Greenwich - December 2021

WRAP IT UP! T H E P E R F E C T G I F T S A R E O U T T H E R E — A N D W E F O U N D T H E M

M E R RY

&

B R I G H T

Festive Ways to Celebrate the Season ( I T ’ S T I M E T O G ET OU R H OL I DAY G R O OV E BAC K ! )

THE WRITE PATH Author and literary agent Liz Parker on her buzzworthy debut novel, life, love and coming out

PLUS Following the Fraser family’s crosscountry journey to honor their son

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GREENWICH

L I F E T O L I F E S T Y L E S I N C E 1 94 7 vol. 74 | no. 10 | december 2021 editorial

editorial director

Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com social editor

Alison Nichols Gray–ali.gray@moffly.com style & community editor

Janel Alexander–janel.alexander@moffly.com founding editor

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GREENWICH L I F E T O L I F E S T Y L E S I N C E 1 94 7 vol. 74 | no. 10 | december 2021

HOUSEHOLD | PERSONAL | DOMESTIC | BUSINESS

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SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE

editor’s letter

DECEMBER 2021 / CRISTIN MARANDINO

IT’S TIME TO HAVE SOME FUN!

HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP

I

greenwichmag.com

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sterile environment?” “Is some random person going to want to hug or, gasp, kiss me hello?” You’ve got this.

Riann talks to some of our town’s most creative residents about everything from the perfect décor and entertainment to irresistible bites and booze that’ll make that Soul Cycle membership worth it. And for the socially self-conscious among us, we’ve got tips from a woman who literally wrote the book on etiquette, Myka Meier.

Are the holidays still going to have some pandemic undertones? Probably. Are we going to let that spoil the season? You know my answer.

And as for that two-year haze? A friend of mine came up with a great silver lining: “I think we all get to take two years off our age.”

I can definitely get onboard with that.

WILLIAM TAUFIC

SCAN TO EXPLORE OUR DIGITAL SIDE

have one question. Where did 2021 go?

For obvious reasons, 2020 was a blur, but this past year doesn’t seem to have even registered.

What’ve we all been doing? It wasn’t exactly the roaring ’20s vibe everyone anticipated.

Maybe that’s it. Maybe the expectations were too high. Or maybe we just got used to the pandemic, and what was heightened adrenaline-inducing anxiety in 2020 just became mundane malaise in 2021.

Whatever the reason, I’m ready for a holiday season that freaking sparkles!

That’s where writer Riann Smith comes in. With her flair for the festive and love of all things merry and bright, she brings us twenty-five uber-jolly ways to get our holiday groove back (“Let’s Party,” page 60).

But hosting—or hitting—popping parties can be stressful for a variety of reasons. “Do I remember how to have normal cocktail conversation?” “Where’s that crimson bow blouse?” “Is that crimson blouse even ‘in’ anymore?” “How do I create a safe but not

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DECEMBER 2021 / DONNA MOFFLY

I

Her grandmother kept it next to her reading chair until the day she died—at 102.

always get excited about Christmas presents—especially some of the most creative ones I give every year. But that’s true of birthdays and anniversaries, too.

I can’t wait to see the expression on the face of whomever opens that box or envelope.

Among my favorites: Last year it was an antique French hand fan for my granddaughter Sasha—green silk embroidered in metallic gold with ivory ribs. Jack’s grandfather had brought it home from Paris to his wife in the 1890s. I had it framed with a brief history of her great-great-grandparents on the back.

For my brother Mike’s eightieth birthday, I went to the local gas station, bought eighty $1 lottery tickets then watched the hilarity as he and his family scratched away for hidden treasure. (It took a while.)

Ali Gray says that she and Robby like landscaping and greenery. So she surprised him with a Japanese maple tree from the nursery down the street, stuck its top out of the sunroof of her car, belted its enormous bottom into the passenger seat and drove it home that way—his tree riding shotgun in the wind.

Sue Bodson has surprised three of her dog-loving family and friends by having Becky Ford paint portraits of their cherished canines on a mural in the hall outside the Dogwood Book and Gift Shop at Christ Church. “Sadly my daughter-in-law’s dachshund Ziggy is no longer with us,” says Sue. “But I love that she can go see him in church.”

When Jay Burke was a teenager, all he wanted for Christmas was money. (What else is new?) It was in the ’70s, before gift cards were in. So his mother, Clelia, went to Putnam Trust, got 100 crisp new $1 bills, tied a red bow around every single one and delivered them to greenwichmag.com

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him in a blue Tiffany box. The look on his face, says little brother Garvin, was priceless.

Christina Horner has lovely memories of setting up the Christmas tree and hanging it with ornaments she needlepointed for every member of the family each year to commemorate something special they’d done or accomplished in the past twelve months.

Then there were books—more labors of love.

Just before her “super-wonderful” grandmother turned 100, Susan Bevan asked all her descendants to write up a favorite memory of her, then created a book with a photograph of the author opposite his or her contribution. Her grandmother kept it next to her reading chair until the day she died—at 102.

When her daughter was a senior in high school, Margaret Sinclair put together what she calls one of her “most appreciated” gifts—an album of Catherine’s life complete with baby pictures, sports newspaper clippings, Playbills, travel memorabilia, et al. It went to college with her and has been with her ever since.

Tracy Lavery is a master at pairing wine with food; but according to wife Lin, at cooking (outside of grilling) not so much.

So she asked some friends and relations to contribute recipes—keeping it simple—and for his seventieth birthday she presented him with a notebook full of things like Barrett Burns’s spaghetti sauce and hummus from their vegetarian son Brian. Tracy is proud of his successes.

So now it’s about this year. Hmmm. Maybe surprise tickets to The Lion King for the youngest grandchildren? After all, it is an unforgettable rite of passage. Shhh. Don’t tell.

(The best part: I have to go along.)

Anyway, have a happy, creative holiday. G

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buzz STATUS REPORT

by mary k ate ho gan

Alec Fraser (center) and Jamie Meehan (left of Alec, back row) were joined by members of the OG Vista Group on the first leg of their ride from Rocky Point Club to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York City.

RIDING TOGETHER TO FIND A CURE

IN HONOR OF HIS SON JULIAN, ALEC FRASER AND FRIEND JAMIE MEEHAN CYCLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY

HEIKE COFFEE

O

ver the course of two months Old Greenwich’s Alec Fraser and his friend Jamie Meehan cycled through rain, hail, mud, intense mountain winds and 100-degree temps, traveling cross-country through seventeen states. They climbed a total of about 120,000 feet of elevation, covering 4,650 miles.

The goal of this epic journey: to raise $500,000 for pediatric cancer research in memory of Julian Fraser, Alec’s son who passed away at age twenty from osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

Julian was an all-American swimmer, water polo player and captain of the Greenwich High School swim and water polo teams. He went on to play water polo at Santa Clara University. In 2017, when he was a sophomore, his life was tragically

cut short. Since then, Alec and Cristy Fraser have worked with friends as Team Julian, raising money for rare cancer research.

The Team Julian coast-to-coast ride began at Rocky Point Club on August 15 where twenty friends biked with Alec and Jamie on the first leg, stopping at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. Cristy and Gina Modica (Jamie’s wife) traveled with the group in a brightly wrapped team van, supporting them throughout the trip west. In addition to logging thousands of miles, they met with families of cancer survivors and appeared on TV news shows, including a 5:30 a.m. spot on Today on the last day of their ride, always working to spread awareness.

We caught up with Alec and Cristy along the road to Julian Fraser learn more about their mission to help others.

DECEMBER 2021 GREENWICH

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1 1. Alec and Jamie outside the Good Morning America studio 2. Cristy staying sunny in Missouri 3. On the road to San Francisco 4. Cristy and Gina on Day One 5. Alec, Michael Porter, Ken Michaels, Dan Dobryn and Jamie in Oregon 6. The Continental Divide

When did you first have the idea to undertake the cross-country ride? How did you plan the route?

Alec Fraser: I had always wanted to do something to honor Julian ever since he passed away. I thought a marathon ride would, in a way, commemorate his marathon battle.

Ending the ride at Santa Clara University for the Julian Fraser Memorial Water Polo Tournament was important for us, as he was very close to his teammates. The tournament is where the West Coast teams meet East Coast teams, so it seemed appropriate to remember Julian by riding from the East Coast to the West Coast.

Can you share a few highlights of your journey so far?

AF: There have been many. One of the special ones was meeting Brad Loos and his family at the

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University of Missouri football game. Brad is the assistant athletic director there, and he is very involved in raising money for cancer research. His daughter Rhyan, age eight, was diagnosed with stage four cancer when she was six. She has since been cured at Memorial Sloan Kettering. It’s so gratifying to see that research done at MSK is helping children beat cancer.

Another highlight was staying with Tom Lennox in Columbus, Ohio. He’s a parent of a Santa Clara University water polo player and founded Pelotonia, which is the largest cycling fundraising organization for cancer research.

We’ve been hosted by some amazing people. Kelly Peterson’s entire family hosted us on various stopping points throughout the state of Missouri, sometimes more than once. Also, Rosemary and

Jerry Barth, former Old Greenwich residents, hosted us in both Pennsylvania and Colorado and were so generous to us.

Which landmarks and places stand out most in your mind?

AF: Our route has taken us through a lot of rural communities that most people traversing the country by car don’t get to see. The country is more beautiful than I imagined. We are now in southern Wyoming. The wide-open spaces are incredible.

Probably my favorite stopping point to date has been Chillicothe, Missouri, where we stayed with Robert and Ellen Condron at their working farm.

Any challenges you weren’t expecting?

AF: People think the physical part of the ride would be the hardest, but it’s actually been the weather.

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Today we had forty miles-per-hour winds, making it difficult to stay upright. And we’ve had a week of over 100-degree heat as well as hail, rain and even a tornado. We’ve managed to stay on track, though.

We are flying through the country.

We planned on doing sixty-eight miles a day, and it’s been more like eighty or ninety.

You spend so many hours cycling, what do you think about along the journey?

AF: Of course, Julian. Also, the beautiful countryside we pass through. Sometimes pretty mundane things as well, like where to eat lunch.

Rare cancer research is such an important cause. What should people know about MSK’s recent breakthroughs?

AF: I’m not an expert on cancer

PHOTOS COURTESY OF TEAM JF

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF TEAM JF

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research, but MSK is doing some remarkable, cutting-edge things with genetic engineering.

Many cancers develop from genetic mutations, and MSK is on the forefront of extracting cells, engineering the genome sequencing of the DNA and replacing the genetically mutated DNA. The interview with Dr. William Tap on our website is really informative about the things MSK is doing in the rare cancer area.

Dr. Tap’s lab is the sarcoma lab, including osteosarcoma, which is what Julian had.

Cycle for Survival is MSK’s main fundraiser for these rare cancers, and all childhood cancers are rare.

They depend on private sources of funding for rare cancers with very little money coming from the government. All of the money we raise will go directly to research for pediatric cancers.

7. Alec and Cristy with Dr. William Tap at MSK and their sons Andrew and Matthew (back row) 8. Vineyard Vines provided team swag 9. In Missouri 10. Cristy on the Rocky steps in Philadelphia 11. Flat tire 12. Cristy getting a tow 13. At the water polo tournament 14. With family in Indianapolis 15. Cristy overwhelmed with emotion at the finish line

What’s been the best part of your journey to date?

AF: The positive, supportive and generous response we have gotten from people to our story and our mission. People we meet at diners, restaurants, etc., stop us and ask what we are doing, since we are wearing Cycle for Survival jerseys. They often end the conversation by reaching into their wallet and giving us whatever cash they have in their pocket or treating us to lunch. Cristy had a flat tire and got a tow to Walmart, the only place nearby where she could buy a tire. When she arrived, the employee saw her car wrapped in the Cycle for Survival logos, reached into his wallet, and gave her a $100 donation.

by the generosity of people, total strangers. People across this country are incredibly generous and open hearted. They just want to be kind, and it also makes them happy to help us out and be hopeful. Generosity from our hometown friends has extended across the country. We struggle to thank everyone. We start really early at six and don’t end until late, and I’m driving around getting the meals and rescuing them from flat tires. We want to thank every single person in a very heartfelt manner. Everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, so it’s just a common feeling out there that everyone wants to do something.

