Taste of Blue Back & The Center Feeds 500 on Wednesday Night - We-Ha

The third annual Taste of Blue Back & The Center stayed cool and dry with 16 participating restaurants showcasing signature bites for the crowd of nearly 500 to feast upon.

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

By Joy Taylor, photos by Todd Fairchild and Ronni Newton

Event organizers scrambled to set up an indoor venue at the last minute – due to rain in the forecast – and thanks the the generosity of Spaces co-working facility, which haven’t even started their remodeling of the former REI store on Raymond Road yet, the “plan B” worked out very well.

The timing of having a large, open space available, just steps away from the original location, was an event planners dream come true. The Taste of Blue Back & The Center had had good weather in the Raymond Road parking lot for the first two years.

“We can’t say enough good things about Taylor Rental Party Plus, and T&T DJ and Sound for coming to the rescue and tolerating our last minute changes when we had to move the event indoors,” commented Tom Hickey of WHMedia.

The staff at Blue Back Square made the change in plans possible and even though the last-minute-venue had a few challenges, including disabled indoor restrooms (thankfully clean porta potty’s were on site, as well as Deadbolt Grill across the parking lot which was very accommodating), and the future Spaces was transformed into a great event venue.

Special thanks to host sponsors Eagan, Donohue, Van Dyke & Falsey Attorneys at Law and Keating Agency Insurance.

The stars of the night were, of course, the restaurants and vendors including Artisan, Bar Louie, Cheesecake Factory, Cook & The Bear, Deadbolt Grill, Fleming’s, Flora, Billy Grant Dining Group, Green Teahouse, Harry’s Pizza, INDIA, Potbelly, Rizzuto’s, SPoT Coffee, Vinted, and World of Beer.

Guests also chatted with representatives from Anytime Fitness, had a fun photo session with SnapSeat Photo Booths (sponsored in part by Northstar Wealth Partners and Closing Management), had their hair styled into braids and ponytails by Blo blow dry bar, and watched dance demonstrations by Arthur Murray dancers.

The evening wrapped up with some live comedy, presented by Dr. Steven A. Fischman Orthodontics and coordinated by Comedian Paul Gregory. Steven and Paul performed, along with comedians Darin Seacreast, Howie Mason and Rodney Norman in turn.

APK Charities was the designated charity for the raffle.

Additional thanks to the #wehaevents sponsors: Blue Back Square, Central Connecticut State University, French Cleaners, Jeff Hodges Landscaping, Lux Bond & Green, Valerie E. Thomas Associates, Sheehan Hilborn Breen, Robin Gebrian/William Raveis, Marcum, and The McAuley.

Other partners include Connecticut Jewish Ledger, DirectLine Media, Eat IN Connecticut, FLOW, Merchant Solutions, Roy Web Design, SnapSeat Photo Booths, T&T Sound, Taylor Rental Party Plus, Todd Fairchild Photography, Two Pour Guys, West Hartford Chamber of Commerce, We-Ha.com, West Hartford Press, West Hartford LIFE, WH Squared, West Hartford Magazine, and Town of West Hartford.

Many guests were overhead saying this was the best “Taste” event yet, and were very grateful for the air-conditioned space!

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Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Spaces, co-working had information available at the Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Bryan Donahue, with Mohegan Sun and Bob Keiser with APK Charities at Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo courtesy of Kevin Dowd

Roxanne Stachelek, Aileen Li and cover illustrator Daisy Li at Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild

Taste of Blue Back & The Center on July 25, 2018. Photo credit: Todd Fairchild