriculture phenomenon in Detroit. Find out more about CCGA! Share your community gardening experiences! Help spread the word about community gardening. Go to www.ctcommunitygardening.org/events for more information.

Super Bowl: Roma Sports Bar & Grill Your not going to want to miss Super Bowl Sunday at Roma’s this year! We’ll have live blogging, Hartford Courant webcams, tweeting, you name it!! Definitely Super Bowl central!!. T.G.I.F.!! Don’t forget to place your Super Bowl wing orders!! 30 wings + fixings for $17.50!!! Call 860-225-7947

Arts: 

NEW BRITAIN MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART: 56 Lexington St., nbmaa.org, 860-229-0257

Searching the Horizon: The Real American West 1830-1920, Art from the Bank of America Collection. 1830-1920 explores the vastness and variety of the West through the numerous ways artists chose to depict it, whether to chronicle current events, or to capture the culture and traditions of the regionís native inhabitants, the American Indians. The people of the 18th and 19th century American West, their work, their lifestyles, and cultures, hold a prominent place in the American imagination.

NEW/NOW: Carson Fox: Bi-Polar: Comfort/Peril, Nature/Artifice, Fantasy/Reality, Warmth/Frigidness, Permanence/Disappearance. These dichotomies coexist within the work of the next NEW/NOW artist, Carson Fox. Bi-Polar is an installation that transports the viewer into a surround of related, yet opposing elements.

SKETCHING WITH THE MASTERS: 10:30 a.m.-noon, Free with Museum admission. Sharpen your pencil and learn from the masters! This class will benefit all skill levels and interest, whether you are an accomplished artist or just like to push a pencil.

HOLE IN THE WALL THEATER: www.hitw.org, 860.229.3049, 116 Main Street, New Britain, CT

“Life X 3″: When Hubert and his wife Inez show up for dinner a day early at the home of Henry and Sonia, what starts as an awkward evening turns into a major disaster. Hole in the Wall’s production of “Life X 3″ highlights playwright Yasmina Reza’s sharp wit as two couples act out three different interpretations of the dinner party from hell. Performances are Friday and Saturday, January 20 – February 11 at 8:00 pm; Sunday matinees are January 29 and February 5 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $20, $12 for seniors/students with ID. Reservations can be made at www.hitw.org or by calling 860.229.3049.

DOWNTOWN GALLERY, 66 West Main Street New Britain, www.NewBritainArts.org, 860-832-8299, Free, M-F 9-5, Th 8pm, Sa.

Natural Dynamism: Works on Paper by Susan Spaniol: Susan Spaniol chronicles her experience of the beaching of a whale at Herring Cove, MA, in artwork that is profoundly contemplative and emotionally charged. Artwork for sale. The Downtown Gallery is open M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and, during exhibitions, Thursdays until 8 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by appointment. Parking on the Street and in the City Garages is free after 5 p.m. and on weekends.

Sunday: 

New Britain Symphony, Mooreland Hill School, 166 Lincoln St. Kensington, 860-826-6344, www.newbritainsymphony.org

The Many LoveS(ongs) of Frank Sinatra: 3 pm, Free Will Offering, For the second year the New Britain Symphony offers a special program to celebrate Valentineís Day. Gilbert Gigliotti, New Britain Symphony Board member, CCSU professor of English and Latin, and noted Sinatra expert, author and lecturer, will examine the music of the man who is considered the greatest interpreter of popular song ever. The presentation of “ol’ blue eyes” will be through the lens of his most significant and popular recordings about romance and heartbreak. From “All or Nothing At All” to (Love is) The Tender Trap, you will get a kick out of learning how Frank’s songs became the soundtrack of 20th century romance. Valentine’s Day reception to follow. Free will offering for the benefit of the Symphony and the Mooreland Hill School program.

At the Library:

NEW BRITAIN PUBLIC LIBRARY, www.nbpl.info, To register, please call the Reference Desk at (860) 224-3155 ext. 125.

FIRST FRIDAY FILM: For title information, please call the Reference Desk at (860) 224-3155 ext. 125.