What was it like to reach the finish line?

CF: The final day was one of the highlights of my life. Tons of people

Cristy Fraser: Every single day I’ve had an experience like that, where I’ve been brought to tears

DECEMBER 2021 GREENWICH

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were cheering for us, and Santa Clara University outdid itself with a huge balloon arch at the finish line.

It was incredibly moving and the tears poured out.

We had close to fifty bikers join the ride from San Francisco to Santa Clara, including our friends from Greenwich but mostly Julian’s friends. It was so inspiring to ride with so many young people, and the eight-hour journey allowed us plenty of opportunities to catch up with them. It had been raining heavily that morning; but at 8 a.m. when we all headed out, the rain stopped and the sun broke through the clouds—a Here Comes the Sun moment for us. It was a perfect day for a long ride, and we even had two beautiful rainbows along the way, a sure sign that Julian is here.

To support Team Julian and make a donation, visit teamjf.org

sh p by naomi swanson

LORO PIANA Cashmere Cape; pricing varies based on fabrication and trims.

Greenwich, Westport; mitchellstores.com

holiday FINDS ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

The season’s hottest gifts for everyone—and everything—you love

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LIDAY GIFT GUIDE

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JULISKA Le Panier Delft Blue Pitcher; $98. juliska.com

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OOMPH Social Lights refillable lighters; $49. Greenwich, oomphhome.com

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L’AVANT High Performing Dish & Hand Soap Duo; $54. lavantcollective.com

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5

POTTERY BARN

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White Marble Glass Domed Cheese Board; $50.

Westport, potterybarn.com

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KLONG

in a PINCH

Long Brass Äng Vase by Eva Schildt; $185. New Canaan, designstore .theglasshouse.org

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MARK & GRAHAM Oak Paddle Shot Set of twelve, fully monogrammable; $150. markandgraham.com

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Hostess-ready gifts that are sure to get you invited again

SERENA & LILY Avery Alpaca Throw in coastal; $398. Westport, serenandlily.com

9 ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

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JOHN DERIAN The John Derian Sticker Book; $35. johnderian.com

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TERRA DELYSSA Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil; $16.50. Westport, Greenwich, balduccis.com

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LIDAY GIFT GUIDE

1

JL ROCKS

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Randi Link Chain with the Katie Carabiner; $1,875.

Greenwich, Westport, jlrocks.com

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RESTORATION HARDWARE Heathered Cotton Cashmere Pajamas; $149. Greenwich, rh.com

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JUDITH RIPKA

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Vienna Stirrup Cuff, $1,450. judithripka.com

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DAVIDOR

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18k Rose Gold L’Arc de DAVIDOR Ring; $11,050. Greenwich, betteridge.com

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Oversized Cashmere Cardigan; $350.

Greenwich, Westport, unsubscribed.com

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Your wish list just got a little longer

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Doreen Floral Clutch; $325. Darien, dariensport.com

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SARAH VENTURA Signature Black Diamond Bangle; $6,000.

Westport, sarahventura.com

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NIC & ZOE Color Splash Cardigan; $168. Westport, nicandzoe.com

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ROBERTO COIN Diamond Flower Circle Hoop; $2,750. Fairfield, hcreidjewelers.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

self INDULGE

LOEFFLER RANDALL

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LIDAY GIFT GUIDE

tailored FOR HIM

VACHERON CONSTANTIN Historiques American 1921; $36,800. Greenwich, manfredijewels.com

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BVLGARI MAN Black Eau de Parfum; $148. Norwalk, nordstrom.com

From date night to game night in, these gifts have him set for every occasion

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1

LEDBURY Tangier Gray Kingstowne Kudu Leather Boot; $425. ledbury.com

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GIANT TranceX E+ Pro 29 1 Electric Bike; $6,250.

New Canaan, newcanaanbicycles.com

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BLADE & BOW Twenty-two-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; $1,099. barmywines.com

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SAMSUNG

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Terrace Outdoor TV (available in full or partial sun); from $3,499— $12,999. samsung.com

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BRUNELLO CUCINELLI

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RAG & BONE

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Commuter Overnighter Large Duffle Bag; $695. rag-bone.com

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DAVID YURMAN Pavé Streamline ThreeRow Band Ring with Black Diamonds, $2,950.

Westport, lbgreen.com greenwichmag.com

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ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Christmas Intarsia Shawl Cardigan; $3,295.

Greenwich, saks.com

LIDAY GIFT GUIDE 2 1

1

CROSLEY Switch II Entertainment System; $170. burkedecor.com

2

DE’LONGHI

3

Dinamica Plus Fully Automatic Coffee & Espresso Machine; $1,500. Westport, williams-sonoma.com

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Herrinko mugs, set of four; $50 (new store opening in Westport this February), oka.com

STAYcation!

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CRATE & BARREL Foosball table; $999. Westport, crateandbarrel.com

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MITCHELL GOLD & BOB WILLIAMS Jade Marble Bar tools; $100. Greenwich, mgbwhome.com

Making the home as upscale—and fun— as a fab boutique hotel

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TERRAIN

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Folded Leather Baskets; $88–$98. Westport, shopterrain.com

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BEY-BERK

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Wooden Multi-Game Set; $180. neimanmarcus.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

shop / H

Wishing you a Joyous Holiday Season With Peace & Cheer in the New Year!

Stacy Zarakiotis, D.D.S & Emily Gabeler, D.D.S.

Greenwich Pediatric Dental Group, L.L.C. 4 Dear field Drive, Suite G3, Greenwich, CT 06831 • (203) 422-5437 • greenwichKIDSdentist.com

do PLANT

POWER A NEW BOOK BY DR. KATIE TAKAYASU PROVES THE HEALING POWERS (AND DELICIOUSNESS) OF VEGGIES

by li z barron phot o gr aphs by j ul ia d᾽ago st ino

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iving a plant-forward lifestyle is something that Dr. Katherine Wehri Takayasu, M.D., M.B.A. (aka Dr. Katie), not only preaches, but also practices.

“Food truly is medicine, and it either helps bring us toward our goals or away from them,” says Dr. Katie, who practices integrative medicine with Stamford Health, serving patients both virtually and in-person at her offices in the Tully Center in Stamford. Her practice combines traditional Western medicine with acupuncture, mind-body medicine, supplements, nutrition and lifestyle optimization. “Every single thing that we put into our body is informing it of what we want it to do. Just like a car, if we want it to operate at maximum capacity, we need to give it premium gasoline.”

While Dr. Katie’s newly released book, Plants First, is based on her medical knowledge, it is written from a uniquely authentic place. In the first chapter, she delves deep as she details her past battles with weight, body shame, mental health, sleep issues, infertility and managing chronic pain. Overweight and on a diet for many of her early years, Dr. Katie says she never felt truly comfortable in her own skin.

Her struggles continued throughout medical school and residency and eventually began to impact her mental health, leaving her depleted, anxious and depressed. Dr. Katie’s then boyfriend (now husband) convinced her to try a yoga class one evening, and she quickly found herself feeling better than she

had in months. It was then that she knew it was time to make some real changes. As she increased her workout routine over time and balanced her nutritional needs, Dr. Katie says she began to notice all of her ailments easing.

“It takes about two to three months of consistent efforts—not to be confused with perfection—to notice biochemical changes, which means your body righting the wrongs,” she explains.

Dr. Katie stands by massive amounts of research that proves that plants are the most nutrient-dense foods to heal and fuel the body. When it comes to the way that the body responds, between the balance of fullness and nutrition, choosing plants is always going to be the most efficient and effective choice. Dr. Katie greenwichmag.com

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Dr. Katie believes in the healing power of a plantbased lifestyle.

STAY WELL

Six tips to keep your health in check as you hit the holiday celebrations

No. 1 Save room for dessert Have Grandma's decadent apple crumble pie or the rich sweet potato casserole with marshmallow topping. Enjoy it. Savor every bite. And then move on with your life knowing that you had exactly what your heart wanted.

No. 2

Dr. Katie with her husband and sons at home in Darien

sees herself as a “co-healer” in wellness and aims to take into consideration the different ways that her patients really want to live their lives. Thus, her holistic approach focuses on the entire mind/body/spirit connection.

A plant-based diet can aid in healing hormonal imbalances, inflammation and numerous other medical issues, she stressed.

Eating the wrong foods can negatively impact our physical and emotional health; and by listening to what Dr. Katie calls our “wellness intuition,” we can learn to understand what feels good and start to honor it. We can all fall prey to patterns of all or nothing when it comes to diet and exercise, which tend to leave us exhausted and burned out, leading to unhealthy decisions, she says. By learning to listen to our “wellness intuition” we can move more smoothly toward a lifestyle of moderation.

“You’re only as far away from wellness as your next choice,” reminds Dr. Katie. Speaking of choices, in addition to her book, Dr. Katie has also developed a detox program that is available in both five-day and 10-day resets with optional meal delivery and the goal of refreshing both our brains and bodies.

For more information or to purchase the Dr. Katie Detox, visit drkatie.com/dr-katiedetox. Plants First will be available for purchase beginning on November 9 at Barrett Bookstore in Darien or on drkatie.com/plantsfirstmag.

Don't drink too much water when eating Dr. Katie recommends drinking most of your water in-between meals, early in the day. Too much water at meals dilutes stomach acid and digestive power and leads to bloating.

No. 3 Savor your ONE glass of wine or cocktail Women's livers can only tolerate one alcoholic drink a day, and more than that leads to poor sleep, hot flashes and weight gain, Dr. Katie says. “I know I sip my one drink so much differently if I know there’s not another one coming around the bend.”

SPICED APPLE & GINGER TODDY Cozy up and detox with Dr. Katie’s good-for-the gut non-alcoholic hot holiday drink of choice.

INGREDIENTS 1 bag honeybush, hibiscus, or turmeric tea 1 cup hot water 1 to 2 tablespoons unfiltered apple cider vinegar Juice of ½ lemon 4 shakes ground cinnamon 2 shakes ground nutmeg 2 shakes ginger powder Drizzle of honey FOR GARNISH: 1 apple slice or lemon wedge 1 cinnamon stick DIRECTIONS Using a twelve-ounce cup, steep the tea according to the package directions, keeping the cup covered to retain heat if you’re serving a hot toddy. Add the remaining ingredients to the cup and stir. Garnish with an apple slice or lemon wedge and a cinnamon stick.

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No. 4 Don't over-exercise the day after to make up for your indiscretions “I'm a proponent of working out at a level of 6/10 on the expenditure scale,” she says.

“Super-intense workouts—where you are completely out of breath and dripping sweat—release stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine that make it even tougher to manage blood sugar and energy, because it sends the body into a state of stress.”

No. 5 Take a walk within two hours of a meal Studies are conclusive that movement after a meal enhances blood sugar metabolism, reduces insulin secretion and decreases weight gain. “At my Thanksgiving, we all take a nature walk in the woods behind my house,” Dr. Katie says.

No. 6 Eat "linner" with an intermittent fast If you want to dip your toe into intermittent fasting, instead of skipping breakfast and eating all of your calories late in the day, consider an earlier dinner instead.

“One of my favorite Sunday traditions is a 3:30 p.m. family dinner, which allows me a sixteen-plus hour fast until breakfast on Monday morning,” she says.

home T A O C T S E W LL & BA W n O ARR g a g n o n TH F

WI ega S UP N b y m M A E CTIO ER T STL IA COLLE R A E N F OR LY W K E L HE CALI T F OR

above: “Color is the spirit of a room,” says Kelly Wearstler, in front of a wall painted with her California Collection for Farrow & Ball.

