Graduate Student Organization (GSO)GSO Guide to Student Life
Daily Life in the Greater Hartford Area
Finding a Place to Live
Finding a place to live can sometimes be a difficult and exhausting experience,
but the following ideas should help you in your search to find a place
to live in the Greater Hartford area.
The Health Center does not have on-campus housing, so you will need to
find housing off campus.
Very often students at the Health Center post advertisements for roommates or apartment rentals on information boards located throughout the building. And one of the best ways to find a place to live in the area is the
Housing Notebook kept by the Dental School in AG-036 (the
first office next to the Patterson Auditorium, across from the
Bookstore) that lists some of the available housing options and students seeking roommates; this info is used often and is
available for all students: graduate, medical and dental. Students
cannot take the book out of the office, but the office has comfy couches
and a house phone and are students are welcome to come down and peruse
it during regular office hours.
In addition to the Housing Notebook, a list of some of the local
apartment complexes has been compiled to get you started in your search.
You can access this PDF file online by clicking
here.
If you aren't able to locate a place through either of these resources, or if you're not interested in rooming with a fellow student,
other choices for finding a suitable place to live would include the classified ads in both the
New Britain Herald and the
Hartford Courant,
and free weekly newspapers such as Tradewinds and the Rare Reminder (each available at
convenience stores in West Hartford and Hartford) are a good source for local apartments (usually those in two and three
family homes).
Additionally, some websites that many students have found helpful
include:
www.apartments.com
www.rent.com
www.courant.com/classified/realestate/
www.stepsaver.com/cgi-bin/classifieds2.cgi?real_estate
hartford.craigslist.org
Scanning the classified ads can be time consuming though. An alternative to the classified ads is to use the Apartment Guide. This guide can be obtained in lobbies of banks and some grocery stores or at the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce. Virtually all the apartments advertised in the Apartment Guide are in large complexes located throughout the Greater Hartford area.
As a last resort, check with a local Realtor, but keep in mind that the
apartments that they have listed are often expensive.
Wherever you find a place to live, keep in mind that usually a
security deposit equivalent to one month's rent is required and
sometimes a credit check (at your cost) will be conducted.
However, many apartment complexes will offer specials throughout the
year, especially in the summer, so be sure to ask if they have any
deals!
[back to top]
Public Transportation
Many apartments in Farmington and nearby cities are on the local bus
line, which has the Health Center as one of its stops. Local buses
also run to West Farms Mall on the Farmington/West Hartford town line
and Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester, among other locations.
Details on the local bus system (known as CT Transit), including bus
fares, where to purchase bus passes, where local bus routes run, and what
their schedules are can be found on their website at
www.cttransit.com.
The Health Center stop can be found on both the New Britain Farmington
Avenue line (F line) and the Hartford Farmington Avenue line (E1, E6 and
E7).
For regional and cross country travel by train or bus,
you can travel out of the Hartford Terminal at 1 Union Place in downtown
Hartford. For train information, check out
www.amtrak.com. National/regional
bus companies that run out of the Hartford terminal include
Greyhound (www.greyhound.com)
and Peter Pan (www.peterpanbus.com).
For air travel, plan on flying into/out of Bradley
International Airport located in Windsor Locks, CT, which is about 40
minutes from the Greater Hartford area (when purchasing tickets, Bradley
International (airport code BDL) will often show the city as
Hartford/Springfield/Windsor Locks; this is the correct airport).
Major airlines including American, Continental, Delta, Northwest,
Southwest, United, and US Airways all fly into/out of BDL. For more
information on the airport itself, go to
www.bradleyairport.com.
[back to top]
Local Banks
There are a vast number of branches of local banks in close proximity to the Health Center. Most of the products offered are the same but keep in mind that several banks offer free checking (no monthly service charge, no minimum balance requirement, and no fee to write checks) as long as you have direct deposit to your account. Peoples Bank (several locations on Farmington Avenue in
West Hartford) offers such an account and it comes with a special savings account which pays a nominal interest rate. They have an extremely convenient ATM at the hospital entrance to the Health Center, as well as inside local Stop & Shop grocery stores. On the other hand, Fleet Bank requires a minimum balance in your checking account to avoid fees.
To sign up for direct deposit, the bank will either provide you with the forms needed or instruct you to obtain them at the Health Center (you can get them from Human Resources in the ASB). In any case, remember to shop around to avoid losing precious dollars by paying unnecessary bank service charges. Be sure to ask if they have a student checking account and if so, what the benefits are.
