Stamford - March/April 2022 by Moffly Media

COV2_1_STM_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 2

2/9/22 9:02 AM

COV2_1_STM_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 1

2/9/22 9:02 AM

contents MAR/APR 2022 vol. 13 | no. 2

features

departments

by diane talbot sembrot

10 EDITOR’S LETTER 13 STATUS REPORT

CAROLINE SIMMONS

BUZZ Future 5; locals’ favorites; Snuggles n Cuddles; Hat Attack

Catching up with our new mayor and what she sees ahead for our city. by c h ris hode n f ie l d

SHOP Spring Fashion

GO National Parks; books to read now

BREW CREW

by joey m ac ari

HOME Deco and green finds

56 64

THE STATE OF REAL ESTATE Stamford has thrown open its arms to new residents over the past year. Can it continue? Our look at the local market.

DO Avoiding burnout; Try This

by s c ot t thom as

47 PEOPLE + PLACES

WHERE THE GREEN THINGS GROW

48 VOWS

Soon, we’ll be able to spend more time outdoors. Here’s all the landscape inspiration you need to make your property work for you.

50 MONEY MATTERS 79 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

by t om c on nor

by d onna mof f ly

80 POSTSCRIPT top: Hot and iced coffee from Humbled Coffeehouse below: Kitchen perfection in local listing with Compass Real Estate

on the cover: caroline simmons

•

photo gr aphy: c ontribu ted

STAMFORD MAGAZINE MAR/APR 2022, VOL. 13, NO. 2 // STAMFORD MAGAZINE is published bimonthly by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St., Westport, CT 06880. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to STAMFORD MAGAZINE, P.O. BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607.

HUMBLED COFFEE BY KYLE NORTON; STACI ZAMPA WALNUT RIDGE LISTING BY HUDSON CREATIVE; AERIN VASE, COURTESY HOAGLAND’S

Love your morning cup of coffee? Here are a few of the artists behind each cup.

stamfordmag.com

02_05_STM_TOC_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 2

2/9/22 9:05 AM

Blank_s

02_05_STM_TOC_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 3 Blank_singleAD.indd 1

2/9/22 9:05 AM 12/13/21 2:55 PM

digital content & MORE BESTOFGOLDCOASTCT.COM HELP LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES WITH #BOGC

MARCH 15

LET’S EAT! Calling all foodies and people who appreciate a good meal: Greenwich Restaurant Week is coming. MARCH 28–APRIL 3

SAVE THE DATE!

SAVOR & SAVE Greenwich Restaurant Week celebrates the amazing food and drinks available from the talented chefs and bartenders in town. This is a fun and social way to get a taste of their talent. Enjoy specials all week!

IT’S UP TO YOU

Voting in our readers’ poll is an easy way to help local small businesses. Pick your favorites in dozens of categories, including restaurants, boutiques and salons. The Final Round determines Gold Coast winners! Fast, easy, does good. Go to: bestofgoldcoastct.com

OPENING NIGHT PARTY Stop by the Opening Night Party on March 29, to enjoy the company of fellow foodies and good food and drinks.

DON’T MISS OUT!

greenwichrestaurantweek.com

FOOD © FILIPOVICH FILIPP-ADOBESTOCK.COM; DRINKS BY ADOBE STOCK.COM

VOTE! JUMP ON LINE Here’s your chance to BE HEARD! Final-round nominees need you now!

stamfordmag.com

02_05_STM_TOC_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 4

2/9/22 9:05 AM

Blank_

02_05_STM_TOC_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 5 Blank_singleAD.indd 1

2/9/22 9:05 AM 12/13/21 3:00 PM

TRUSTS AND ESTATES

Is not just something we do; it is what we do. WILLS AND TRUSTS WEALTH TRANSFER TAX PLANNING PHILANTHROPY DAVIDSON, DAWSON & CLARK LLP COUNSELLORS AT LAW 60 East 42nd Street New York, NY 212-557-7700