Hazy

Citrona

the light and landscape of Wearstler’s native coast.

Salt (crisp white), Sand (a warm neutral) and Hazy (muted blue-gray) recall the picturesque Pacific Ocean, while Tar (sunbaked off-black), Faded Terracotta (baked tile) and Palm (desaturated green) evoke the beauty of the desert. A softened yellow called Citrona “is an earthy contemporary take on chartreuse,” and Stoke gets its

Palm

gray tones from the haze of cloud cover over city streets. Together, the range captures a modern California dream: moody, warm and optimistic.

The California Collection aligns with the brand’s existing curation of 132 colors, each carefully selected to transform a room and conjure their own sense of place. Design devotees who regularly refer to its paint deck will be delighted to bring Golden State

Stoke

Tar

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Salt

vibes into their own projects. “Kelly Wearstler has created a collection that perfectly complements Farrow & Ball’s existing palette,” says Charlotte Cosby, head of creative at Farrow & Ball. “We know that her instinctive approach to color and passion for design will inspire people everywhere to bring color into their homes in new and exciting ways.”

32 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich; farrow-ball.com

Sand

Faded Terracotta

PHOTO: JOYCE PARK

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or the first time in its seventy-five years of business, British paint purveyor Farrow & Ball is allowing an outside designer to create a palette of new shades. In choosing a partner, the company looked across the pond and all the way to sunny California, where famed American designer and color queen Kelly Wearstler reigns. Their collaboration features eight new hues pulled from

Double H Farm on 87 Acres

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Near-Town Countryside Setting

7 West Crossway

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Heather Platt 203.219.9775

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26 Parsonage Road

Spring House Sanctuary

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Leslie McElwreath 917.539.3654 | Edward Mortimer 203.496.4571

Leslie McElwreath 917.539.3654

Greenwich Brokerage ONE PICKWICK PLAZA, GREENWICH | 203.869.4343 | SOTHEBYSREALTY.COM/GREENWICH © 2021 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. The Sotheby’s International Realty trademark is licensed and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. The Sotheby’s International Realty network fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. All offerings are subject to errors, omissions, changes including price or withdrawal without notice.

eat

by mary k ate ho gan • photo gr aphy by andrea carson

ITALIAN HOSPITALITY WITH GREAT FOOD AND A BUSTLING SOCIAL SCENE, ROSINA’S HAS BYRAM HOPPING

above: Octopus and potato, pimenton and lemon aioli • Chef Jared Falco • Caprese with mozzarella di bufala, delicata squash and basil

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ongtime friends Jared Falco and Coby Blount have been wanting to open a restaurant together for years. They met as part of the original team at Fortina in Armonk and stayed in touch while working separately at other popular Fairfield County and New York restaurants. They ultimately found a partner in Frank Carpentieri Sr. (of Garden Catering) and a prime location in Byram. Now their vision has come to life at Rosina’s, named for Frank’s late mother who lived in Port Chester and loved to garden and cook. Rosina’s is a place where Italian comfort food meets the freshest ingredients (think veggies coming from gardens right around the corner) and a modern cocktail program that made this a go-to spot from the moment it opened.

The setting in the former Mill Street Bar and Table space was already desirable with multiple dining areas and a barroom, plus lots of parking

in back. The large brick patio is lined with potted trees and shrubs with plenty of heaters and a retractable awning to extend the season. The team tweaked the indoor space, opening up the front dining area, adding more high-top tables (“great for mingling and big groups,” says Coby), putting black-and-white family photos on the wall, making things more casual for people who want to drop in for a quick bite, a pizza or drinks.

The cocktail list immediately sets Rosina’s apart from a garden-variety old-school Italian restaurant. Juan Meyer, former beverage director of Z Hospitality Group, is behind the bar mixing up a creative selection and cutting ice by hand. His cocktail program reflects the Italian influence with multiple Campari-based drinks, including a vintage Negroni, and also features some unexpected choices, such as a triple banana daquiri called Chiquita and the Rico Tubbs, a blend of fresh grapefruit juice,

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Margherita and sausage pizzas and rigattoni with braised pork, escarole, beans and tomato DECEMBER 2021 GREENWICH

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t ae

above: Mona Lisa made with monkey 47 gincello, lavender and prosecco • Vintage Negroni • Ricco Tubbs made with casamigos blanco, salted grapefruit and black sea salt

above: Meatballs with marinara and Parmesan right: Buratta filone with browned butter, pears, hazelnuts and saba

Casamigos Blanco with black sea salt on the glass and a grapefruit rind garnish.

That refreshing cocktail was the perfect start to a dinner on the patio on a warm fall evening.

We went on a Thursday night, and the whole patio and most of the dining room were full.

Appetizers are the largest menu category, and we sampled quite a few. The crispy coated arancini covered in a flurry of Parmesan resting on a bed of pecorino cream sauce are a cheese lover’s dream, with a kick of spice coming from the ‘nduja, a spreadable Calabrian sausage.

Hearty and substantial meatballs served in a classic tomato sauce are a must-try for meatball fans. Roasted carrots were my favorite starter, perfectly charred, resting on a bed of creamy robiolina cheese and topped with fennel, pistachios and onions—a decadent way to eat your veggies.

Though you can make a meal out of a few starters and one of the crispy thin-crust pizzas—we loved the margherita—the biggest draw may be the pasta. “Pasta has always been my passion,” says Chef Jared, and it’s made by hand every day. Try the pappardelle with a lighter than usual Bolognese or indulge in the rigatoni paired with a rich braised pork, pieces of escarole and white beans—serious comfort food. The chef also makes a mean clam sauce loaded with garlic, which we had over chitarra pasta. The sauce was delicious, but the whole dish came out not as warm as we would like.

There are just four entrées on the menu and the splurge involves meat dishes for two—a dry-aged ribeye and a veal chop Milanese. That veal chop is massive, enough for two meals at least, even when it’s shared. The very tasty breaded veal is plated under a blanket of arugula and Parmesan with slivers of delicate squash.

As we finished our dinner with tartufo (this version is vanilla gelato with chocolate in the center, and it’s dipped in loads of chopped hazelnuts) and a decadent warm chocolate cake, Rosina’s was still hopping with people at the bar and others sipping wine at their tables.

There’s a full menu of digestivos and nightcaps that we want to sample next time. It’s that comfortable type of place that tempts you to stay and order another round.

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Roasted carrots and dry-aged ribeye

ROSINA’S

230 Mill Street 203-681-2376 rosinasrestaurant.com Tuesday – Friday 4 p.m. ’til “late” Saturday and Sunday 12 p.m. ’til “late”

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g–mom b y e i l een bart el s

Smiles Over the Miles FROM DECADENT SWEET AND SAVORY TREATS TO BESPOKE GIFT BOXES, YOUR FAR-AWAY FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE IN FOR A VERY MERRY SURPRISE

W

EKOSTSOV - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

ith the gift of vaccines allowing us to return to opening presents with friends and extended family, the holidays seem a little cheerier this year. Yet, for those of us with far-flung relatives and friends, ’tis the season to select and ship early.

Don’t let supply chain shortages and mail delays take the jolly out of the season. A number of great online businesses make holiday shopping a breeze. You’re just a few clicks away from beautifully packaged, thoughtful gifts arriving to loved ones on your long-distance list.

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FESTIVE FEASTING

MIX AND MATCH For packages that look as great on the outside as on the inside, check out BoxFox. Here you curate a box of items from various unique companies. Begin by choosing either an elegant creme or matte black box (similar to Net-A-Porter packaging), then select items to fill it. Shopping is easy and fun, and you can pick themes to narrow down your search—price range, color or interests (pets, ecofriendly, kids, kitchen and many more). Fill a box for your sister with Voluspa candles, May Martin jewelry, an Azeria silk pillowcase and Barefoot Dreams’ cozy socks. If you don't have the time to select each item, there are ready-toship boxes with prices ranging from $35 to $210. Themes include Whisky Business, Happy Hour, the Night Stand and Desk Essentials. Shipping is free for boxes over $100. shopboxfox.com

ELEGANCE & STYLE The sheer weight of a box from Olive and Cocoa lets the recipient know that they’re getting something special. Each gift comes in a signature wooden box with items inside that feel just as special.

Choose from holiday gifts or specific themes for kids and adults.

The crates of holiday treats are a crowd pleaser ($50 to $175).

Send decorative items like a Norwegian felt wreath ($88) or trio of sisal trees ($298). Or go for a winter lodge theme—a luxe throw blanket (under $100), snowy day flannel pjs ($134) or a personalized ski lodge tray ($148, customization takes seven days). My daughter will be counting down the days to Christmas in her dorm room with a thirty-four-inch festive gnome wearing a felt advent calendar cap.

The holiday season is a nostalgic time for those who are far from their hometowns. Send your recipients their favorite hometown fare or share your city’s specialties.

Goldbelly specializes in shipping regional delights across the country.

SOME GREAT GO-TO’S

1 BoxFox Happy Hour Gift Box

NYC Brunch from Russ & Daughters

Detroit pizza from Buddy’s Pizza (threepack starting at $99)

2 West Coast coconut fans get the White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake ($99) from Doan’s in California

3 It’s rumored to be Tom Cruise’s holiday gift of choice

White Chocolate Coconut Bundt Cake from Doan’s

Ride of a Lifetime Box from Olive & Cocoa

New York transplants appreciate the NYC Brunch from Russ & Daughters that includes hand-rolled bagels, all-natural cream cheese, chocolate babka, private blend coffee and a Russ & Daughters mug ($179, feeds six)

4 Gift a tasty Hanukkah with the Ess-a-bagel Jewish Classic Dessert basket ($89)

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Keto On The Go Snack Box

Other great ideas: Keto On The Go snack box ($104), spa day crate ($134) or the Ride of a Lifetime box with four bike-etched rocks glasses and the book Epic Bike Rides of the World ($164). oliveandcocoa.com

Sweet treats from Send a Cake

A SMALL BOX OF BIG FUN

in one sitting). Begin by choosing from eight delicious flavors, including a gluten-free option. Next, pick one of the six festive boxes.

And finally, for extra oomph, make it an exploding box that pops open and surprises your recipient with anything

I am a big fan of the mini-cake-in-a-box company Send A Cake.

Delight your friends with a special threeinch mini-cake (small enough that they won’t feel guilty devouring it

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from candy, party poppers and confetti to wind-up paper butterflies that take flight and photos that are unveiled as the box opens. Cakes start at $29, and surprises start at $5 each. sendacake.com

Make a splash with Maine lobster rolls or heat up the holidays with the Oink Sampler from North Carolina's Kings BBQ, featuring hand-chopped pork, pork ribs, Brunswick stew and potato salad ($99, feeds four to six)

6 You can also give the gift that keeps giving.

For $79 a month, Best of Goldbelly will send a different best-selling feast that feeds four every month for a year. goldbelly.com

g-mom

OU T & AB OUT • Greenw ich Magazine and Greenw ich Moms par tner up

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS GREENWICH IS A MAGICAL PLACE TO BE IN DECEMBER— FROM THE LIGHTS TWINKLING AROUND TOWN TO WONDERFUL COMMUNITY EVENTS. WE'VE ROUNDED UP A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE SEASON

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Finding the perfect gift just got a little easier.

Greenwich Moms will host an après– ski–themed shopping experience to support all of our fabulous small businesses. Join us for this one-day event to shop all of your favorite brands and warm up with mulled cider, wine and hot cocoa. Find gifts for your loved ones, and don’t forget to pick up something special for yourself.

