Hartford Business Journal

Digital Media & Film But they also come to visit one of the largest outdoor museums in New England. From kayaks to tall ships, Mystic Seaport is home to more than 500 historic watercra, including the 1841 whaling ship Charles W. Morgan, and boasts the largest collection of marine artifacts in the country. It is also home to a recreated 19th-cen- tury seafaring village, where visitors can step back in time and see what it was like to live in a coastal New England town in the 1860s. "We get to tell great stories here. at's what we do," said Mystic Seaport Director of Communications Dan McFadden. "We tell the story of how the sea played a role in the history of our country." Each year, nearly 250,000 people visit the seaport, many of them from outside Connecticut. "We are a significant draw to the Mystic area," said McFadden. "Most of those people are coming in from New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey." And soon they'll have yet another rea- son to come. In the fall of 2016, the seaport plans to open a new 14,000-square-foot exhibition building. e $14 million project will include a state-of-the-art hall that will house exhibits from the museum's collection, as well as art and artifacts loaned out from other museums around the world. "It's a pivotal point in the history of the museum," he said. Moving Forward With history comes progress, and Con- necticut has no shortage of innovations and 21st century options for tourists seeking more contemporary destinations. Infinity Music Hall & Bistro in Hart- ford is one the newest additions to the city's expanding Front Street entertainment and dining district, and purveyors of good food and music can find both at the 500-seat mu- sic hall and contemporary bistro. Owner and CEO Dan Hincks opened the venue in August of 2014 and considers the music venue and eatery to be a part of the capital city's renaissance. "We're a couple of years into it, and it is gaining momentum," he said. "Employment is rising, there are more restaurants, and if you're looking, there's something to do in Hartford every night of the week." Infinity Hall, like many of the other recent additions to the city, including the Connecticut Science Center, and the soon- to-be-built baseball stadium, are a part of the city's forward progress, offering residents and visitors alike plenty to see and do. "ere's so much history," said Hincks, "but at the same time, Connecticut is one of the leading states when it comes to innova- tion and creativity; there are new things happening all the time." City Flavor Just 40 minutes south of Hartford, food- ies flock to New Haven where, according to Barbara Malmberg, director of marketing for Visit New Haven, they oen come looking for two things. "Pizza and the hamburger sandwich get the most press out of any food we have here," she said. "When we have groups come to town, they know about hamburgers and pizza. Frank Pepe's, Sally's Apizza, and Louis' Lunch, where the first hamburger sandwich was created." Malmberg said they also come for the progressive dining scene, which encompass- es more than 130 restaurants, with culinary influences from all over the world. Among them is Miya's, a popular sushi restaurant whose chef, Bun Lai, prioritizes sustainability and takes a distinctly untradi- tional approach to the menu. "He has a very unique perspective," said Malmberg. "Last year, he offered a dish that featured cicadas." A James Beard Foundation nominated chef, he is also something of a global celebrity, having appeared on the major U.S. networks, Food Network, and Japanese television; he has even been satirized on Saturday Night Live. He has been featured in National Georgraphic, e New York Times, e Atlantic, Food and Wine, and Saveur, along with numerous other national and international media. Beyond the food, visitors also come to New Haven for its vibrant arts and cultural scene which includes taking in performances at award-winning theaters like Long Wharf eatre and the century-old Shubert, along with other cultural and music events and galleries, many of which are affiliated with Yale University. Alone, the prestigious school attracts about 600,000 visitors annually. "It's a signifi- cant draw from within the state and outside the state," said Malmberg. "ere are a lot of different things for a lot of different tastes, for a variety of people." And perhaps that sums up the state's tourism industry as well. "ere's a diversity of attractions and experiences that Connecti- cut has to offer residents and visitors," said Tourism Director Fiveash. "We wanted to make sure that we speak to what is historic in the state, but also what is new and innovative, too — now and into the future." ❑ 80 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2015 INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT › Tourism, Arts & Culture Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, which has been entertaining Norfolk visitors and residents for years, opened a second location in downtown Hartford in 2014. PHOTO/ © BLUE CHIP PHOTOGRAPHY 2014 > Continued from page 79

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