I've had the dubious fortune of living in Manchester, Connecticut for most of my life. Like many blue collar New England towns, we're a place with a bit of a hangover. Prosperity and jobs were here in the 19th and 20th centuries provided by the Cheney Brothers and their silk mills. After the Depression, things went downhill, and we've been circling the drain ever since. The local government still clings to the 30's motto of 'A City of Village Charm' despite the difficulties of the town's heroin problem and all that that entails.
We've got crime, drugs, violence and rust. Also a very successful shopping mall area that provides us with the busiest intersection in the state. Despite all that, there's reasons to be here. We've got a beautiful collection of parks, two excellent libraries, decent schools, and a whole hell of a lot of good food.
I've spent the last year putting a concerted effort into learning to cook and appreciate food. In a lot of ways I still don't know what the hell I'm doing, but I've never minded falling on my ass while learning new things. I'm going to spend the next year falling on my ass some more, while trying food from local restaurants and recipes from where ever the hell peaks my interest. Only this time, I'll be writing about it.
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