18 Locust Avenue, 2nd Floor New Canaan, CT 203-966-8759

www.davidsondawson.com

vol. 13 | no. 2 | mar/apr 2022 editorial editorial director Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com editor, stamford; fairfield living; westport Diane Sembrot–diane.sembrot@moffly.com style & community editor Janel Alexander—janel.alexander@moffly.com contributing editors Megan Gagnon–editor, athome Elizabeth Hole–editor, custom publishing Julee Kaplan–editor, new canaan • darien Veronica Schoor—assistant editor, athome Amy Vischio–creative director-at-large, athome books correspondent Emily Liebert copy editors Terry Christofferson, Lynne Piersall, David Podgurski, Scott Thomas contributing writers Liz Barron, Tom Connor, Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Kim-Marie Evans, Chris Hodenfield, Joey Macari, Scott Thomas editorial advisory board Harry Day, PJ Kennedy, Jamie Krug, Michael Marchetti, Arthur Selkowitz, Jami Sherwood, Lou Ursone

art senior art director Venera Alexandrova–venera.alexandrova@moffly.com senior art director Garvin Burke–garvin.burke@moffly.com production director Tim Carr–tim.carr@moffly.com design assistant

Lisa Marie Servido–Lisa.Servidio@moffly.com senior photographer Bob Capazzo

digital media director of content strategy Diane Sembrot–diane.sembrot@moffly.com digital marketing manager Rachel MacDonald–rachel.macdonald@moffly.com digital assistant Lloyd Gabi–loyd.gabi@moffly.com Calendar@Moffly.com Editor@StamfordMag.com Weddings@StamfordMag.com

TO SUBSCRIBE, renew, or change your address, please email us at subscribe@stamfordmag.com call 1-877-467-1735, or write to STAMFORD magazine, 111 Corporate Drive, Big Sandy, TX 75755. U.S. subscription rates: $19.95/1 year, $32.95/2 years; Canada and Foreign, U.S. $69/year. Prices are subject to change without notice. FOR QUALITY CUSTOM REPRINTS/E-PRINTS,

please call 203-571-1645 or email reprints@moffly.com. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without express permission of the publisher. ©2022 STAMFORD magazine is a registered trademark owned by Moffly Media. The opinions expressed by writers commissioned for articles published by STAMFORD are not necessarily those of the magazine.

BOB CAPAZZO PHOTOGRAPHY (203) 273-0139

stamfordmag.com

06_09_STM_Masthead_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 6

2/9/22 9:12 AM

MSC 20

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

Connecticut 203.353.8000 MSC 2022 9x10.875.Orange.indd 1 06_09_STM_Masthead_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 7

7 marciaselden.com

New York 212.921.4100 11/27/21 9:24 AM 2/9/22 9:12 AM

vol. 13 | no. 2 | mar/apr 2022 publisher

Karen Kelly-Micka karen.kelly@moffly.com

sales & marketing Andrew Amill publisher, greenwich andrew.amill@moffly.com

Since 1909, Cummings & Lockwood has provided sophisticated legal representation to individuals, families, family offices, closely held businesses, other commercial enterprises and charitable entities. Our core services include: Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning

International Estate and Tax Planning

Wealth Protection Planning

Business Succession Planning

Philanthropic Giving

Corporate and Finance

Probate and Estate Administration

Litigation and Arbitration

Fiduciary and Trustee Services

Commercial and Residential Real Estate

Gina Fusco publisher, new canaan•darien•rowayton gina.fusco@moffly.com Gabriella Mays publisher, westport•weston•wilton gabriella.mays@moffly.com Jonathan Moffly publisher, athome, fairfield living publisher-at-large, greenwich jonathan.moffly@moffly.com Hilary Hotchkiss account executive hilary.hotchkiss@moffly.com Rick Johnson account executive rick.johnson@moffly.com

www.cl-law.com

WE’VE GOT PLANS! SNEAK PEEK AT THE MAY/JUNE ISSUE

Kathleen Dyke partnership and big picture manager kathleen.godbold@moffly.com Rachel Shorten events director rachel.shorten@moffly.com Lemuel Bandala sales assistant lemuel.bandala@moffly.com Eillenn Bandala business assistant eillenn.bandala@moffly.com

business president

Jonathan W. Moffly chief revenue officer

Andrew Amill editorial director

Cristin Marandino director of content strategy

Diane Sembrot

ALL THE EXTRAS

Our front-of-book articles are packed with local finds, from dining to shopping.