As of press time, the date and location were TBA, check the website for updates. greenwichmoms.com

One of our favorite activities before the holidays is picking out our tree, grabbing a photo with Santa and shopping two levels of Christmas ornaments at Troy’s Garden Nurseries in Bedford. Choose from a large selection of fresh-cut Christmas trees ranging from twoto sixteen-feet. After you pick the perfect tree, head inside the 100-yearold barn that’s filled to the rafters with a festive selection of decorations.

Don’t take our word for it. Get in the holiday spirit and stop by to take a look for yourself. troysnurseries.com

Westchester’s Winter Wonderland in Valhalla is a nearly one-anda-half-mile drive-thru experience filled with thousands of lights.

Attractions include favorite elves Ned and Albert, glittering angels of peace, a fifty-foot dove, dancing trees, glowing snowballs, candy cane lane, a spectacular 100-foot light tunnel, thirty-foot snowflakes, a fortyfoot Christmas tree and so much more.

All proceeds benefit the Westchester Parks Foundation. wwinterwonderland .com

The Historical Society will come alive for the holidays on Friday, December 3. Highlights of the Holiday Festival include gingerbread decorating presented

by Greenwich’s Black Forest Bakery, master storyteller Jonathan Kruk performing a one-man show of A Christmas Carol, and a visit to Santa for photographs and some Christmas list negotiating. Enjoy a candlelight tour of the historic Bush-Holley House decorated in grand holiday style.

NO ELVES NEEDED

DECK THE HALLS

LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT

CHARMING CHEER

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The tour shares the Christmas traditions celebrated by the Bush family in the Colonial era and later by the Holley family in the heyday of the Cos Cob Art Colony.

Individual and family tickets available at greenwichhistory.org.

No. 5

VIRTUALLY FESTIVE

Enjoy the magic of the Junior League of Greenwich’s Enchanted Forest from home.

You’ll be able to shop the online auction of decorated trees and gingerbread houses, enjoy activities with Santa and more. jlgreeniwch.org

Every month Layla Lisiewski, Greenwich mom of four and founder of Greenwich Moms and its parent company, The Local Moms Network, shares some of her favorite things to do—from seasonal activities to can’tmiss events. Follow @greenwich_moms on Instagram, sign up for the newsletter and check out the calendar at greenwichmoms .com.

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CONTRIBUTED

by l ayl a lisiewski

Listen, watch, and get inspired on the go.

All public media, one app. ctpublic.org/mobileapp

CTPublic_Hearst_7.65x4.5.indd 1

11/5/21 10:29 AM

Meet-and-greet with guest artists after each performance!

presents

DECEMBER 18 – 2pm & 6pm

The joyous return of a magical holiday tradition!

Unity Phelan

New York City Ballet

Jovani Furlan

New York City Ballet

DECEMBER 19 – 1pm & 5pm

Gillian Murphy

American Ballet Theatre

Palace Theatre 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford

Blaine Hoven

American Ballet Theatre

For tickets, visit www.palacestamford.org or call 203-325-4466 today!

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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS GOLD PARTNERS

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people&PLACES by alison nichols gr ay

Scan the code for more PARTY PHOTOS in our gallery!

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GREENWICH POINT CONSERVANCY / Tod’s Point

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE / BOB CAPAZZO

Making Waves

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veryone arrived by golf cart with fruity cocktails in hand, decked in their most colorful garb ready to raise funds for our most beloved Greenwich treasure, Tod’s Point. The décor, views, food and tunes were all “on point.” The annual Beach Ball has long been a summer Greenwich highlight. greenwichpoint.org »

1 Daisy Beatty, Jess Tran, Colby Fumers, Kim Hanney, Courtney Montgomery, Elizabeth Dank, Alston Calabrese, Emma Habeck 2 Rachel Newman, Nicole Glor 3 Mark and Gia Burton 4 Katie Oberg, Megan Ward Musalo, Shannon Gregor, Elizabeth Bourgoin, Lauren Burke 5 Tom and Liz Johnson 6 Tom, Kelly and Hannah Broadhurst, Tim Dougherty 7 Chris and Rachel Franco 8 Jens Mueffelmann, Tom Jankovich DECEMBER 2021 GREENWICH

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1 Drew and Rachel Kelley, Kristina and John Manganiello, Duke and Missy Perucci, Frank and Kelly Reeves, Craig and Sarah Schnider, Megan and Kyle Hilderbrand 2 Karen and Rod Saggese 3 Laura Phillips, Allison Kingsley, Lauren Jones 4 Kathy Kriskey, Lauren Rabin 5 Cabana-striped table tops 6 Nancy and Dan Ozizmir, Forbes Hopper, Phil Hadley 7 Jeff Kingsley, Suzanne Wamsley, Gideon Fountain 8 Fabio and Nina Lindia 9 Dorothy Cascerceri Simone, Justine Bolduc, Lisa Van Der Voort 10 Roger, Roxana and J.P. Bowgen 11 Kendra Farn, Maria Zavatarro, Donna Moffly 12 Grace, Georgia, Charlie, Alison and Jillian Leigh greenwichmag.com

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13 Jill Schecter, Kim Gould 14 Ben and KP Mickelson, Robby Gray, Katherine Dunne, Greg Silver, Tina Pray, Joseph Lockridge, Cristin Marandino, Cathy Nikic, Jen Danzi; (front) Ali Gray, Jill Cohen 15 Matt Schwartz, Lauren Schweibold, Ani and Dre Anisandoval 16 Scot and Lisa Weicker 17 Cristina Duson, Anuja Mawji, Anna Buzik 18 Elizabeth Uhland, John Nelson, Sue Baker 19 Ed Dadakis, Deborah Hess, Linda Gartner 20 Julie Lowe, Carol Mondschein, Sara Allard, Terri Paulson, Jocelyn Dimsey 21 Emma Gleason, Jeff Aser 22 Patrick and Nicole Sherwood, Christine and Andrew Kelley 23 Karen and Eric Hopp 24 Elena and Jonathan Moffly, Marianna Sarkissova »

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RALLY FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS & ABORTION JUSTICE / Stamford-Norwalk Courthouse

Rally for Rights

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CONTRIBUTED

1 GHS Young Democrats: Laura DaCosta Locatelli, Evangeline Norman, Darcy Anderson, Samantha Engs, Melissa Perez, Sophie Citron, Esme Merrill, Sophia Crasto 2 State Rep Caroline Simmons 3 Donna Moffly 4 Senator Richard Blumenthal 5 CAGV Director Jonathan Perloe 6 RBG placard 7 Texas placard 8 Pink Wave co-founder Shira Tarantino 9 Planned Parenthood volunteer Ella Dawson 10 State Rep Matt Blumenthal, Danielle Eason 11 Indivisible Greenwich co-founder Laurie Heiss 12 Jennifer Siberon, Barbie McKelvey, Judy Holden, Phyllis Trager

ne of 650 actions across the country, a Rally for Reproductive Rights drew 300 people to the front steps of the Stamford/Norwalk Judicial Courthouse on October 2. Organized by Pink Wave Action, Stamford Women’s Talking Circle, Indivisible Stamford, Indivisible Greenwich, Allies for Justice & Equity CT and ICT4, the crowd denounced the restrictive new abortion law in Texas and showed overwhelming support of Roe v. Wade. Among those at the mic were Senator Richard Blumenthal and keynote speaker Danielle Eason, board chair of Planned Parenthood Votes! Connecticut. »

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THE POINTS OF LIGHT AWARDS / Manhattan

A Family Affair

1 (back row) Kate and Jim Clark, Kenny and Kimberley Habul; (front row) TJ and Courtenay Carella, Chris McFerran, Wendy Wear Stapleton 2 Lauren Bush Lauren 3 Dionisio Cucuta and Stephanie Taylor-Cucuta 4 Fox News co-anchor of America’s Newsroom Dana Perino, honoree Francine A. LeFrak, Lauren Bush Lauren 5 ABC News anchor Linsey Davis, emcee for the night 6 Neil Bush and Maria Andrews 7 Chairman of the Points of Light Board, Neil Bush; Points of Light President & CEO, Natalye Paquin; honorees Dr. Ala Stanford, Bryan Stevenson, and Francine A. LeFrak; Lauren Bush Lauren and Wendy Wear Stapleton greenwichmag.com

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PHOTO CREDIT: POINTS OF LIGHT

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lobal nonprofit Points of Light recently hosted a lovely evening cochaired by Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush Hager, Lauren Bush Lauren, Victor and Patricia Ganzi and Wendy Stapleton. Former Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama served as honorary cochairs. The celebration honored the legacy of President George H.W. Bush and the selfless efforts of everyday heroes and distinguished leaders committed to serving their community.

The event is designed to inspire people to take civic action in their own lives and have a ripple effect in communities across the world. pointsoflight.org »

people

habitatgreenwich gifts decor furnishings artwork

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h a b i t a t g r e e n w i c h.com 1 Generation Impact volunteers at the backpack and school supply drive 2 Donna J. Twist, Vice President Development of Bridgeport Hospital Foundation accepts Generation Impact’s grant of $10,000 3 The ten-member Board of Directors comprising sophomore, junior and senior high school students from schools in Greenwich and Stamford

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GENERATION IMPACT FAIRFIELD COUNTY

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Future Leaders

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eneration Impact recently hosted its Big Give event and awarded its third annual $10,000 grant to Bridgeport Hospital for the REACH Program, Helping Hands.

The funds will provide financial assistance to young people living in violent and distressed communities to access the treatment and services they need. Generation Impact Fairfield County is a program for high school girls to learn about the needs in our community and work together to make an impact. generationimpact.org G

greenwich botanical center shop 130 bible street

habitatgreenwich.com

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BAXTER COURTYARD / Greenwich Library 12

A Novel Idea

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reenwich Library recently commemorated the official completion of the ReImagine Renovation project, along with the relaunch of in-person programs. Donors, trustees, staff and town officials gathered in the new Baxter Courtyard to mark the occasion with a ribbon-cutting. The new space with a retractable glass wall creating an indoor and outdoor environment is sure to be a great place for special events. greenwichlibrary.org greenwichmag.com

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE / BOB CAPAZZO

1 First Selectman Fred Camillo, Board of Trustees President Tom Heagney and Library Director Barbara Ormerod-Glynn, cutting the ribbon 2 Karen Royce, Karen Keegan, Lauren Rabin, Mary Shaw Halsey, Jill Oberlander 3 Peggy Kalb, Diana Seaton 4 Alexandra and Larry Cordraro 5 Lucy and Larry Ricciardi 6 Hilary Lea, Lolly Prince 7 Lindsay and David Ormsby 8 Nicole and Phil Hadley 9 Rob Marks, Sharon Philips 10 Tracy, Stephen and Emily Limpe, Irene Chen 11 Hank Ashforth, Andy Fox, Bill Drake, BET Clerk & BET Audit Comm. Chair 12 Haley and Joseph Elmlinger, Laurel and Cliff Asness

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MEET FLOWCODE, THE NEXT GENERATION OF QR CODES

Go ahead, try it out. Point your phone’s camera at the Flowcode to scan.

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EVELYN ELIZABETH MURRAY & MATTHEW BRIAN WILSON 1

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOANNA FISHER

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ike a scene out of a movie, Matthew and Evelyn met at a party on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The two hit it off immediately and began dating.

From long walks to romantic dinners, the new couple soaked up all the city had to offer. After two years together, Matt proposed at sunset while on vacation in Newport Beach, California.

Joshua B. Ehlers officiated at the ceremony at Indian Harbor Yacht Club where the reception followed. A highlight of the evening was a choir performing during the ceremony. Their magical voices bounced off the water when they sang “This Will Be an Everlasting Love” and “Ave Maria.”

The bride, daughter of William and Judy Murray IV of Dallas, graduated from Capital High School, Baylor University and Southern Methodist University. Evelyn works in real estate for Douglas Elliman in Greenwich.

The groom, son of Brian Wilson of New York and the late Barbara Wilson, graduated from West Hempstead High School and University of Albany. Brian works in finance for Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York.

