Hartford is beginning to do a better job of activating spaces, from varying types of programs along the Connecticut River, to coordinating a day of free musical events, to temporarily converting a street from feeling like a parking lot to being a center for community.

For the second consecutive season, a replica ship has docked at the Riverfront, providing a floating museum for a few days. This time, it is the Onrust. The original was sailed by Captain Adriaen Block (the Adriaen’s Landing guy) around New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Through Sunday, the Onrust model is open for tours, giving a local and low-commitment opportunity for those who enjoy nautical things, but are not so obsessed that they schlep the entire family down to Mystic Seaport for an exhausting and expensive day. There is a fee for tours, though you can witness knot tying, rope-making, and cannon demonstrations for free.

Thursday was Make Music Day, with performances at over a dozen venues including the typically underutilized Bushnell Sculpture Garden, the gated elevated surface at Gold and Main Streets. The Professors of Sweet Sweet Music gave a lunchtime performance in the rooftop garden at the Connecticut Science Center. This area does get use, but not of the rock concert variety. A simple walk around downtown revealed how quickly live music adds to the environment, and raises the question of how we can get more coordinated efforts like this to happen weekly or even monthly.

Also back for another season: Pratt Street Patio. For a couple hours on Mondays through Thursdays, and for extended time on Fridays, most of Pratt Street is reserved for human use. This means strolling, sitting at any number of tables, listening to music, and dancing on salsa nights. Not sold on this concept yet? Borrow a friend’s toddler. Walk around with her down city streets. After constant caution and vigilance, take her down Pratt Street where cars are not allowed, where she can run freely without risking her life. A shift in perspective can drive home why certain practices just make sense.