DFO RST RDFORD OM AM STFA STAM JOIN US! LUXE INNS LEGE /

the food issu e

S! // PLU

SMA

E DECO VES: HOM RT MO

NG R / PAYI

FOR COL

on great s and caterers carts Local restaurant TOP DOCTORS and at-home bar hours cocktail Health Guide, Updated for

LET’S TALK ABOUT

2022

The Need for Mental

Stamford’s new destination for fun times, good food and big ideas

Celebrate this year’s Light a Fire philanthropy honorees

Water View

SoundWaters’s mission to protect Long Island Sound —and a peek at the new campus

PLUS

Holiday Shopping

Our review of The Wheel Restaurant

Stylish finds that make amazing gifts

Squash Hot Shots

NOW SHOWING

T! BRING I

S IST NT the P E!DE e are TOSMIL Thes to trust

| $5.95 NOV/DEC 2021

| $5.95

AG.C

T 2021

RDM

SEPT/OC

T 2021

MFO

PLUS

Natural Beauty Layered Fashion

Locals Pick Faves

S WHO TEEN LY FACE BOLDR FUTURE THEI

STA

Covid

The VILLAGE

Time to Feel Inspired

SEPT/OC

Health Services During

| $5.95

STAMFORD COVER of our ON THE Three to watch: teens Reilly, Aidan Cox and Zy’Annaa Armetta Giovann

MAG.COM

pros

and More!

Opened in 1939, The Avon is still vibrant today.

FAL

THE LASTING LEGACY OF LANDMARKS IN STAMFORD

N s, L FAS HIO r of print

the powe color S ess T A M F O R D M A G . C nt OM Harn and vibra knits JAN/FEB 2022 | $5.95

r e nc e ma k e a di ffe TO HELP HAITI A LOCAL EFFORT

k pl ac e t h e n ew wor SUCCESSFUL NOW ON BEING AN EXECUTIVE COACH

NOW& THEN

Be sure to subscribe and see our special offer at mofflymedia.com/subscribe.

Elena Moffly elena@moffly.com cofounders

John W. Moffly IV & Donna C. Moffly PUBLISHERS OF GREENWICH, FAIRFIELD LIVING, NEW CANAAN • DARIEN • ROWAYTON, WESTPORT, STAMFORD and athome magazines 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880 phone: 203-222-0600 mail@moffly.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Lemuel Bandala 203-571-1610 or email advertise@moffly.com SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES: email subscribe@stamfordmag.com or call 877-467-1735

BOAT BY ADOBESTOCK. COM; PRODUCTS BY KYLE NORTON

THE GOOD LIFE

What does living well mean to you? We look at home, getaways, finds & family.

business manager

stamfordmag.com

06_09_STM_Masthead_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 8

2/9/22 9:12 AM

CT037_

From simple to intricate designs, California Closets systems are custom designed speciﬁcally for you and the way you live.

C O N N E C T I C U T 565 Westport Ave, Norwalk 203.924.8444 W E S T C H E S T E R 16 Saw Mill River Rd, Hawthorne 914.592.1001 californiaclosets.com

@caliclosetsct

06_09_STM_Masthead_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 9 CT037_GreenwichMag_16Blogger_9x10.8_0222.indd 1

