Traveling to the tournament

[CleanishProgram]

Celtic Truth is spot on with his town-by-town assessment, glad to see so many east coast MU fans

[DegenerateDish]

I have a job that requires travel, so I have a whole system for finding airfares.  I'm also a hobbyist travel hacker and one of those "miler" people that churns through credit cards for points/miles/etc.

i.e. it took me longer to type all that out than it did to find the fares.

I’m gonna have to fire up the old Scoop Travel thread in the Superbar to do some credit card point offer comps with you.

[Benny B]

I’m gonna have to fire up the old Scoop Travel thread in the Superbar to do some credit card point offer comps with you.

Better yet, let's discuss inside the Airport Marriott Lounge in Windsor on Wednesday evening!

[Benny B]

Cross-posting from the hotel thread:

https://alumni.marquette.edu/basketball-postseason-events-mens-receptions

Blue and Gold Pregame Celebrations and Team Sendoffs

Ring out ahoya with event space reserved just for Marquette fans. Enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and early-bird appetizers during all Marquette pregame receptions.

Round-trip shuttle service will be provided to and from the team hotel and the XL Center for the Marquette men’s basketball games.  Complimentary parking available at the hotel.

The pregame celebrations will begin 2.5 hours before tipoff.

Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport
28 Day Hill Rd., Windsor

THURSDAY, MARCH 21
2:00 p.m. ET
Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport, Atrium Terrace

SATURDAY, MARCH 23
Time: TBD
Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport, Atrium Terrace


Marquette Men's Basketball Open Practice

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20
1:15 p.m. ET
XL Center
1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford, Conn.
Round-trip shuttle available from team hotel (Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport)


Marquette University Lenten Mass

FRIDAY, MARCH 22
10:00 a.m. ET
Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport
28 Day Hill Rd., Windsor



Marquette Fan Headquarters Team Hotel

Located just eight miles from the XL Center, the Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport Hotel is the official Golden Eagles fan headquarters. Stop by for team sendoffs approximately 2.5 hours before each game, pick up-game day swag and get the latest scoop on MU in March events.

Hartford/Windsor Marriott Airport
28 Day Hill Rd., Windsor

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bdlap-hartford-windsor-marriott-airport/

NOTE: Based on 4 nights' stay (Wed-Sat), rates start at $190/night as of 10:45a on Monday.

[DegenerateDish]

Better yet, let's discuss inside the Airport Marriott Lounge in Windsor on Wednesday evening!

Ha! I wish I was heading out there this week, have to go to NYC next week instead for work. Couldn’t make Hartford work unfortunately.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Better yet, let's discuss inside the Airport Marriott Lounge in Windsor on Wednesday evening!

If you are staying up there i would highly recommend getting a rental car.  Particularly with the off day Fri.  It may be one of the least inspiring areas of CT....unless you love old-school Marriott's with the large ballroom/corp retreat center.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Yeah there's nothing to do except watch planes land and take off and look at old red Connecticut shade tobacco sheds.

[Celtic Truth]

Some quick recommendations for people traveling to Connecticut who are unfamiliar with the area. If you’re hanging around on Friday here are some possible options.

New haven- 35mins from Hartford. Home of Yale, beautiful campus right downtown. New haven is arguably the pizza capital of America. Frank Pepe’s on Wooster street is my favorite, Sally’s is on the same street but has more limited hours. Modern on state street is great too. Beware of long lines though at Pepe’s/Sally’s, especially during peak hours. Louis lunch is a really old school burger place downtown that claims to have invented the hamburger.

Springfield Massachusetts- 30mins from Hartford.
Pretty crappy city but it is home to the basketball hall of fame which is a great take. A brand new MGM casino just opened downtown a few months ago so a nice place to kill time.

Northampton/Amherst Massachusetts - about 45 mins from Hartford. Northampton is a nice town with a “small city” vibe downtown. A lot of good restaurant and bar options and some breweries. Amherst is home to umass, Amherst college, and a handful of other schools. Nice New England college town.

New London/Mystic- 1 hour from Hartford.
New London is home to the US coast guard academy which is cool to check out. Mystic is a good hit if you’re looking for a coastal New England town. Nice little downtown on the water with some good restaurants if you’re looking for New England seafood. Mystic drawbridge ice cream on the water is great. Also home to the mystic seaport museum; I’ve never been but I’ve heard good things.