The newlyweds honeymooned in Maui before returning home to Greenwich. G

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1 The newlyweds go for a spin 2 Judy Murray, Evelyn, Colonel William P. Murray IV 3 Grant, Kate and Luke Ehlers 4 Dessert is served 5 Holly, Brian, Evelyn, Matthew and Stephanie Wilson, Elizabeth and Joseph Balogh 6 Rosemary Ann Ehlers 7 Indian Harbor Yacht Club 8 Lady Peachena & The Late Show’s Gospel Choir 9 Joseph Balogh, Brian Wilson, Matthew Wilson, Colonel William P. Murray IV, Joshua Ehlers; (front) Grant and Luke Ehlers DECEMBER 2021 GREENWICH

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ith sm nn ria by

Ways to say buh-bye Zoom cocktail parties, ciao Netflix-nchill purgatory. We’re all ready for the real thing … if we could only remember how.

enter our soirée survival guide greenwichmag.com

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ANDREA CARSON

ow lucky were we to finally reconnect over the easy, breezy days of summer and those crisp fall evenings? For a hot minute it felt, dare we say it, normalish.

But there’s something about winter entertaining that can feel, well, formidable.

Spanx on, masks off. Are we ready for this? Fact is, we’re all feeling a little off our game—and mildly freaked out at the prospect of indoor merrymaking. Kind of makes you wonder if all the holiday hoopla is worth the trouble. (Answer: You bet your caviar canape it is.) That’s why we called on our friends for some expert advice on getting back in the yuletide groove—at a slightly slower speed. Well, except for the ice luge. »

THE DECOR

Festive flowers and centerpieces and the perfect martini. What’s not to love?

BRING IN THE BLOOMS

READY, SET… TABLESCAPE

WEATHER-PROOF YOUR PATIO

PREP YOUR PANTRY

li lly a rm st rong

norm in taylor

ma rylee sa ntoro

lee a nn t h o rn to n

“I always recommend picking a theme and colors first. Relaxed and casual wine night with friends or hosting a formal dinner? Having a plan of how people are going to be seated and the scene you would like to set is important here. A familystyle Italian dinner can become a Tuscan soirée with some ruby red linens, greenery and recycled bottles as vases. Feel free to add something personal—maybe something your kids made. Don’t be afraid to add pops of color or play with patterns.

Bold napkins or napkin rings can have a big impact with little effort, as does modern gold cutlery that has a wow element and works like jewelry for an outfit. Think about scale and space on the table as well.

This season I will be using floating glass tea-light holders in multiple sizes.”

“Right now, because of Covid, there is a shortage of professionally installed tents, so buying your own gives you flexibility. An inexpensive option is the Zenova ten-by-twenty-foot Pop-Up Canopy Tent from overstock. com. A good rule of thumb is one sixty-inch table round for every hundred feet. Adorn it with lights and greenery, and you have a good-sized area where people can comfortably gather. Having reliable heat sources is also key. I love the Yukon from solostove.com because it puts out so much heat and is portable, so it’s convenient at home or anywhere, whether it’s tailgating, kids’ outdoor sporting events or sledding.

Just be sure not to use it under any kind of canopy. I also prefer pyramidshaped heat lamps because of the design. A nice touch is to provide blankets for your guests to cozy up in and take home—Amazon sells Mexican yoga blankets for fourteen dollars that make great party favors.”

“In my head, the question is always, ‘Am I party-ready?’ even if I’m not having a party, because that makes me feel like the weekend’s coming. William Poll in the city has an amazing collection of decorated gingerbread houses, and I buy a lot of my treats for cocktail and holiday gatherings there. I’ll put magnolia branches and greenery on the island, a big bowl of fresh grapes, cheeses and charcuterie and breads from the Greenwich Cheese Shop, a great white, a great red, jalapeno olives for martinis, always martinis. And really great linens. Go to that drawer and pull out those green-and-white buffalo check napkins—you can get fabulous ones from heathertaylorhome.com. I have beautiful battery-operated brass lights that set an immediate mood. It’s cozy, there are flowers, the candles get lit, and I always have my favorite playlist, ‘Nancy Meyers’ Kitchen’ on my Sonos.

There’s definitely a way to get you in the holiday spirit. Even if there’s two people coming over, you need to celebrate.”

“A lush, large-scale arrangement goes a long way in making your home look festive for the holidays. An easy way to DIY is to look in your own backyard for unusual branches, especially any that have pine cones or berries still attached.

This is the perfect time to pull out heirloom silver. (A shiny wine bucket or heavy bowl will also do.) Create a framework with your branches by nestling them in balled-up chicken wire in the base of your container. I prefer a more natural, asymmetrical look, so to keep the arrangement balanced, for every high branch, also place one low and reaching down.

Fill in the branches at staggered heights and depths, much like they would be on a tree. Once all the branches are placed, follow the same lines to fill in with masses of amaryllis, and just like that, you have a gorgeous arrangement that will carry you through peak entertaining days.” Sign up for Lilly’s “Winter Whites” floral arranging class on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, at greenwichbotanicalcenter.org

Owner, Home Boutique homeboutique.com

Event Planner eventsbymarylee.com

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Interior Designer leeannthornton.com

FLOWERS COURTESY OF MOSSOMEFLORAL.COM;

Owner of mossomefloral.com

THE LOOK Gucci 25* Goldie Red, Rouge à Lèvres Satin Lipstick

BRING BACK THE HOLIDAY LIP

ROCK THE RAINBOW

ray m ond r ic h a rdson

bla i n e pec k

Stylist, Pearl by Lela Rose pearl.nyc

Makeup Artist appointments by request at boheme-salon.com “Go red, go bold, make that your focal point. I like a velvety, rich, full-coverage matte. For pinkish/ ivory skin tones, I like Tom Ford Lip Color in ‘Fabulous,’ and for golden tones, Gucci Satin Lipstick in ‘Goldie Red’ is great. For deeper skin tones I love ‘Glastonberry’ by Charlotte Tilbury. A little tip I tell my clients is to exfoliate your lips in a circular motion before brushing your teeth, or buy a lip exfoliator like Fresh’s Sugar Lip Polish. You also want to hydrate your lips daily. I love La Mer’s The Lip Balm, because it’s not sticky or tacky. Complement your lips with a soft smoky eye by smudging liner into the upper lashline and finishing with mascara, and apply a bit of highlighter on the high part of the cheekbone. For daytime, Dior Colored Tint in ‘Natural Red’ looks great on everyone and gives a bitten red lip and sheer shine.”

“We’re all so excited to be getting dressed up again, why go with basic black? Have fun and make the day feel a little magical.

Incorporating vibrant colors for this year’s intimate holiday gatherings is my most reliable mood-boosting strategy. This season Pearl by Lela Rose has some gorgeous blazers, sweaters and blouses in icy blues, peony pinks and poppy oranges.

Accessorize with Christian Louboutin’s ‘Elisa’ bag with its combination of leopard spots and bold flashes of red. Manolo Blahnik’s Hangisi Satin Jewel Buckle Pump or Ballerina Flat offer sumptuous colors for the perfect classic evening shoe.”

Don’t be afraid of bold lip or wardrobe colors. (above: Glastonberry by Charlotte Tilbury; right: Pearl by Lela Rose floral crepe pant and peony blouson sleeve sweater) • Suitsupply helps guys be comfy while looking sharp.

SWITCH UP HIS STYLE SPICE UP OUTDOOR CASUAL

a ng e l a ca rd o n a Style Advisor, Suitsupply Greenwich; suitsupply.com

ca ndi c e dh akw ha

“I love the idea of elevating casual and creating a new normal.

Whether you’re back in the office, a home-office hybrid situation, or you’ve decided to stay home for good, we all deserve quality, comfort and style. We’re bringing a range of black-tie options perfect for year-end celebrations and holidays, as well as crossover ensembles with natural shoulder jackets and drawstring trousers.

We encourage people to embrace a new approach to transitional pieces. Take a suit and break it up. Wear the full two-piece to work or an upscale event, then lose the tie and swap the button-up for a knit or polo. At the moment, my favorite look is a natural shoulder suit that works seamlessly when swapping jackets or trousers.” »

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Fashion Consultant

“The secret to dressing sexy for outdoor parties is layer, layer, layer!

There’s nothing chic about being cold. Start with a silky camisole or thin, sparkly blouse, add a soft, fuzzy sweater, letting some of the under layer peek through—either on the sleeves, in the collar, or in the décolleté.

Top with a lightweight puffer coat.

Canada Goose has great parkas with fur trimmed hoods. Moncler, Isabel Marant and Tory Sport are doing a cropped puffer. They look great with the trendy higher waisted jeans.

Colorwise, I like navy, ivory, any nude tone, and for a non-neutral I’m seeing pretty ones in elderberry and shades of pink. Pair it with this season’s overthe-knee boots for a dressier look or a lug-sole combat-style boot for a more casual look.”

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THE BITES

SERVE LIKE A PRO cou rt n ay a r pano Owner of Courtnay’s Kitchen courtnayskitchen.com

“My go-to is a full tenderloin—it is literally the easiest thing to cook, and it’ll serve ten to twelve for dinner or sixteen to twenty for a cocktail party.

Call your butcher a few days ahead for a three-and-a-half to four pound whole tenderloin. You salt and pepper and grapeseed oil the filet and put it in a five-hundred degree oven for fifteen minutes, turn the oven off and let it stay in there for forty-five minutes, and when you pull it out you have a perfectly cooked, mediumrare tenderloin. It works every single time. I do a horseradish sauce that’s just two-thirds of a cup of sour cream and a third of a cup of prepared horseradish. I’ll pair it with a hearty fall salad with the rosemary pecans that we sell, and celery, pear and roasted squash. Another fun idea is our cocktail minis: individual chicken pot pies that come in mason jars and slip into red and white checked cozies. All you do is pop ’em in the oven. It’s a five-bite meal and is a hit at parties, ice rinks, bonfires, you name it.” Pot pies can be ordered the first three weeks in December.

Grilled cheese with bacon from Melt Mobile

JUST SAY CHEESE

h anna h g orman

dia na ha ll

Owner of Melt Mobile melt-mobile.com

Owner and Head Chef of DinnerThyme revelwithdinnerthyme.com

“Holiday catering this year is trending toward anything non-communal, like tasty individual nibbles and petite hors d’oeuvres, individual one-handers such as Vietnamese lobster, mint and mango spring rolls, passed small plates like seafood paella and finger desserts like mini chocolate eclairs and chocolate peppermint truffles.The less touch

“The Melt Mobile is popular for people who want to celebrate but want to do it outdoors and socially distanced and kid-friendly. People love ordering at the window. Grilled cheeses are our main course, but we offer sides for catered events and also offer passed items like chimichurri skirt steak quesadillas and crab cakes. For the winter, we use a lot of seasonal ingredients

the better. Try to add a little something special and off-the-beaten path, like a mini raw bar with local oysters shucked to order that will make your party fabulous and fun.”

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THOMAS MCGOVERN

THINK NIBBLES, NOT BUFFET

that are comforting in the colder months, like sage and butternut squash and smoked gouda. For kids, we do sandwiches with American cheese and have gluten-free bread and vegan cheese, too. But the short-rib melt is by far the most popular sandwich. We braise the ribs for seven hours and they’re really tender, and we shred them off the bone and serve them with caramelized onions and make a sauce, and that’s served in our original melt.”

THE BOOZE

POUR A GREENWICH HOT TODDY ra as i kh m u h a m m a d j os ep h

Founder and Prnciple of Pinnacle Restaurant Strategy pinnaclerestaurantstrategy.com

RAASIKH MUHAMMAD JOSEPH BY @FAWZIYYA

“Hot toddies smell and taste like the season. Notes of clove, cinnamon and fresh citrus warm the soul. Perfect for a toasty evening at the in-laws or a holiday gathering with friends.”