Saturday:

INTRO TO COMPUTERS: 9:30AM, For the absolute beginner! Come and learn how to use your computer. To register, please call the Reference Desk at (860) 224-3155 ext. 125

OPEN MIC POETRY: 2:00PM, free: Poets age 16 to 100 are invited to bring their poetry to share.

CHILDREN:

TAKE YOUR CHILD TO THE LIBRARY DAY: Main Branch, free, all day

Join us for this day for the whole family! Register your child for a library card, enjoy activities, share some stories, and check out some books. Free giveaways. Everyone welcome!

BERLIN, CT

Friday and Saturday, February 3

CONNECTICUT CABARET THEATRE: 31-33 Webster Mill Plaza, Berlin, CT, 860-829-1248, 8 pm

BLITHE SPIRIT: By Noel Coward – The smash comedy hit of the London and Broadway stages, this much-revived classic from the playwright of Private Lives offers up fussy, cantakerous novelist Charles Condomine, re-married but haunted (literally) by the ghost of his late first wife, the clever and insistent Elvira who is called up by a visiting “happy medium”, one Madame Arcati. As the (worldly and un-) personalities clash, Charles’ current wife Ruth is accidentally killed, “passes over”, joins Elvira and the two “blithe spirits” haunt the hapless Charles into perpetuity.

If you wanted something up there we had the local stores for everyday things, but if you needed something special you had to drive over an hour to the nearest place with a mall, or you had to order from a catalog. We had two catalog stores in my town, so you could order something and pick it up in a few weeks. A few weeks. It was exciting when I moved to a more urban area and I could get about anything I needed, I just had to pick up a phone book and find out where the store was and drive out to get it.

I was reminded of this recently when I needed a battery for my digital camera. Sure, with one of these cameras you can take a picture then go home and print it out automatically, but without a battery I was dead in the water. I found out my battery had died two days before Christmas. Not good.

So, I jumped on the internet and looked up stores in the area where I could find a new one, fast. What I found out was several stores could get me the battery, but they would have to order it. It would take 3 days to a week, and if I know how things are likely to work, probably longer. No way I was going to have that battery for Christmas Day and other Christmas events. I was out of luck.

The other thing I noticed, when I searched on line for a local battery store was that on line the price was less. They had the same delivery time though. At that moment having the battery was more important to me than price.

It got me thinking. Before the promise of the internet, would there have been a local store that stocked the item I needed? (maybe not, but maybe so) Had the internet been the reason the store that might have met my needs that day had gone out of business because of the unfair competition offered by the internet?

That made me sad, both because I could not get what I wanted in a whole region, but also because I was probably part of the reason local stores were suffering. I too often shop for price and am tempted by getting a real bargain on the internet. (Have you noticed when we talk about things we get on the internet we rarely factor in the price of shipping when we tell people how much we saved?)

Courtesy of: Schools.com

via Why Social Media Isnt a Waste of Time [Infographic] | Schools.com.

Nope, it looks like social media is a great tool for businesses large and small to reach customers. In fact, you could say it is even a way for smaller companies, the ones that aren’t (or aren’t yet) national, ones that don’t have big marketing budgets to get their foot in.

And in our area, New Britain – Berlin we need all the help reaching customers that we can get. If you are interested in better using of social media, give me a call.

On the list were these different parts of my life; people who in my own life would probably never meet, but who, in this netherworld of Facebook knew each other. Because they are facebook friends many of them were not close friends, but certainly people I would recognize in a crowd.

Represented was a person from a church I take classes at, a speaker I’d arranged to speak at a club I am a member at, CCWF, a marketing group member/founder who I met through a comic book creator/publisher I know, a guy I met though work who is also a regional owner in his region, a member of the same Toastmasters International group I belong to, another speaker I arranged for CCWF, and the president of CCWF. (Central Connecticut Women’s Forum) Some of the “friends” were organizations or restaurants, but still, this impressed me. 

Ever doubt social media’s reach? I don’t anymore. 

Winter Sunrise Over Martha Hart Park, New Britain, CT. Photo credit: Amelia Schwencke

I’d say it is looking pretty good that social media mention will help your business look good.