West Hartford is just a few mins from downtown Hartford and has the best collection of bars/restaurants/shopping in the Hartford area.

[real chili 83]

Some quick recommendations for people traveling to Connecticut who are unfamiliar with the area. If you’re hanging around on Friday here are some possible options.

New haven- 35mins from Hartford. Home of Yale, beautiful campus right downtown. New haven is arguably the pizza capital of America. Frank Pepe’s on Wooster street is my favorite, Sally’s is on the same street but has more limited hours. Modern on state street is great too. Beware of long lines though at Pepe’s/Sally’s, especially during peak hours. Louis lunch is a really old school burger place downtown that claims to have invented the hamburger.

Springfield Massachusetts- 30mins from Hartford.
Pretty crappy city but it is home to the basketball hall of fame which is a great take. A brand new MGM casino just opened downtown a few months ago so a nice place to kill time.

Northampton/Amherst Massachusetts - about 45 mins from Hartford. Northampton is a nice town with a “small city” vibe downtown. A lot of good restaurant and bar options and some breweries. Amherst is home to umass, Amherst college, and a handful of other schools. Nice New England college town.

New London/Mystic- 1 hour from Hartford.
New London is home to the US coast guard academy which is cool to check out. Mystic is a good hit if you’re looking for a coastal New England town. Nice little downtown on the water with some good restaurants if you’re looking for New England seafood. Mystic drawbridge ice cream on the water is great. Also home to the mystic seaport museum; I’ve never been but I’ve heard good things.

West Hartford is just a few mins from downtown Hartford and has the best collection of bars/restaurants/shopping in the Hartford area.

Gots hit New Haven on Friday.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Some quick recommendations for people traveling to Connecticut who are unfamiliar with the area. If you’re hanging around on Friday here are some possible options.

New haven- 35mins from Hartford. Home of Yale, beautiful campus right downtown. New haven is arguably the pizza capital of America. Frank Pepe’s on Wooster street is my favorite, Sally’s is on the same street but has more limited hours. Modern on state street is great too. Beware of long lines though at Pepe’s/Sally’s, especially during peak hours. Louis lunch is a really old school burger place downtown that claims to have invented the hamburger.

Springfield Massachusetts- 30mins from Hartford.
Pretty crappy city but it is home to the basketball hall of fame which is a great take. A brand new MGM casino just opened downtown a few months ago so a nice place to kill time.

Northampton/Amherst Massachusetts - about 45 mins from Hartford. Northampton is a nice town with a “small city” vibe downtown. A lot of good restaurant and bar options and some breweries. Amherst is home to umass, Amherst college, and a handful of other schools. Nice New England college town.

New London/Mystic- 1 hour from Hartford.
New London is home to the US coast guard academy which is cool to check out. Mystic is a good hit if you’re looking for a coastal New England town. Nice little downtown on the water with some good restaurants if you’re looking for New England seafood. Mystic drawbridge ice cream on the water is great. Also home to the mystic seaport museum; I’ve never been but I’ve heard good things.

West Hartford is just a few mins from downtown Hartford and has the best collection of bars/restaurants/shopping in the Hartford area.

There is also The Bar pizza in Downtown New Haven that has joined the New Haven pizza troika.  Plus they have their own onsite brewery.

If anyone from out of town needs any recommendations or some orientation please send me a message on Scoop and I'll be glad to help.

[real chili 83]

There is also The Bar pizza in Downtown New Haven that has joined the New Haven pizza troika.  Plus they have their own onsite brewery.

If anyone from out of town needs any recommendations or some orientation please send me a message on Scoop and I'll be glad to help.

We are staying at the team hotel in Hartford.  Don't plan on getting a car.  Planning on hitting New Haven on Friday.  I hear the train is a good option.  Your thoughts?  Aren't you class of '83?

[Benny B]

FYI: Team hotel (Airport Marriott) is booked Wednesday night; however, they do have rooms available Thu-Sat nights.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

We are staying at the team hotel in Hartford.  Don't plan on getting a car.  Planning on hitting New Haven on Friday.  I hear the train is a good option.  Your thoughts?  Aren't you class of '83?

Jeff

Chilli,

I'm class of '91.  I grew up in Connecticut and returned after graduation.
Important Connecticut info.  The Green is always the center of any town or city.  In Boston they call a Green, Common.