Ingredients: 11 oz. honey 11 oz. fresh lemon juice 24 oz. spirit (rum, whiskey, bourbon or blended scotch. I enjoy Appleton Signature Estate Blend Jamaican Rum.) 6 cinnamon sticks Directions: Bring to a boil in a large pot, gently stirring to allow honey to dissolve. Pour ingredients into a properly tempered thermal dispenser using a funnel and add 48 ounces of hot water. Dispense 6 to 8 ounces into a copper or stainless mug and garnish with clove-spoked lemon wheel. Serves twenty; double or half recipe as needed.

Stacey Orecchio of Lifted Spirits

GET WHEELY CREATIVE

Raasikh Muhammad Joseph

stacey o recc h io INDULGE YOUR INNER FRAT BOY jennifer cov itz Co-Owner of Ice Matters icematters.com

STACEY ORECCHIO BY ANDREA CARSON

“People love ice luges; they’re a fun focal point at a party and work well outdoors. What’s been popular lately because of Covid are luges with two tracks: one for shots and one that pours shots into a glass or dispenses a signature cocktail into a glass (for those who aren’t comfortable touching their mouths to the ice). People tend to order snowflakes filled with real snow, Christmas trees, and our favorite, The Ugly Sweater. Or you can go more elegant with evergreens, rosemary, cranberries and oranges frozen into the ice.”

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Owner of Lifted Spirits liftedspirits.com

“We specialize in a pop-up bar experience and bring our mobile bar trailer wherever you are, whether it’s your backyard or the ice rink, with certified liability insured staff, ice, all of your supplies, fresh-pressed mixers, homemade syrups, shrubs and edible garnishes. We can also bring full bar service and cocktail catering indoors, so you have an option. What’s been popular at holiday time is the Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with vodka and Baileys; Wrappers Delight with bourbon; Crazy Cocoa with Irish Cream or Amaretto; and Candyland in a Cup, which is plain hot cocoa with the works—whipped cream, Twix and Kit Kats. It’s always a hit with kids.” »

THE VIBE

PLAY DJ dj a p ri l l a r ken

Download this mix with more bonus songs at djaprillarken.com

1. Chris Rockford Miq Puentes & Sugarcube Inc. “Last Christmas” (Wham! cover) 2. Kaskade & L’Tric/Fleetwood Mac “Dreams Remix” 3. James Brown “Soulful Christmas” 4. Block & Crown/Michael Jackson “Tonight Remix” 5. Gwen Stefani “Jingle Bells”

DJ April Larken

“Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree Dance Remix” 12. Mr. Collipark/The Jackson Five & 2 Live Crew “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus X Hoochie Man” 13. Jet Boot Jack/Bee Gees “You Should Be Dancin’ Remix” 14. Dr. Dre/Rolling Stones “Miss You House Remix” 15. Tuxedo and Buck Rodgers/ Paul McCartney “Wonderful Christmastime Remix”

6. Mariah Carey feat. JD “All I Want for Christmas Dance Remix” 7. Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike “Santa Claus is Coming to Town Dance R3hab Remix” 8. Dan Whitfield & Chris Ultranova/Stevie Wonder “Uptight Remix” 9. Beach Boys “Little Saint Nick” 10. Richastic/Dean Martin “Let it Snow! Dance Remix” 11. Trayze/Brenda Lee Magician and mentalist Ken Salaz

you bring a magician and mentalist like me into the mix, it affords them the opportunity to talk about something that’s immediate, right now. I can predict what people will do and say at any given moment in the evening, tell them the street they’re thinking of, turn a one dollar bill into a one hundred dollar bill, as well as transform objects—where things are floating around the room. People are saying to each other, ‘Whoa, I can’t believe that just happened!’ What works well in Greenwich is people will often have me at a private dinner, which could be at home or in private rooms of restaurants like Polpo or Blackstones or their private clubs, where I do an hour of ‘strolling’ and interacting with guests followed by an hourlong dinner show.”

BLOW THEIR MINDS ken sal az

Celebrity Magician and Mentalist astonishmentinc.com “Over the last eighteen months the interactive nature of our world has shrunk. People love to not talk about what they haven’t been doing. When

GET OLD-SCHOOL INSPO er ick mauro

Event Planner book through creativegamesinc.com “Know your crowd. Don’t try to have a party that’s not your crowd, and explain very clearly what your party is ahead of time, down to mask wearing or not, indoors or out, so it’s no surprise to anybody. Then comes the theme. My favorite answer on picking a theme is, do a clever spin on how you would’ve celebrated pre-Covid. So if you’re in Greenwich and you’re big into ‘Oh we love New York City and we used to see all the

stuff, we used to see the Rockettes,’ well, maybe we bring in four Rockettes and do a Rockettes show, and you have a photo booth with a backdrop of Times Square, and you cater from the Italian restaurant you used to go to. Now you’ve brought New York City right to your backyard.”

BRING LIVE MUSIC TO YOU a my ba l ducc i

Hostess Extraordinaire and Realtor at compass.com “I love having people over for live music. It feels like a mini concert in your backyard. People think it’s something you have to book months in advance, but that’s not always the case—I’ve even done an impromptu open house on a Friday night. It’s great for guests who are more comfortable outdoors, and they stay warm because everyone’s moving. The band MOJO is my go-to for dance music—they did the VIP tent at Greenwich Polo. I also book Sugar Bear for acoustic vocals and kickass guitar, and when the budget and the occasion merit, I love Bon Musique and Carte Blanche.”

MOJO: DM Alan @mojogreenwich Sugarbear: 203-952-4861 Bon Musique and Carte Blanche: book through elanartists.com

APRIL LARKEN BY KYLE NORTON

“The concept of my 2021 Holiday Dance Party playlist is marrying Christmas classics with edgy remixes. Every single holiday mix, every single holiday party, I try like hell not to play that Mariah Carey song; but the truth is, I play it every time because it bangs.”

THE PROTOCOL

Party Foul 4 A guest at your party keeps coughing, and it’s weirding people out Myka Meier

SOIREE

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ticky situations are inevitable at holiday gatherings, especially when everyone’s so out of practice. That’s why we called on Myka Meier, two-time bestselling etiquette author, director of Beaumont Etiquette in NYC, and founder of The Plaza Hotel Finishing Program, for some fast finessing.

Party Foul 1 You walk into a party and feel like a 2020 deer in 2021 headlights

CONTRIBUTED

“Find another person standing by themselves who will be your warmup buddy as fast as you can. It doesn’t matter who it is—the guy standing in line next to you at the coat check or the elderly neighbor having tea— as long as it’s someone to help make you not feel alone, which will get you out of the headlights. Ask the first question, which should be an open-ended one such as, ‘So how do you know XX [the host]?’

This will usually lead to them asking ‘And you?’ By then, a few minutes have gone, by and conversation will start to flow. Secondly, put away your phone, because it makes you unapproachable, and hold a drink.

It doesn’t have to be alcoholic—any drink will make you look like you are there to stay and be social. By carrying food, often it makes people not approach you, as they think you are busy eating.”

Party Foul 2 Someone bum-rushes you wanting to kiss, hug or handshake

“If you’re feeling wary about physical contact, you’re not alone. About half of my clients still say that they are not ready to physically touch or interact with others yet. That being said, if you attend, you’ll have to be fast on your feet, so when neighbor Cindy runs over with her arms outstretched to hug you, you can react quickly. Keep your arms cradled low or hold your drink or plate or clutch in front of you and smile with a head nod as she heads over, and if necessary, simply say, ‘Oh Cindy, I’d love nothing more than a holiday hug, but I’m still trying to be extra careful.’”

Party Foul 3 The person talking to you is getting way too close to your face “If you keep stepping backwards, the person may just keep moving closer to you. I teach my clients a move I created in my first book called ‘the salsa,’ which prevents anyone coming too close to you. A lot of my celebrity clients with overzealous fans use it, but it can work with anyone who doesn’t understand spatial awareness. Here’s how: Plant both of your feet so that your toes are lined up together facing the other person.

Keeping your left foot planted firmly,

“While you don’t want to make any of your guests feel unwelcome, you also want them all to feel safe. This is a tricky one, and I think it’s more about giving other guests alternative social options to move around if they need to. I personally, as a host, would not say anything to my one sniffly guest, but would ensure I had social escape routes for my other guests.

Instead of only hosting in one room, open a few areas for them to socialize in. Perhaps the cocktails are in one room and the food in another, or maybe there are a few smaller tables with open seating instead of only one.

Perhaps there is even a patio with heat lamps they can step out to, if they’d like some fresh air.”

Party Foul 5

TEST YOUR FÊTE-IQUETTE See how your party I.Q. stacks up!

THE VIBE

1. How can I ensure everyone is vaxxed at my party?

A. You can’t; it’s not proper to ask.

B. Write on your invitation: “To ensure the health and well-being of all our guests, we kindly ask that everyone who chooses to attend is vaccinated.”

2. Best way to introduce two people at a party?

A. The more powerful person is addressed first: “Power Person X, I’d like you to meet...” B. The less powerful person is addressed first: “Person Y, I’d like you to meet Power Person X.” 3. Are you expected to serve your guest’s wine or dessert?

A. Yes; serve it alongside yours as a gesture of goodwill. B. No; simply thank them and stash it somewhere.

4. Ideal way to leave a party early?

A. Track down your host(s) to apologize and say thank you. B. Do an Irish goodbye and thank them a day later.

5. Proper post party thank you?

A. Phone call B. Handwritten note C. Email D. Text

Someone’s drunk spouse is acting like he’s been locked up for a year and is getting handsy “You are within every right to ask someone to stop touching you. If you are not comfortable doing so, I would immediately excuse myself from my conversation with the person by using a definitive ending. For example, ‘Jim, it’s been fascinating hearing about your upcoming trip to Hawaii, but I must excuse myself and find my friend. I’m sure I will see you at the next party. Have a great rest of your evening.’ I do not advise saying you need to go to the bathroom, bar or to get food, as Jim could easily say ‘Great, I’ll join.’ Instead, by being assertive in the way you tell Jim the next time you see him—which is not later in the other room of this same party—it’s clear he didn’t get an invite and it’s unlikely he will follow you.

Myka teaches private and group courses to children, adults and corporations; book through beaumontetiquette.com.

PARTY TRICKS! Pop The Wand Wine Purifier in your party clutch and stick it in your red wine glass. In minutes it removes histamines and sulfites that can trigger itchy eyes and a puffy face. amazon.com Avoid ice-skidding in your Louboutins and add on a layer of perfectly matched red tread. Your butt will thank us.

Occhicone Fine Leather Goods (914-937-6327) Place dispensers of Frasier Fir hand sanitizer at high-touch points around your house, and the vibe will be more festive than antiseptic. thymes.com Need a no-fail hostess gift? We’re crazy for Maman’s new cookbook and chocolate chip cookie box from mamannyc.com and Gron’s CBD-infused Snooze Dark Chocolate shopgron.com. G

Answer key: B, A, B, A, A; answers courtesy of Myka Meier of beaumontetiquette.com

move your right foot back about a foot so that your body shifts to a side angle. Slightly lean back, putting your weight on your right foot. What you are doing is creating an invisible line with your left foot so that the other person doesn’t cross it and also puts an extra foot of distance between the two of you.”

LEANNA CREEL

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by jamie marshall

Trusting the Process Personally and professionally, Liz Parker has always followed her heart—and it’s lead to some pretty great things

E

very writer has their own process. Hemingway rose at sunrise and aimed for 500 words before noon. Agatha Christie found inspiration in the bathtub while eating apples.

Jonathan Franzen sequesters himself in an empty room and dismantles his WiFi. First-time novelist and Greenwich native Liz Parker runs. “I work out a scene in my head and when I get home, I write it down,” she says. “I do that until I have a manuscript draft.

