Hall High School rising senior Tanner Kriedel captured images of West Hartford’s sold-out ‘Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center’ from far above, and SnapSeat Photo Booth added a twist on the social media sharing idea. Video of the event provided by Dylan Carneiro, and edited by David Chmielewski of DirectLine Media.

Birds-eye-view of the first ever, sold-out, Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. photo by Tanner Kreidel (shown in blue and white stripped shirt)

By Joy Taylor

The first ever Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center served a sold-out crowd (exceeding 300 people), and drew from not only West Hartford, but had visitors from Windsor, Glastonbury, Middletown and even Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina and Florida!

The food was the main attraction (read more here), of course, and despite the steamy summer weather, it didn’t disappoint.

But wait … there was more.

Tanner Kreidel piloted his drone camera high above the REI parking lot to give a true birds-eye-view of the event, providing a unique, and artistic perspective on the experience. (See a few more images below.)

Our other creative photographer on the scene gave the foodies in attendance a chance to put down their own phones and step into the SnapSeat Photo Booth. Jonathan Johnson, owner of the Hartford-based photo booth company, captured the event in a unique social media kiosk format that allowed participants to instantly print and share images on social media, using #wehataste, and #tasteweha (a few samples are below).

Jonathan had this to say: “We had a great time at the Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center event, and the SnapSeat team had a blast taking photos and making memories with new friends in West Hartford.  So glad West Hartford Magazine made us a part of it, and working with Eat In Connecticut is great – they always have creative and fun ways to make their events more social.  SnapSeat looks forward to capturing more West Hartford memories at upcoming events.”

And the video shown above was shot by West Hartford resident Dylan Carneiro, a Conard graduate and current Colby-Sawyer student who is interning with West Hartford Magazine and We-Ha.com this summer. David Chmielewski of DirectLine Media provided video editing.

“Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center” also included massages, facials and swag bags filled with special offers for guests including free valet parking at Blue Back this past weekend.

Tickets sold quickly, so take that as fair warning. The next event may just be THE networking event of the year: the Best of West Hartford Awards Show on Thursday, Sept. 8. More than 275 finalists are now battling for the “Best of West Hartford” title in nearly 50 categories. Vote here. Your vote counts in this true ‘people’s choice’ contest! Tickets available here.

Watch for details for ALL of our EVENTS on We-Ha.com and sign up for the FREE newsletter if you haven’t already so you don’t miss out!

There’s lots more where these came from. Visit Eat In Connecticut on Facebook to see more images from the “Taste of…” event.

Directly above the sold-out, Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. Jade Marketing Group’s “Jean Machine” is visible at the far right. photo by Tanner Kreidel

Birds-eye-view, looking west over the REI parking lot of the first ever, sold-out, Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. Drone photo by Tanner Kreidel

West Hartford Magazine’s Tom Hickey with NBC Connecticut’s Anthony Wiggins at Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. photo by SnapSeat Photo Booth

Cheyney Barrieau, Jimmy Altman, Ronni Newton, Kristen Fritz and Tom Hickey at Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. photo by SnapSeat Photo Booth

Connecticut based fashion and lifestyle blogger Rosa Diana at Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. photo by SnapSeat Photo Booth

West Hartford residents Mick and Amy Melvin at Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. photo by SnapSeat Photo Booth

“Social Media, PR, & Marketing Story Tellers” Cheyney Barrieau, Jeannette Dardenne and Kristen Fritz of “Eat IN Connecticut” at Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. Courtesy of Eat IN Connecticut

Blue Back Square’s Marketing Director Elizabeth Zigmont is flanked by West Hartford Magazine’s Tom Hickey and Joy Taylor at Taste of Blue Back Square & The Center on July 27, 2016. photo courtesy of Eat IN Connecticut/Cheyney Barrieau