Hartford Line CT Rail  (The site is easy to use.  Schedules and a route map.)
http://www.hartfordline.com/

You would have to Uber from airport to Windsor Locks Station (10 minute drive) or Union Station-Hartford (20 minutes) and get off the train at New Haven - State Street Station.  State Street Station is the Downtown station else you end up at Union Station which is at Long Wharf near Ikea and the waterfront. 

From State Street Station, head one direction and it's a 7 minute walk to the New Haven Green & Yale & the heart of Downtown.  Head the opposite direction and it's a 7 minute walk to Wooster Street home of New Haven's Little Italy and the home of Pepe's Pizza and Sally's Pizza.  (The local secret is Pepe's has a second location called The Spot and it's right next door to Pepe's in the back of the parking lot and the line is significantly shorter for the same pizza.  Line wait also depends on what time you arrive.  Go when they open 11;00/11:30 and you'll probably get right in or go like 3:00/3:30 between meal times and will probably get right in.)  Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms are close, but not yet blooming in Wooster Square Park in the Little Italy section.  https://woostersquareblossom.blogspot.com/

The Bar pizza is excellent and is about two blocks from The Green. 

The Yale Bookstores & gear shops are all on the intersection of Broadway and York Street.  There is a smaller Yale gift shop on College Street next to the Schubert Theater in the Taft Apartment building.     

If you want to see where scenes from Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull were filmed stand on Chapel Street in front of the Union League Cafe staring at the Yale Old Campus.

That should be enough to get you started in New Haven.  Just let me know what else you might like to see.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Gots hit New Haven on Friday.

I would add the following if you come to New Haven:

For those staying by the airport/train...rent a car...its worth it in CT unless you are going point to point on one of the trainlines.

- Hikes - East Rock park - Easy hike up to the bluff above the city and see to the sound.  Right by there is Edgerton park - an old estate that is now public land -- good place for a walk
- Beach - Go see Lighthouse point - fun when winter/cold
- Actual beach walk - go up or down the coast to Milford or Hammonasset
- Museums - Yale Art Gallery & Yale Center for British Art are really great museums - both are interesting buildings if you like architecture (designed by the same person early vs late in his career).  Also if you can find a way to get into the Hockey arena you wont be disappointed if you like architecture
- Seafood - CT 'Hot Butter' Lobster roll the best - way better than other places in New England -- Lenny's Indian Head in Brandford a good 'authentic' representation during the off-season
- Pizza - covered, but here's my 2 cents 1. Modern -- then Bar best for beer & pie -- Sally's - Best of the originals -- Pepe's better than anything in the midwest
- New Haven has some really great Asian food Ramen (Shiro Kuro) - Chinese (Taste of China)..unfortunately the really good indian place just closed.  Really unique sushi with Miya's (more sustainable, so you wont find a tuna roll)
- Fine Dining - Zinc, Kala (in Hamden great cocktails too), Union League, Heirloom, Olea & Roia all great options
- Italian - L'Orcio & Cafe Bravo our favorites, I have heard good things about Olmo but havent been there yet
- Mexican - Mezcal - really great
- Cocktails - Ordinary
- Beer & Frites - Rudy's - A Yale institution

[Benny B]

My daughter loves lobster (she's definitely my wife's kid).  Where would be a good place to take her on Friday if I want a whole steamed lobster plopped down on the table (preferably something that won't cost half of her MU tuition fund but won't also give us food poisoning)?

We have a rental car, so driving isn't a problem.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

My daughter loves lobster (she's definitely my wife's kid).  Where would be a good place to take her on Friday if I want a whole steamed lobster plopped down on the table (preferably something that won't cost half of her MU tuition fund but won't also give us food poisoning)?

We have a rental car, so driving isn't a problem.

Lenny's Indian Head Inn is a good option.  Right on the water - Branford. 

Down near Essex if you are heading in that direction - there is a place called Bill's (Westbrook)..check the menu i always get lobster rolls, but believe you can get a whole too.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

My daughter loves lobster (she's definitely my wife's kid).  Where would be a good place to take her on Friday if I want a whole steamed lobster plopped down on the table (preferably something that won't cost half of her MU tuition fund but won't also give us food poisoning)?

We have a rental car, so driving isn't a problem.