Your stipend only goes so far!
Here's a list of some of the banks you'll find close to the Health Center. Also, check the Yellow Pages of the phone directory for a location closer to you.
- Bank of America, 781 Farmington Ave., Farmington, 800-841-4000
- Banknorth, 143 S. Main Street, West Hartford, 860-561-7335
Farmington Savings Bank, 32 Main Street, Farmington, 860-679-4600; also located in West Farms Mall
- Fleet Bank, 1447 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, 1-800-833-6623
- Peoples Bank, 1013 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, 860-233-6201
- Sovereign Bank, 1010 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, 1-877-SOV-BANK; also located in West Farms Mall and some grocery stores such as Shaw’s in New Britain
[back to top]
Where to Find Grocery Stores
Grocery stores are abundant in the Greater Hartford area. You can easily find chain stores (Super Stop & Shop, Big Y, Shaw’s, etc.), regional markets, great mom and pop stores, and specialty stores featuring ethnic cuisine. Most of the larger stores are located in more populated areas and on busy streets. You can probably locate one close to you simply by driving around. The closest grocery
store to the Health Center is the Stop & Shop at 1235 Farmington Avenue in West Hartford. Also convenient to where many students live is the Super Stop & Shop at 44 Fenn Road (just off Route 9) in Newington. Reliable mom and pop stores can probably be found in the neighborhood you choose to live, although prices tend to be higher than at the large retail chains. To find those specialty
shops or markets special in ethnic groceries check the Yellow Pages of the phone directory.
You can also find links to grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, etc. at
hartford.citysearch.com.
[back to top]
Car Mechanics
A good place to have your oil changed is Jiffy Lube. They offer a 14 point service check-up for approximately $35.00. You are in and out of there in about 20 minutes. Jiffy Lube can be found in virtually every town and there is one located directly across from the West Farms Mall in the Sears Automotive building.
Midas, Firestone, Meineke, and Monro are good places to have brake and muffler repairs. Midas is impressive in that they offer "car life-time warrantees" on most of their services. Also, these services can be found in most towns.
A word of caution. Local garages may seem appealing when they offer lower prices for repairs compared to dealerships or national automobile repair companies. However, their work can be poor, unreliable, and not guaranteed, so be sure to ask around!
[back to top]
Local Haircut Places
Salons and barber shops are abundant in the Greater Hartford area. Most of the salons in Farmington and West Hartford however are quite expensive. Depending on how fussy you are, try a salon which does not offer the frills (fancy appearance and other services such as nails, waxing, facials, tanning) and you will probably get a decent cut at a reasonable price ($15.00 to $20.00). Also, keep
in mind that if you do not let them style your hair (blow dry and curl) you may pay less. You can also save money by requesting that they do not wash you hair first, but simply wet it. Remember to ask before they begin to see if any student discounts or rates apply.
Hair salons are listed under Beauty Salons in the Yellow Pages and Barber shops under Barbers. Some that we suggest are: Cost Cutters in Corbins Plaza (near Sears) and Bristol and Master Cuts in West Farms Mall and Buckland Hills Mall (in Manchester).
[back to top]
Local Libraries and Bookstores
Your local library is a valuable community resource to be used. Usually you have to show ID (passport, driver's license), and proof of residence in that town. Often libraries will bend this rule for out-of-state students living within their community and attending college. The West Hartford Public Library system offers such a program. In addition, most public libraries in Connecticut allow
you to borrow materials free of charge with what's called a "ConnecticaRoad" When you borrow materials out of town, just be sure to follow the lending rules of the library you visit. Materials may be returned to the nearest participating library. Remember, libraries can be great places to study.
The Town of West Hartford has three public libraries:
- Main Library, 20 South Main Street, 860-523-3277
- Faxon Branch, 173 New Britain Avenue, 860-523-5545
- Bishop's Corner Branch, 15 Starkel Road, 860-236-5445
In Farmington there are two public libraries:
- Farmington Library, Farmington Avenue, 860-673-6791
- Village Library, Main Street, 860-677-6866
There are several large scale bookstores that are in close proximity to the Health Center. These bookstores are Borders Books and Music and Barnes and Noble. Each are located on New Britain Avenue (close to the West Farms Mall and Corbins Corner). Each offer a wide selection of books and music and also boast great cafes. There are also several book stores in the local malls, and used
book shops in the area.