And it doesn’t take as long as you might think.”

Her efforts paid off this past summer. Liz, a longtime literary agent, published her first novel, All Are Welcome—a darkly funny rom-com about a lesbian couple from Greenwich and their small destination wedding in Bermuda. The festivities start to unravel as soon as the brides’ plane takes off from JFK. Over the next three days, fueled by an abundance of alcohol and drugs, long-festering resentments, hidden agendas and closely guarded secrets among family members and friends come to the surface and threaten to derail the ceremony. So far, the book has garnered rave reviews: Oprah Daily named it one of the Best Books for August, ET called it one of the most anticipated LGBTQ books for 2021, and Ellen Degeneres’s ED By Ellen gave it a thumbs up on Instagram, calling it an “epic beach read.”

And from two readers whose opinions she values most? “I loved it!” says Liz’s mom, Virginia “Ginny” Parker. “I’m not a great sleeper and I often wake up at 4 a.m. I had her manuscript on

my iPad, and I read it in about three days. I laughed so hard at so much of it.” One of her favorite scenes is early on when one of the characters comes home to find all his belongings strewn over the front yard, which was based on a true story. “It was early in our marriage, and I had two young children, and I was very upset with my husband because he was playing golf every weekend, and I literally threw all his clothes out the bedroom window!”

“She nailed it,” adds her father Michael, a 2019 greenwich magazine Light A Fire honoree for his work with Laurel House. “I found the book most entertaining, and it became a page-turner, as I really wanted to see how it was going to end. The character development was excellent, and the issues they faced are certainly real.”

Michael always believed in his daughter’s writing chops. He recalls the day he received a phone call from Liz’s advisor at Deerfield Academy telling him Liz had won the literary award for a short story and asking if they would like to come to the reading. “I said, ‘Do I want to come? This is like a parent’s dream. Most travel hours and hours to watch their children play sports, and you are giving me an opportunity to see my daughter win this award and watch her read her story to the entire school. It is akin to traveling to a sports event, where you are guaranteed to see your child hit the winning goal, win the race and break the record all in one.”

For the thirty-seven-year-old, the feeling

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Liz and her brother, Mike Parker, who officiated at Liz and Sarah’s wedding ceremony

Liz and Sarah with Tiny and Beep on a weekend trip to Ojai, California

Family throwback: Mike and Liz, ages two and four

Sarah Tallman, Liz, Michael and Ginny Parker, at the family’s home in Stowe, Vermont

Liz and her grandmother, Betsy Hamilton, at a Derby party thrown by Laurel House in 2013 Ginny, Liz, Sarah, and Michael, at Liz and Sarah’s wedding reception at Indian Harbor Yacht Club in 2017

Liz and Sarah at a friend’s wedding in Stowe greenwichmag.com

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CONTRIBUTED

Michael, Ginny, Mike, (back row) Sarah, Liz, and grandfather Alex Hamilton, Thanksgiving in Greenwich, 2015

of being a published author is one she never imagined, but long dreamed about. “It’s totally surreal,” Liz says. “I was not a celebrated writer in college, and there was no indication I would ever have a book in me.”

She recalls the time one of her college writing professors told her a career in publishing was unlikely. That criticism might have crushed a less confident person. But not Liz. “That got me interested in the business of books,” she says, “and I got a job at Viking as an editorial assistant after I graduated. If I’d been some celebrated writer, I would probably have gone to get an MFA and then what?”

A Story Within

It was Ginny who told her husband Michael Parker. He took the news in stride. “Like any parent I just wanted her to be happy,” he says.

“I remember saying to her, ‘Certain things are going to be a little more difficult for you.’

Fortunately times have changed since then.”

“He was very distressed that he didn’t know any gay people to introduce me to,” Liz recalls with a laugh.

Michael needn’t have worried about his daughter finding a life partner. Liz met her wife, Sarah Tallman, on a blind date nearly ten years ago in New York City.

Sarah, who leads product development for a startup in the cosmetic industry, grew up in Darien and is well-versed in the language of WASP. “Funny story,” Liz says. “I was living in San Francisco working for a small independent press. I came to New York and decided to make a cold call on Bill Clegg, a well-known literary agent. I told myself, ‘Bill sells to small publishers, so maybe he’ll sell to me.’ I was twenty-six, and in hindsight it was really cute that I thought that. To his credit he accepted the meeting.” Liz didn’t get a book deal that day, but she did get a date. “About ten minutes in, he said, are you seeing anyone right now? There’s someone I think you should meet.”

Later that day, Liz walked into Whiskey Park, then a popular bar on 7th Avenue and Central Park South. It was a life-changing moment. “You can imagine my shock and amazement when I walk in and see Sarah Tallman sitting at the bar,” she says. “She was absolutely beautiful and so much cooler than me.”

For her part, Sarah says she was shocked, too. “At the time Liz had half her head shaved, and she had a huge scowl on her face, and I thought, well this isn’t going to go anywhere.” That was in May of 2013.

Three weeks later, when Liz was back in the city on business, she and Sarah met for dinner in SoHo and talked until the restaurant closed. They exchanged phone numbers. “The texting banter started, and it never really stopped,” Sarah says—at least until Liz moved back East six months later, in part because of Sarah and in part because she was ready to get back to the New York City publishing world.

“She claimed she was going to live with her parents in Greenwich. But she showed up at my apartment with her suitcases, and that was it,” says Sarah. “I had a pug named Rosie, and she had a Yorkie named Beep, and we became a blended family.”

They married in May of 2016. The ceremony took place in a suite at The One Hotel on Central Park South (there was big picture window overlooking Whiskey Park, which was a nice full-circle moment) followed by a lavish dinner for twenty-five at Gramercy Tavern. A year later, the couple celebrated with a party for 200 people at Indian Harbor Yacht Club. »

“I had just graduated high school, and the realization came slowly and then all at once. I’m a total extrovert and keep nothing secret.

There was never a moment when I thought I should live in the closet for a while.”

Liz is a skilled storyteller. She deftly weaves multiple points of view—moving the story forward through the eyes of various key players, including the wedding couple, “Tiny” McAllister and her betrothed, Caroline Schell; Tiny’s parents, Dick and Bitty; Caroline’s parents, Peter and Mabel; Tiny’s underachieving brother Trip; and her best friend Daisy. All are to the manner born: Connecticut WASPs who are proud of their lineage, their heritage and desperate to maintain their status in a world of big houses with long treelined driveways, private country clubs, charity luncheons and philanthropic causes. The men play golf, smoke cigars and drink brandy after dinner; the women subsist on lettuce leaves, hardboiled eggs and white wine. Vast amounts of white wine.

It’s a world the author knows well. For starters she was born and raised in Greenwich. After Deerfield she attended Middlebury (her father’s alma mater), where she double-majored in English and Psychology with a concentration in Creative Writing. She played varsity squash in college, attended summer camp in Wyoming (eventually working there as a counselor) and spent winter breaks skiing at Stowe, where her family has a second home, and in Vail. Equally important, she knows what it’s like to come out as a gay woman in Greenwich.

“I remember the precipitating moment very clearly,” she says. “I had just graduated from high school, and the realization came slowly and then all at once. I’m a total extrovert and keep nothing secret. There was never a moment when I thought I should live in the closet for a while.”

When she told her mother during a post-graduation trip to Australia, she was surprised to learn that Ginny was way ahead of her. “I noticed she hadn’t had a boyfriend for many years, and the more I thought about it, the more the thought crossed my mind. So, when she told me, I wasn’t surprised. And then we just kind of laughed a little and talked about it.”

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Make It Before You Make It

weekends. It’s a schedule that suits her perfectly.

As an athlete, she understands the importance of persistence and discipline “I know how hard writing is; I also know whenever I’m dramatic about something, I stop doing it. If I tell myself I’m going to run a marathon, I’ll never do it. But if I say I’m going to run a couple of miles a day, I can do it. If writing is my mental exercise, then I can do it on the weekends for now.”

The process works. A month after the release of her first book, she sent a second to her editor at Lake Union Press. Set in Stowe, the story is about five cousins who inherit a family home and how they navigate the tensions that situation presents.

“In the first book I explored the dynamics of the family you’re born into. In the second book, I explore the dynamics of the family you inherit.

And in the third book—yet to be written—I’ll explore the dynamics of the family you create.”

Liz says her experience on the other side of the publishing fence has given her more compassion toward her authors. “When you send your manuscript out and then when your book first goes out into the world, it’s unsettling. No matter how hard you try to compartmentalize it as business, it still feels personal.”

No one knows that better than her agent, Alexandra Machinst, a longtime friend and a 1998 graduate of Greenwich High School. The two met in 2009 at an industry function. When Liz told her about the book she was working on, she encouraged her to keep going. But when Liz approached her to become her agent, her initial reaction was a little different.

“There were lots of reasons that I would not want to take this on, because I try not to represent my friends,” Alexandra says. “But I thought the book was so delightful, and it had a propulsive energy to it. She has taken all these WASP tropes and writes about them in an entertaining way, and then added a whole other element to the story. When I was in high school, not one single person was out. The mere notion of accepting a gay child has shifted radically in the past ten years.”

Indeed. Today, Liz and Sarah live in a Spanish-style house built in 1918, nestled under the Hollywood sign in Beachwood Canyon. In March, after losing their beloved Rosie, they adopted a small Jack Russell terrier who had been living on the run in Griffith Park before finding her way to their neighbor’s lawn. “Sarah named her Tiny after the character in the book,” says Liz. “They’re both very resilient.”

Their life has a comfortable, almost suburban, rhythm to it. “It’s very pleasant. I almost feel bad talking about it,” says Liz. “It’s a beautiful blend of work, movement, socialization, family. I play more tennis than squash.

I run all the time. I play golf.”

“We laugh about it,” adds Sarah, who sees this rhythm as part of their long-term score. “We’re going to live in a retirement community and wear track suits and play golf.” Perhaps there’s a book in there somewhere. G

“When you send your manuscript out and then when your book first goes out into the world, it’s unsettling.

No matter how hard you try to compartmentalize it as business, it still feels personal.”

Liz refers to the early days of her agenting career as her Jerry Maguire years, when struggling to find her way. While on vacation in Belize in 2017, Liz met Bill Weinstein, cofounder of Los Angelesbased Verve Talent and Literary Agency, and had a three-hour conversation about books and movies. A month later, over lunch in New York, he talked about wanting to start a publishing department and asked if she would be interested in such a thing. “I was flattered,” Liz says. “But I told him hiring me right now would be like hiring Bambi. I’m going to be good, but I need to do some stuff first.”

Over the next year and a half, Parker did just that, brokering several deals, including signing a blogger named Susan Fowler, who had just come out with a sexual harassment case against Uber. Her memoir, Whistleblower, was immediately lauded. “That’s the thing about agenting,” Liz says. “Don’t quit before the miracle happens. If you stay in there and you’re a good person and you’re a good reader, it’s going to come together.”

She joined Verve in spring of 2018; she and Sarah packed their belongings and headed west. Today, as head of publishing, she manages a staff of six.

Through it all Liz never lost sight of her dream to write a book. “We had a weekend house in Bellport on Long Island,” says Sarah. “And during our drives out she’d float an idea by me. I really encouraged her. I think she’s such an excellent writer.” A turning point came in 2018 when Liz had an essay published in the New York Time’s “Modern Love” column. “That put some wind in her sails,” Sarah adds.

The idea for the book unfolded during a layover in St. Maarten, after a holiday in St. Barths. The island was suffering the after-effects of Hurricane Irene, and during a walk on the beach, the couple passed a hotel that had been decimated.

“I started thinking about the wedding that might have been booked on the day of the hurricane and all the people that had been impacted by the disaster,” she says. (An impending hurricane threatening the nuptials makes its way into the book.) “I thought back to my own small lesbian wedding, and while my own family is not like the McAllisters, there is inevitable humor in challenging the status quo. A lot of what is written about WASPs is written from the outside looking in, focusing on the “other” of it.