2/9/22 9:12 AM 1/26/22 4:33 PM

editor’s letter

MAR/APR 2022 / DIANE TALBOT SEMBROT

SCAN TO VISIT US

HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP

have been taking a lot of walks to make up for missed gyms classes. Also, I’ve found that it is a reliably good way to clear my head (who, me, stress?). I select some music or a motivating podcast and pick a neighborhood to go explore by foot. It’s the slow way to go, which is the point. It helps me pay attention to the little things, while, ironically, also zoning out about whatever might have been preoccupying my thoughts. I have to admit though, I often find myself near the water. It’s probably because I’m a “summer girl.” I love Long Island Sound, sailboats, seabirds, clamshells—the whole New England coastal vibe. So even on chilly days, I’ll find myself, once again, walking toward a beach. Downtown, and to the beach. Through the park, and to the beach. Nice hike, now the beach for a quick look. Take, for example, Cove Park, West Beach or the tip of Shippan. The views from any of these points are beautiful, even in winter. Quite literally, no one else is around. I love the stillness and quiet and take time to appreciate the wide-open views or follow well-worn paths (you just know that the narrow dirt paths, worn into place from years of neighbors coming and going, lead to great views). That said, wandering Stamford is even better in late spring and early summer. I’m not trying to push the season along (yes, I am), it’s just that the views are prettier and the peoplewatching better with a warm breeze. So bring on March/April, when the season changes dramatically. What was cold and blanched is suddenly colorful and tenderly

lush. It’s the same, yet also new. I sometimes wonder what it’s like for people who have just moved here. They get to experience their new hometown as it emerges from its hibernation. Those of us who have passed years here already anticipate hiking trails, enjoying dinner outside with friends, playing a round of golf, or, yes, heading to the beach. Newcomers get to take it all in for the first time, and what wonderful explorations they must have. We all know new neighbors. It’s backed up by “The State of Real Estate” report we present in this issue. In short, we have a lot of them— the market is tight. That’s a good thing for people who are considering selling, of course; see what it means for those staying put. We also share a feature piece on landscaping your property to make the most of what you want out of it—maybe a flower garden for fresh arrangements or a pool to entertain the kids? Here’s your inspiration. We also talk with our new mayor, Caroline Simmons. She fills us in on what is on her agenda for the upcoming year (yes, she heard you about the potholes—she’s on it). Also, we take a moment to sing the praises of a few of our local baristas, who keep us energized with our morning cup of joe and upbeat with their friendly personalities. Whether you’re out and about or cuddled up at your dream home, there’s a bit of Stamford for everyone. Enjoy!

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WILLIAM TAUFIC

HOME AGAIN

stamfordmag.com

10_11_STM_EDITOR_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 10

2/9/22 9:13 AM

What you don’t know can hurt you Get screened for colon cancer—today Are you 45 or older? Do you know if you are at risk for colon cancer? Your chances of beating colon cancer improve with early diagnosis and treatment. That’s why it’s important to schedule your cancer screening with a Nuvance Health™ gastroenterologist today. We’re here for you at every step, from booking an appointment to getting your results back quickly.

Get Back to Your Future Learn more at nuvancehealth.org/colonoscopy

Norwalk Hospital

10_11_STM_EDITOR_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 11

2/9/22 9:13 AM

“brave, breathtaking … a feel-everything musical …” THE NEW YOR K TIMES

MEET THE LEGENDARY WESTPORTPLAYHOUSE.ORG | 203 227 4177 DON JUAN AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.

tickets on sale maRch 1!

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 12

2/9/22 9:15 AM

buzz STATUS REPORT

above: A recent graduating class of Future 5, the Stamford-based organization whose counseling, workshops, tutoring and programs help low-income students define and reach their goals. below: Clif McFeely, who founded the nonprofit in 2009

BETTER TOGETHER STUDENTS WORK TOWARD A BRIGHT TOMORROW WITH FUTURE 5

CONTRIBUTED

hile the world wrestles with many pressing issues, the template for one of its most challenging problems— opportunity equality—can be found at the base of the steps at Future 5 on Atlantic Street in Stamford. The steps leading to the nonprofit’s organization provide utilitarian and metaphorical strides for students of underserved communities who are looking to define their career paths. The steps lead to the office. On the way up, students read the words: “Every step I climb lifts me from the traps that hold me down and brings me closer to my limitless future.” Clif McFeely, a former advertising executive, founded Future 5 in 2009. Since

by sc ot t thomas

then, the organization has served more than 700 “members”—students who lack the connections, knowledge and support systems to carve out their place in the world on their own. With Future 5’s backing, members find ways to break down those barriers. “With our members, we see a little bit of everything,’’ McFeely says. “Working parents don’t have the time or the background to carefully follow the ups and downs. They don’t have the keys to college or other alternatives.” Future 5 provides the keys, but turning over the engine falls on the students. Future 5 volunteers work with students to help them determine their interests, develop a plan and follow it. MARCH/ APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 13

