YourHartford.com

YH Magazine Meets Rebekah McFarlane

Colstville finally got the National Historic Landmark status. Tell us how long it took. Was the process difficult?

A: Receiving National Historic Landmark Designation was a great win for the City of Hartford and the State of Connecticut. It is the stepping stone to becoming a National Historic Park (there is currently only one in the state). This effort started many years ago and would not have come to fruition without the collaboration of our City and State leaders and all of the supporters and stakeholders. Rarely do you see so many people come together to support a cause.

You are a huge supporter of Trust House Family Learning Center. How did you get involved with that and why?

Trust House grabbed my attention and my heart immediately. I loved their mission, “empowering people through education” and helping less fortunate families live better lives. Trust House reminded me of an organization my mother founded many years ago, The Hope Program, an employment-training program for homeless adults. As a child and later as an adult, I watched my mother help a great deal of people and I witnessed how each and every person can make a difference. I felt that I could make a difference at Trust House. Prior to joining the Board, I started and taught a culinary/entrepreneurial program for ten women (after all, my dream job was to be an on-air chef and I worked for Martha Stewart). Every week I would meet with my class a Trust House. Some women went on to owning their own catering companies. The women were so passionate and inspiring; it motivated me to do more so that Trust House could help more families and children. Today we host several events throughout the year -- my favorite being the Dream Dance. In preparation of the upcoming event (May 3rd hint hint), I have been spending most of my evenings in Glastonbury practicing at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio. Practicing is a lot of work and I love every minute of it. It's my reprieve.

MORE AFTER PHOTO BELOW:

Besides the Trust House, what other Boards or Organizations do you belong to?

I enjoy being involved in the Hartford Community. I am a proud Board Member of the Hartford Stage and I Chair their Springboard Committee. This particular Committee brings together the area’s young business professionals by creating fun networking events that incorporate the arts. I am also Co-chair to the Governor’s Small Business Advisory Council. Our mission or job is to act as a voice for the small business community in bringing their concerns, issues and interests to the Governor’s Office, the State Legislature and Regulatory Bodies. As a business person in Connecticut, I feel honored to serve on this Board.

What is a perfect day off in your opinion?

The perfect day off for me is not having to do anything and being able to just spend time with my friends and family. During the winter months, I am happiest on the slopes and during the summer, I love to be near the water having barbecues and clambakes with friends.

What is your favorite restaurant and why?

There are a lot of great new restaurants to choose from in Hartford. I enjoy eating at Feng and Dish mostly because of the atmosphere. On quieter nights I prefer an evening at Bin 228 where I can just lounge and relax. When I crave a grilled cheese sandwich, I head to Arch Street Tavern – they have the best grilled cheese in town (you have to ask for it – it's is not on the menu).

A: Quite simply, it’s Connecticut’s nightlife resource. It’s an online directory of the bars in Hartford, New Haven and much of the surrounding areas. It’s a listing of what is going on at each one, from live music to club nights to drink specials to karaoke. If there is something to do at a local bar, it’s got a place in the listings.

A: Exactly. What I’ve done is taken a lot of the leg work out of the equation. I’ve already scoured the area and consolidated everything I’ve found into an easy-to-view listing so when you are looking for something to do on any particular night, all you have to do is take a look at that night’s calendar. With a few clicks, you can browse by happy hours, nightly events and even sort the list of bars into pubs, clubs or restaurants.