Parking Stress!

I typically can't stand when people complain about parking in downtown Hartford. An abundance of surface lots and multi-level parking garages have replaced buildings, nearly destroying the architecture of the city AND street parking is free all weekend and 5pm-8am on weekdays. I've never had a problem with parking down here...until today. I keep my car in a garage roughly one mile from my apartment and, on the weekends, I take advantage of street parking and keep my car closer to home. This morning (Sunday) at around 9:30am, I parked my car on Asylum Street. There were a couple other cars there and I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. When I walked outside at 3pm, my car had been replaced with a marching band and veterans in uniform. Apparently, there was a Veterans Day parade running up the street where I had parked my car. When I parked there at 9:30 in the morning, there were no signs saying "no parking," no barricades, and no officials to be seen. Now, I understand that they had to move my car to make way for the parade but I sure as hell hope they don't put up too much of a fight when I give them a call tomorrow. On top of towing my car, at a $108 (and a lot of stress) expense to me, they also decided to give me a $45 parking ticket. I plan to appeal the ticket AND asked to be reimbursed to towing expenses. Like I said: there were NO "no parking" signs and street  parking is always free on the weekends (so says hartford.com and the street meters)- how was I to know this weekend was different? The little experience I've had with the Hartford Parking Authority has not been pleasant, so I'm not sure how this situation will play out. Anyone have any thoughts or tips? Well, after lots of stress, yelling, and a cold trip to the impound lot, my car is safe and sound in her parking spot, my bank account has taken a hit, and I got the motivation I needed to start blogging again. Stay tunes.