Favorite Seafood Restaurants:
I agree with Frenn as I work in Branford and I take clients to Lenny's of Indian Neck.
http://www.lennysnow.com/

Stowe's - This is my family's favorite right on the beach in West Haven, CT.  5-10 minute drive from downtown New Haven
https://www.stowesseafoodct.com/page/31296-Menu

A Connecticut favorite with three locations is Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale
https://www.ljfishtale.com/

Trip Advisor had this list for seafood closer to Hartford.  As someone posted earlier if it has "Max" in the restaurant title it's part of a local chain and known to be good.
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g33804-c33-Hartford_Connecticut.html

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I would add the following if you come to New Haven:

For those staying by the airport/train...rent a car...its worth it in CT unless you are going point to point on one of the trainlines.

- Hikes - East Rock park - Easy hike up to the bluff above the city and see to the sound.  Right by there is Edgerton park - an old estate that is now public land -- good place for a walk
- Beach - Go see Lighthouse point - fun when winter/cold
- Actual beach walk - go up or down the coast to Milford or Hammonasset
- Museums - Yale Art Gallery & Yale Center for British Art are really great museums - both are interesting buildings if you like architecture (designed by the same person early vs late in his career).  Also if you can find a way to get into the Hockey arena you wont be disappointed if you like architecture
- Seafood - CT 'Hot Butter' Lobster roll the best - way better than other places in New England -- Lenny's Indian Head in Brandford a good 'authentic' representation during the off-season
- Pizza - covered, but here's my 2 cents 1. Modern -- then Bar best for beer & pie -- Sally's - Best of the originals -- Pepe's better than anything in the midwest
- New Haven has some really great Asian food Ramen (Shiro Kuro) - Chinese (Taste of China)..unfortunately the really good indian place just closed.  Really unique sushi with Miya's (more sustainable, so you wont find a tuna roll)
- Fine Dining - Zinc, Kala (in Hamden great cocktails too), Union League, Heirloom, Olea & Roia all great options
- Italian - L'Orcio & Cafe Bravo our favorites, I have heard good things about Olmo but havent been there yet
- Mexican - Mezcal - really great
- Cocktails - Ordinary
- Beer & Frites - Rudy's - A Yale institution

I'll add the following:

East Rock Park - You can drive to the summit and see the Monument at the top and a great view of New Haven & Long Island Sound.
https://www.newhavenct.gov/gov/depts/parks/our_parks/east_rock.htm

Museums - You can see Van Gogh's Night Watch in the Yale Gallery as well as Monet's, Picasso's, etc. and oh yeah it's free.
For those with kid's Frenn forgot the Peabody Museum.  It's the first natural history museum and the dinosaur hall mural is famous.  http://peabody.yale.edu/
It's one block from the Yale Whale, Yale's ice arena designed by the same guy (Eero Saarinen) who did the St. Louis Arch.

Milford Boardwalk - I spend a lot of free time here.  A boardwalk runs the length of Silver Sands State Park and Walnut Beach (town beach).  It's also MU82's old town.
15 minute drive from Downtown New Haven.
https://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325262&deepNav_GID=1650

Lobster Rolls were invented in Connecticut.  The first was in Milford in 1929, but the place closed a long time ago.

[MomofMUltiples]

Museums - You can see Van Gogh's Night Watch in the Yale Gallery as well as Monet's, Picasso's, etc. and oh yeah it's free.
For those with kid's Frenn forgot the Peabody Museum.  It's the first natural history museum and the dinosaur hall mural is famous.  http://peabody.yale.edu/
It's one block from the Yale Whale, Yale's ice arena designed by the same guy (Eero Saarinen) who did the St. Louis Arch.

Thanks for the great tips on things to do, but sometimes I can't pass up the opportunity for a little education.  Rembrandt Van Rijn painted The Night Watch and if you are ever in Amsterdam, go see it; it is spectacular.  The Van Gogh exhibited at the Yale Museum is Le cafe de nuit (The Night Cafe).

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Thanks for the great tips on things to do, but sometimes I can't pass up the opportunity for a little education.  Rembrandt Van Rijn painted The Night Watch and if you are ever in Amsterdam, go see it; it is spectacular.  The Van Gogh exhibited at the Yale Museum is Le cafe de nuit (The Night Cafe).

I knew that and thank you for the correction.
I must have Amsterdam on my mind.