Does Rocky Hill Offer Younger People Enough To Do?

According to the 2010 census, Rocky Hill has a population of over 20,000, but only 20 percent are between ages 18 - 34, and the median age is 41.

This may explain why the town furnishes numerous, family-oriented attractions, such as Dinosaur State Park, BounceU, and many novel and exciting restaurants, but contains a dearth of activities that cater to those in high school, college, and their twenties and early-thirties. 

Among high-school-appropriate activities, the closest movie theaters to Rocky Hill are in Berlin and Middletown, the nearest mall is located in Meriden, the closest bowling alleys can be found in Berlin and Newington, and the most proximate miniature golf courses are in Cromwell and Berlin.

As for recreation for those of legal drinking age, a relevant Google search returns a list of six local bars. However, five of these establishments could just as easily be classified as restaurants — for example, On The Border or Wood-n-Tap.

Among the names on the list, only Arch II Sports Bar identifies primarily as a tavern and arguably tilts toward a younger crowd. But, the venue still features no live entertainment of any kind, apart from televised sporting events.

The Rock Cafe, formerly on Cromwell Ave., used to host live bands, DJ dance parties, karaoke, and other weekly entertainment items. But, it closed in 2010.

Sorrento on the Green features dancing on Friday nights, but it hardly presents a club atmosphere. Similarly, the restaurant hosts weekly, live performances by Tony Reali, but the singer specializes in crooning the classics — not quite the customary fare of twenty and thirty-somethings. 

During the summer, the free concert series in Elm Ridge Park does attract a diverse array of regional, musical acts, some of which do appeal to younger audiences. But, these shows, sponsored by the Rocky Hill Parks and Recreation Department, are explicitly designed to be family events.

Parents, grandparents, children, and family dogs frequently attend these performances together, often spreading out a huge blanket for the whole clan on the grass or lounging on lawn furniture. Alcohol is neither sold during shows nor permitted on the grounds.

Perhaps, though, it is not as important for Rocky Hill to offer entertainment forms with younger appeal since it is neighbored by so many other towns.

Live music, as well as a DJ and dancing, can be found every weekend in an adult setting at Chicago Sam’s — most famously known by its former name Rookies — just across the town line in Cromwell. Middletown venues sponsor even more weekly, musical acts, and Hartford has even more. The former is but a ten-minute drive and the latter no more than twenty.

And the all-ages attractions cited above are also reachable within ten minutes, or perhaps fifteen, in the case of the mall.

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