Similarly, I wanted to write a book that featured gay characters who weren’t coming out—it was the characters around them who were still struggling.”

Though she has drawn heavily from experience, she says All Are Welcome is a work of fiction. “The best way to sum it up is everything is real, and nothing is true. I am fluent in the language of WASP. I speak country club.”

Because she has a demanding full-time job, Liz writes mostly on

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203.254.4010

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Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street, Greenwich, Mon–Sat 8:30am–6pm PHOTOS WITH SANTA

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A Portion of All Photos with Santa Benefit

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Created & Produced By

calendar DECEMBER 2021

CAVALIER GALLERIES, 405 Greenwich Ave., 869-3664. cavaliergalleries .com CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY PRINTMAKING, 299 West Ave., Norwalk, 899-7999. contemprints.org CLAY ART CENTER, 40 Beech St., Port Chester, NY, 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport, 372-3521. discoverymuseum.org FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER, 370 Beach Rd., Fairfield, 259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org FLINN GALLERY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7947. flinngallery.com GERTRUDE G. WHITE GALLERY, YWCA, 259 E. Putnam Ave., 8696501. ywcagreenwich.org Peony Passion by Julie DiBiase, photograph

YWCA of Greenwich The Art Society of Old Greenwich is pleased to announce the Member’s Holiday Art Show and Sale is back in action throughout December. The exhibit will be a mixed media show by local artists at the Gertrude White Gallery at the YWCA of Greenwich. An opening reception will be held on Friday, December 3, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. 259 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich.

ART & ANTIQUES ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-0198.

Tues.–Sun. aldrichart.org

BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org

AMY SIMON FINE ART, 1869 Post Rd. East, Westport, 259-1500. amysimonfineart.com

CANFIN GALLERY, 39 Main St., Tarrytown, NY, 914-332-4554. canfingallery.com

( for more events visit greenwichmag.com )

CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS, Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah, NY, 914-232-1252. Caramoor is a destination for exceptional music, captivating programs, spectacular gardens and grounds, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.caramoor.org

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GREENWICH ARTS COUNCIL, 299 Greenwich Ave., 862-6750. greenwich artscouncil.org GREENWICH ART SOCIETY, 299 Greenwich Ave. 2nd fl., 629-1533.

A studio school that offers a visual arts education program for kids and adults. greenwichartsociety.org GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 47 Strickland Rd., 869-6899. greenwichhistory.org KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, Rte. 22 at Jay St., Katonah, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org KENISE BARNES FINE ART, 1947 Palmer Ave., Larchmont, NY, 914-834-8077. kbfa.com

LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM, 295 West Ave., Norwalk, 838-9799. lockwoodmathewsmansion .com LOFT ARTISTS ASSOCIATION, 575 Pacific St., Stamford, 203-247-2027. loftartists.org MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org NEUBERGER MUSEUM OF ART, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, NY, 914-2516100. neuberger.org PELHAM ART CENTER, 155 Fifth Ave., Pelham, NY, 914-738-2525 ext. 113. pelhamartcenter.org ROWAYTON ARTS CENTER, 145 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, 866-2744. rowaytonarts.org SAMUEL OWEN GALLERY, 382 Greenwich Ave., 325-1924. samuelowen.org SILVERMINE GUILD ARTS CENTER, 1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan, 203-966-9700. silvermineart.org SANDRA MORGAN INTERIORS & ART PRIVÉ, 135 East Putnam Ave., 2nd flr., Greenwich, 629-8121. sandramorganinteriors.com STAMFORD ART ASSOCIATION, 39 Franklin St., Stamford, 203-325-1139. stamfordartassociation.org STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org »

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calendar UCONN STAMFORD ART GALLERY, One University Pl., Stamford, 251-8400. artgallery. stamford.uconn.edu WESTPORT ARTS CENTER, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport, 226-7070. westportartscenter.org YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART, 1080 Chapel St., New Haven, 432-2800. britishart.yale.edu YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY, 1111 Chapel St.,

New Haven, 432-0611. artgallery.yale.edu

Stamford, 661-0321. avontheatre.org

CONCERTS, FILM & THEATER

CURTAIN CALL, The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford, 329-8207. curtaincallinc.com

ARENA AT HARBOR YARD, 600 Main St., Bridgeport, 345-2300. websterbankarena.com AVON THEATRE FILM CENTER, 272 Bedford St.,

DOWNTOWN CABARET THEATRE, 263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, 576-1636. dtcab.com FAIRFIELD THEATRE COMPANY, On StageOne, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, 259-1036. fairfieldtheatre.org

Ornament by Jess Palmer

Photo courtesy of Greenwich Historical Society.

Clay Art Center Shop local and give handmade gifts from the Clay Art Center’s highly coveted annual Clay Holiday Market taking place through Friday, December 24. The event offers one-ofa-kind functional pottery and ceramic sculptures featuring ornaments, menorahs, dinnerware, mugs and serving pieces by national and regional artists. 40 Beech Street in Port Chester. clayartcenter.org GOODSPEED OPERA HOUSE, 6 Main St., East Haddam, 860-873-8668. goodspeed.org

Historical Society On Friday, December 3, the Greenwich Historical Society will come alive with a full day of holiday cheer. Enjoy a wreath-making class, a festival of tabletop trees, gingerbread decorating, music and food. Even Santa will be there, along with renowned storyteller Jonathan Kruk. Warm up with mulled cider, wine, beer, hot cocoa and treats for the whole family.

( for more events visit greenwichmag.com )

DECEMBER 2021 GREENWICH

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GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary.org JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville, NY, 914-773-7663. burnsfilmcenter.org

LONG WHARF THEATRE, 222 Sargent Dr., New Haven, 787-4282. longwharf.com RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 438-9269. ridgefieldplayhouse.org RIDGEFIELD THEATER BARN, 37 Halpin Ln., Ridgefield, 4319850. ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org SHUBERT THEATER, 247 College St., New Haven, 800-228-6622. shubert.com

radnelac STAMFORD CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, 325-4466. stamfordcenterforthearts.org WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE, 25 Powers Ct., Westport, 227-4177. westportplayhouse.org

LECTURES, TOURS & WORKSHOPS ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-0198. aldrichart.org AUDUBON GREENWICH, 613 Riversville Rd., 869-5272. greenwich.audubon.org

AUX DÉLICES, 231 Acosta St., Stamford, 326-4540, ext.

108. auxdelicesfoods.com BOWMAN OBSERVATORY PUBLIC NIGHT, NE of Milbank/East Elm St. rotary on the grounds of Julian Curtiss School, 869-6786, ext. 338 BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org CLAY ART CENTER, 40 Beech St., Port Chester, NY, 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org CONNECTICUT CERAMICS STUDY CIRCLE, Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. ctcsc.org

FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER, 370 Beach Rd., Fairfield, 259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org GREENWICH BOTANICAL CENTER, 130 Bible St., 869-9242. gecgreenwich.org GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary .org KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, 26 Bedford Rd., Chappaqua, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org

KIDS’ STUFF DECEMBER 2021 ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-4519. aldrichart.org AUDUBON GREENWICH, 613 Riversville Rd., 869-5272. greenwich.audubon.org AUX DÉLICES (cooking classes), 23 Acosta St., Stamford, 326-4540 ext. 108. auxdelicesfoods.com BEARDSLEY ZOO, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, 394-6565. beardsleyzoo.org BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH, 4 Horseneck Lane, 869-3224. bgcg.org

Reindeer Festival The tradition continues! You don’t want to miss the thirteenth annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Workshop presented by Jenny Allen/Compass, taking place through Friday, December 24, at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street. A portion of all photos with Santa will benefit Kids in Crisis. greenwichreindeerfestival.com greenwichmag.com

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GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary.org KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, Rte. 22 at Jay St., Katonah, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER, 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, 966-9577. newcanaannature.org RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 4385795. ridgefieldplayhouse.org

BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org

STAMFORD CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, 325-4466. palacestamford.org

DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport, 372-3521. discoverymuseum.org

STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org

DOWNTOWN CABARET THEATRE, 263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, 576-1636. dtcab.com

STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN, 303 West Ave., Mathews Park, Norwalk, 899-0606. steppingstonesmuseum.org

EARTHPLACE, 10 Woodside Lane, Westport, 227-7253. earthplace.org

WESTPORT ARTS CENTER, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport, 222-7070. westportartscenter.org

GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 39 Strickland St., 869-6899. hstg.org

WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE, 25 Powers Ct., Westport, 227-4177. westportplayhouse.org G

advertisers index BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT California Closets................................................................................................11 Grand Entrance Gates.......................................................................................57 Greenwich Property Management....................................................................8 BUSINESS & FINANCE Private Staff Group............................................................................................ 12 U.S. Bank.............................................................................................................53 DECORATING & HOME FURNISHINGS Habitat Greenwich.............................................................................................55 EDUCATION Brunswick School.............................................................................................. 17 EVENTS Connecticut Ballet.............................................................................................47 Fairfield University/Quick Center....................................................................73 Junior League of Greenwich Leadership & Empowerment...........................76 Greenwich Reindeer Festival............................................................................ 74 FASHION & JEWELRY Asha by ADM...................................................................................................... 14 Betteridge Jewelers............................................................................19, Cover 4 Darien Sport Shop............................................................................................... 7 Manfredi Jewels...................................................................................................3 Vock and Vintage............................................................................................... 31 FOOD & LODGING Lifted Spirits and Bar.........................................................................................53 Marcia Selden Catering..................................................................................... 13 HEALTH & BEAUTY Epoch Senior Living..................................................................................Cover 3 Greenwich Pediatric Dental Group..................................................................33 Montefiore..........................................................................................................27 Nichols MD of Greenwich................................................................................. 20 Restorative Pain Solutions................................................................................53 Rye Vein Laser Center....................................................................................... 12 LANDSCAPING, NURSERY & FLORISTS Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses..............................................................57 LEGAL Cummings & Lockwood LLC............................................................................ 10

SEE YOUR WEDDING Featured in

REAL ESTATE Compass, Inc........................................................................................................9 Houlihan Lawrence-Corp..................................................................................29 Sotheby's International Realty............................................... Cover 2, 1, 35, 39 William Raveis-Shelton HQ...................................................................... 4, 5, 25 SPORTS & FITNESS Hickory & Tweed................................................................................................37 NON-PROFIT Connecticut Humane Society.......................................................................... 10 Connecticut Public Television..........................................................................47 SEBASS Events & Entertainment................................................................... 48

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MISCELLANEOUS Big Picture..........................................................................................................76 Flowcode.............................................................................................................58 Westy Self Storage............................................................................................57

DECEMBER 2021 GREENWICH

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postscript phot o gr aph by melissa m c cann santangel o

HANGING AROUND

W

ho needs Elf on a Shelf when you’ve got this adorable guy decorating your tree? Melissa McCann Santangelo captured this sweet photo of her son Teddy decking the halls (with a little help from his beloved stuffed panda, Mega). All of us at greenwich magazine wish you and yours a holiday season filled with peace, love—and plenty of twinkling lights. G Have a photo that captures a moment in Greenwich? Send it to us at editor@greenwichmag.com for a chance to win $100. Please write photo submission in the subject line. greenwichmag.com

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OPENING EARLY 2022 Waterstone on High Ridge takes senior living to new levels of elegance, engagement and care.

Explore a luxury rental community where you won’t just live. You’ll thrive. Here, you won’t just come home. You’ll arrive. Now this is home.

Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care by Bridges®

DiscoverWaterstoneHighRidge.com | 203.361.9318 WELCOME CENTER | 30 Buxton Farm Road, Suite 120 | Stamford 215 High Ridge Road | Stamford