It means RelyLocal was conceived and created to be an inexpensive way for small local businesses to market themselves. Being a small business owner with my own marketing problems, I was interested, and after investigation, I decided to bring it to our area.
So, businesses already marketing their businesses have another gun in their arsenal of marketing tools, and those that don’t yet market their business, because it is just too expensive or hard to decide where to throw that marketing dollar, or that can’t justify any marketing at all, can start. RelyLocal New Britain – Berlin is also local business, locally owned, with a local rep and that means someone who cares about the area because I live here and I care about the area and I care about you and your business.

By reasonably priced I mean $25 a month. ($300 a year) You might look at that and say “$25 a month, I can’t afford that!” or look at it and say “$25 a month, what kind of value can I get for that?” Reasonable questions. $25 a month looks expensive, or maybe cheap (which is not the same as inexpensive) till you hear what this low price includes.

You get a web page, and not just a little site floating out there alone, lost in cyberspace, hoping Google or some other search engine will find it if someone puts in the exact right wording for the search. Your page is on the RelyLocal site, making it easier for you, your business, to be found, along with fellow local businesses.

Local business is our only business! 

Only local businesses are included on the RelyLocal New Britain – Berlin site, so you don’t have to worry about competition from lesser priced businesses around the state or around the country, only local and only small – no national mega giants – crushing small local businesses left and right – are allowed.

On your business web page we have all of your contact information for your business, your address, you phone numbers (work, cell and fax if you like) and your business or personal e-mail, so you know people can reach you and there is a Google map right there with directions to your place so you know people can find you. If you already have a web page and social media, we link to those sites, so not only do people find you through RelyLocal, we drive traffic to your site and your social media, Google loves that.

In the body of your RelyLocal page you have room to tell your story and show your future customers what exactly is involved in coming to your shop; you get to educate your consumer. You can have pictures – which I can take or you can supply, to let people know about your product and your staff, taking some of the mystery out and get those first time customers who become steady return shoppers. They get to know you, and know what to expect before they come by. You get to establish that very necessary trust.

If you want to make a change to your RelyLocal page, want to add or subtract something, just let us know, and, at no additional charge, your change is made, within three days. Try that with a regular web page: suggest the people who set it up for you make changes at no additional charge – not likely to happen.

You also get on-line coupons. These coupons are on the web site, both on your page and on the local business coupon page. People can print these coupons whenever they want. Your coupons are available 24/7, up to three a coupons month. These are coupons you control, you determine the value, terms, and expiration, unlike other coupon sites where they sound so good but take half your profit. We list the coupon, we don’t take a cut.

The cool thing about your coupons is that on the RelyLocal coupon page, the page with all the coupons of all the member companies, people will not just look at the coupon they are looking for, say dinner for the family – you know they are going to look at every single coupon on that page. They are going to look at every coupon just to see. They could find your business with out even knowing they are looking for you! And the coupons are all local. You won’t be competing with other businesses in the state and certainly won’t be competing with national chains that can grossly undercut your prices.

Similar for the “Local Businesses” and the “Popular Categories” lists on the RelyLocal New Britain – Berlin site. All business categories are listed together, so, if someone is looking for a bakery, but needs another service, yours, they will see ALL the other shops and services available in our area – products and services they may currently go out of area for, not realizing they can get these things here, locally. Exposure by association -  by our local businesses combining on the RelyLocal New Britain – Berlin site to promote ONLY our area and our businesses, all member businesses profit by the collective exposure.

Image via Wikipedia

We also supply social media support. RelyLocal New Britain – Berlin has social media set up to support our member businesses. Maybe you do social media for your business already, or maybe it is just too confusing. We take on some of that headache for you by talking about your business – letting people know about your shop/business/services, and getting the buzz out there. You tell us what is going on -  just a quick email, and we let the people know. Everyone knows that word of mouth is the oldest and best form of marketing – through our social media we bring that to you.

So, you get a web site, coupons, social media, association with other local businessses and a grassroots buy local campaign to keep our money in the community where it will do the most good for us, all for only $25 a month. Compared to some of your other marketing options it is very reasonable.

In addition to the advantages the RelyLocal membership brings you, we can also offer, through partnership with KL&B Design LLC, other social media aids and graphic design services, also at a reasonable price. Be sure to ask about this offer.