[back to top]
Post Offices
No matter which city or town you choose to live in, you should find a post office nearby. To locate the nearest one to you see "The Government & Municipal Guide" in the Blue Pages of your phone book under United States Government/United States Postal Service or
visit the US Postal Service website at
www.usps.com. The closest Post Office to the Health Center is located in West Hartford Center on 102 LaSalle Road,
860-231-2865.
You can buy stamps at the vending machines outside the Health Center cafeteria as well as the Bookstore and Connucopia Gift Shop in the hospital lobby.
There is a mailbox just outside the Academic Entrance where you can drop
letters to be mailed; daily pickup is currently 12:30 PM Monday through
Friday and 1:00 PM on Saturday (there is no mail delivery on Sundays).
[back to top]
Places of Worship
The Greater Hartford area is home to numerous religious organizations. You can find those closest to you in the Yellow pages under ‘Churches,’ but here are a few options in the Greater Hartford area.
Baptist
Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, 149 Mountain Road, West Hartford, 860-521-8380
Chinese Baptist Church, 90 North Main Street, West Hartford, 860-521-4763
Saint James Baptist Church, 20 Dix Avenue, New Britain, 860-224-7736
Emmanuel Baptist Church, 296 New Britain Avenue, Newington, 860-666-1055
First Baptist Church of West Hartford, 90 N. Main Street, West Hartford,
860-521-9460
Buddhist
Buddhist Pagoda, 255 Cherry Street, New Britain, 860-612-0077
Catholic
Saint Patrick’s Church, 110 Main Street, Farmington, 860-677-2639
Saint Brigid Church, 1088 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, 860-236-5965
Holy Cross Church, 31 Biruta Street, New Britain, 860-229-2011
Church of the Holy Spirit, 183 Church Street, Newington, 860-666-5671
Church of Christ
Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, 19 Franklin Square, New Britain, 860-832-9091
Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, 595 Franklin Avenue, Hartford, 860-243-0502
Church of Jesus Christ of LDS, 750 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike, Southington, 860-6285-0617
Congregational
Covenant Congregational Church, 1 Westminster Drive, West Hartford, 860-521-2269
Church-Christ Congregational, 1075 Main Street, Newington, 860-666-4689
South Congregational Church, 90 Main Street, New Britain, 860-223-3691
Episcopal
SaintJames Episcopal Church, 3 Mountain Road, Farmington, 860-677-1564
Grace Episcopal Church, 124 Maple Hill Avenue, Newington, 860-666-3331
Saint John’s Episcopal Church, 679 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, 860-523-5201
Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, 147 West Main Street, New Britain, 860-826-8049
Hindu
Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple, 18 Hickory Hill Road, Simsbury, 860-651-0343
Islam
Muhammad Mosque of Islam, 135 Barbour Street, Hartford, 860-525-2862
Jehovah’s Witness
Jehovah’s Witnesses, 232 Slater Road, New Britain, 860-223-9117
Jewish
Temple Sinai, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington, 860-561-1055
Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, 860-233-9696
Temple B’Nai Israel, 265 West Main Street, New Britain, 860-244-0479
Korean
Greater Hartford Korean United, 711 New Britain Avenue, Hartford, 860-953-0141
First Korean Presbyterian, 300 Chapel Road, Manchester, 860-645-1416
Lutheran
Bethany Lutheran Church, 1655 Boulevard, West Hartford, 860-521-5076
Grace Lutheran Church, 222 Farmington Avenue, Plainville, 860-747-5191
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, 1655 Main Street, Newington, 860-667-2291
First Lutheran Church, 77 Franklin Square, New Britain, 860-224-2475
Methodist
West Hartford United Methodist, 1358 New Britain Avenue, West Hartford, 860-521-7766
United Methodist Church, 401 New Britain Avenue, Newington, 860-666-3479
Asbury United Methodist Church, 90 Church Avenue, Bristol, 860-584-0529
Non-Demoninational
Calvary Fellowship, meets at the Homewood Suites by Hilton, 2 Farm
Glen Blvd., Farmington,
www.calvaryrevolution.com
Presbyterian
Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2080 Boulevard, West Hartford, 860-521-6240
First Presbyterian Church, 136 Capital Avenue, Hartford, 860-246-2224
Covenant Presbyterian Church, 124 Old Farms Road, Simsbury, 860-658-9772
First Korean Presbyterian, 300 Chapel Road, Manchester, 860-645-1416
Unitarian
Unitarian Universalist Church, 830 Corbin Avenue, New Britain, 860-828-6141
Unitarian Meeting House, 50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, 860-233-9897
[back to top] |
