24 Hours In My Hartford: Rory Gale, owner of Hartford Prints!

Hartford isn’t just any ordinary city — at least not for Rory Gale, 33, a third-generation Hartfordite. It’s home to her growing family, business and her active involvement in a vibrant community. Love for the capital runs in her blood, she says, and that same love is what prompted her to open Hartford Prints! in 2013 with her two older sisters, Addy and Callie.

Having previously lived in New York and Philadelphia, Gale noticed a sense of pride was missing in Hartford. She wanted to fill that gap. Originally started as a stationery business, Hartford Prints! on Pratt Street is now a one-stop shop for all things Hartford — graphic T-shirts, decorative throw pillows, holiday cards and more. Rooted in its slogan “Handmade and Homegrown,” the brand is for anyone young at heart looking to wear, talk about and love where they come from, Gale says.

One of the top-selling items at the moment is a light gray graphic T-shirt highlighting Hartford’s seven parks, which hold a special place in Gale’s heart. Growing up, she recalls climbing trees, playing capture the flag and riding her bike at Elizabeth Park. During her time at Hartford High School, she spent her summers at Pope Park on the swim team and then as a lifeguard at Keney or Goodwin Park. Today, working in downtown, Bushnell Park has become her go-to, she says. “I spread my love for Hartford’s parks.”

Gale’s love for her Hartford doesn’t stop there. She merged her pride in the city and love of craft beer in 2016 to launch the Small State Great Beer festival.

Coming up on Sept. 14 at Constitution Plaza, the festival boasts 50 local breweries, two distilleries and four cideries, live music and food trucks.

“Connecticut is working on attracting businesses and young people, but retaining them is still a work in progress,” Gale says. “And that’s achieved through culture — people want to live somewhere that’s vibrant.”

Gale describes her life in Hartford as full, especially with her newborn daughter, Ingrid. Whether she’s taking a stroll through the park or working up a new design, she says she can’t imagine doing it in any other city. Here’s what a day looks like for this Hartford native:

6:30 a.m.

A self-described morning person, Gale likes to treasure the beginning of each day and take it slow. After nursing Ingrid and caffeinating with a cup of black tea, Gale says she and her husband, Pedro Bermudez, then kickstart the day with a morning ritual of reading The Hartford Courant, with Morrison, their energetic 4-year-old Aussie Shepard mix, by their side.

“We just love having the physical paper,” says Gale. “It’s so nice to read the articles in the morning and use them as tools for all the different things we do.”

Gale’s favorite weekend morning activity is to meet her parents or sisters at Hartford’s Regional Farmer’s Market and browse the flower selections.

9:00 a.m.

By this time, Gale is heading out the door to drop Ingrid off or catch the bus. Living in the South End of Hartford, she’s only a 15-minute bus ride from down town.

“I walk out of my house, walk down the street, sit at the bus stop, chat with my neighbors and then get on the bus. I’ve always loved public transportation because it makes me feel connected,” she says. “It’s the perfect way to embrace city living.”

Twice a week this summer she’s been heading over to First and Last Bakery or Bar Piña Donut Shop for a breakfast meeting with the Small State Great Beer team — she and Bermudez and their business partner, John Michael Mason.

“Sometimes if I haven’t had enough caffeine, I stop by Blue State Coffee before heading to work. I love getting an iced chai latte,” says Gale.

“On weekends, we like outside activities like taking hikes or visiting somewhere in Connecticut we’ve never been. This weekend we’re going camping in Kent. That’s in our own state and we don’t have to go very far to have an adventure,” she says.

When it comes to brunch, The Place To Be on Franklin Avenue is high on her list. She enjoys a good omelette with veggies and cheese.

11:00 a.m.

Hartford Prints! is open, and Gale meets with her full-time store manager, Hannah Smith, and one other sales associate to discuss the schedule, the store’s sale goals and any other projects. She says she likes to dedicate each day to one aspect of the store, instead of being pulled in several different directions.

Most Hartford Prints! items are designed in-store. The process is fun, but takes longer than one would expect, she says. First the team has to conceptualize a design. Once the idea takes shape, they create a mock-up and send it to a friend for a second opinion — or they might post it on Instagram and let followers vote for their favorite design.

1:00 p.m.

Hartford Prints! is at its busiest during downtown workers’ lunch break. People fill the shop looking for cards and gifts or simply browsing.

If Gale steps out for lunch, her go-to places are Max Bibo’s on Trumbull Street and Ajamo in State House Square’s food court.

“Sometimes it’s important for me to take a step outside of the shop. Because we’re in downtown I can walk around the block or Bushnell Park, especially when I might be having a tough day.”

4:00 p.m.

Gale heads out to pick up Ingrid and start prepping dinner. “The work continues as the store is open until 7 p.m., but I’m now working from home,” she says.

If she needs any extra ingredients for dinner, she might stop by CTown on her way home, but she does most of her grocery shopping at Trader Joe’s.

“I’m not too good at meal prepping, so I usually just look at what I have in my fridge and invent a plate. Pedro is always like, ‘What do you call this?’ and I’m like, ‘I don’t know. I made it up!'”

Having a good meal at the end of the day is a quiet time for her family, she says.

7:00 p.m.

Gale and Bermudez catch up on work or watch TV. Gale enjoys “The Handmaid’s Tale” and Netflix comedy specials.

On the weekends, the couple often go out on a dinner date.

“We really like Republic at the Linden in downtown. If we’re going to get a little fancier, we’ll go to Firebox. If we want to listen to some music and have good food, we might go to Black-Eyed Sally’s.”

Before parenthood, Gale and her husband liked to hit local bars for drinks.

“When we were going out, you might have found me at the bar at Little River Restoratives with any drink that might have ginger beer. Moscow mules are my jam,” she says. “Or The Spigot on the West End — where Pedro and I first met.”

But nothing beats her love for local beer. She enjoys a sour beer, IPA or cinder — in that order — at Hog River Brewing Co., Hanging Hills Brewing Company or City Steam Brewery Cafe.

10 p.m.

As the day winds down, Gale takes time to journal or read a baby book.