If you are a local business that sees the value of this service, or know of a local business in need of this service, contact me at: ameliaschwencke@relylocal.com. Check out the web site at: www.relylocal.com/new-britain-berlin-connecticut.

Working together we can strengthen the local area economy by encouraging people to shop local, and by making that so easy for them.

Image via Wikipedia

According to an article from Stacy Mitchell on the web page “New Rules Project,” about a bill that passed the house recently allowing Crowdfunding, we could be catching up! Soon you may be able to invest in a portfolio of independent local businesses – allowing the possibility for small business to borrow money from their customers and communities – rather than depending on bank loans –  giving local people a chance to invest locally.

A great chance to support the local community, support local and small businesses and a great way to keep our money here at home where it does us the most good.

He couldn’t have been very happy, though he was no doubt serving that customer with a smile. She maybe felt bad too, a little, knowing the trouble she was putting him through; all the work, none of the profit. Was she thinking it was easy enough to shop there this day, to return an item, so how hard could hit have been to shop there that day to buy an item? I was, as I walked away. Was she considering the good buying local could do for the community? Probably not.

It got me thinking about bedroom communities. Bedroom communities are those places that have lots of people living in them; in houses, condos and apartments – who work out of town. Many of us, in the New Britain – Berlin area, do live here and work out of area, so this is, to us, a bedroom community. These people send their kids to school here, they go to church here and join clubs here, collect basic services, but do they shop here? Sometimes they do do their shopping here; but often it just seems more convenient to shop near work.

What is this doing on the home front?

Though shopping near work could be convenient, and sometimes even a little less expensive, have you considered what is this doing on the home front? Sure, saving a few bucks or a few minutes is helping to win the battle, but is it causing us to lose the war? What effects are created by our actions?

Well, it is making it tough for local business and especially small business. Seeing people only driving by on their way to work means no customers. No customers means no business. No business means less taxes supporting the community; less money being spent in the community means less money staying in the community. It isn’t just the big box stores or national chains that are causing local business to falter. It is you and me.

We might bemoan the closing of another business, but should we be surprised? 

Look at the local businesses in our community on your way to work. Do you wonder how they are doing? Some are doing well and will always be in demand. Some are struggling. Some are near disaster. Look at them, out your car window gliding by on your way to work. Give some thought to each business you pass. Which one will you miss the most if they suddenly go away? Which business will have the biggest impact on your life if they need to close their doors? How will your local look with empty buildings and missing shops?

When we see empty stores, or going out of business sales, maybe we feel bad. Maybe we jump on those sales; who can pass up a bargain, but if you are like me you feel bad, bad for them and all the people who worked for them. This is someone’s dreams going down the tubes because they just couldn’t make it. If you are like me you might be thinking of the time or two you went into that shop in the last couple of years, because it was handy…bought a thing or two, but didn’t go back very often though you needed what they carried. And if you are like me you might feel a little responsible, now they are closing, but then you might allow yourself to feel better because, after all, you are just one person, what real difference could you make, could you have made? You might be surprised.

The funny thing is you might not think of this when the Mayor and City or town tell you they need to raise the mill rate again, that taxes need to go up. When they tell you they need more money to run the municipal services you take for granted; the clearing of snow, the maintenance of parks, you probably think someone is mis-managing something.

Image via Wikipedia

You probably don’t think about the missing small businesses, or how their absence reduces collectable taxes for your municipality, requiring them to go to you to make up for the shortfall. And when your kid wants to join little league and they hit you up for the uniforms and fees, you probably wonder where that business went that sponsored them last year; oh, yeah, they went out of business. And you probably feel pretty bad come the holidays when there are so many empty stores, so few shops, leaving the town looking a bit deserted. (Which you might notice on your way to the mall, out of town.)

Does it make you think, “Someone should do something about this!” Does it make you think “Maybe I should have done something about this?” I hope you take a moment to think about this, before it is too late. Shopping local and supporting local business who support our community is what you can do about this. Supporting them is supporting us.

Maybe the best way to Protest Wall Street is to Support Main Street.