2/9/22 9:15 AM

buzz “They have to walk up those stairs and say they want to join us,’’ McFeely says. “They have to follow through on their motivation. When they do, they are with staff and students who are motivated. They need a place to belong, a place where everybody knows their name. That’s the true piece of this. Once they feel like people have their back, they have a different life. When they fall, they have people to pick them up.” Future 5 starts with an on-boarding process that includes enrollment in its “Here to There” program. The members meet with student

advocates and coaches one hour a week for six weeks to lay a path. The plan could be college. Military, trade schools and employment are alternatives as well. They figure it out, together. “We examine who they are, where they are and create a game plan,’’ said Amanda DuboisMwake, who joined Future 5 as executive director in July. “At the end of the day, we want them to tackle their gremlins of potential barriers to success.” McFeely served as a mentor before founding Future 5, and Dubois-Mwake brings more than twenty years of experience working in

right: Future 5 student members add at least five new people to their support network— people who will help guide them toward the future. The organization then celebrates when students pursue posthigh school endeavors.

higher education. They believe—really, really believe—in their members. There is more to it than that, but it starts with believing in them. “There are common characteristics in every one of our members,’’ Dubois-Mwake said. “Every single student that comes up these stairs has grit and determination. They have the wherewithal to overcome obstacles to be someone and recognize the someone that they are. They are truly authentic. They are not afraid to share their stories. We’re a family, and they know they are part of the family, and they act like it.”

With experience in education, global leadership and volunteer management, Executive Director Amanda Dubois-Mwake joined Future 5 in 2021.

CONTRIBUTED

above: Through the “Near Peer” program, upperclassmen at UConn, NCC, Western Connecticut University and Central Connecticut University help Future 5 freshmen at those schools navigate their first year on campus. right: Students also attend out-ofstate schools after Future 5.

stamfordmag.com

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 14

2/9/22 9:15 AM

BETTER MOVEMENT. BETTER LOCATIONS. Hospital for Special Surgery and Stamford Health bring the world’s finest orthopedics closer to you. In Stamford, Hamden, and now Wilton, expert care is around the corner. To learn more about our in-person and virtual appointment options, visit HSS.edu/StamfordHealth

Most major insurance plans accepted.

1 Blachley Rd. Stamford, CT 06902

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 15

2080 Whitney Ave., Suite 280 Hamden, CT 06518

195 Danbury Rd., Suite 200 Wilton, CT 06897

2/9/22 9:15 AM

Q& A

buzz

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCALS

Stamford-loving residents share their local favorites

MICHAEL MARCHETTI

PATRICK MURPHY

Stamford High School Varsity Baseball Coach

Town Tradition “St. Paddy’s Day Parade or the annual Fourth of July fireworks down at West Beach. Nothing feels more like summer than hanging out by the water with family and friends as the fireworks go off.”

Owner, Columbus Park Trattoria, Osteria Applausi and Tarantino’s Years in Stamford 52 Years

pastries and cake, it is all great. My favorites are their bread— toasted with butter and jam— and their amazing doughnuts.”

Town Tradition “Alive@5 has been one of the most longest lasting events that’s had a huge impact on the dining/entertainment scene in town. It’s always great running into friends you haven’t seen in a long while.”

above: Sfingi and a zeppole filled with cannoli cream or Italian custard

above: Hard to beat fireworks over the water

Best View “Viewing a game at Cubeta Stadium from the press box. Those who have seen a big game from ‘up top’ at Cubeta know how awesome a field it is and the great games it has seen. My runner up would have to be ‘the wall’ at the end of Stamford Avenue in Shippan at sunset.” Coffee Spot “I actually don’t drink coffee.” Longtime Business Pick “I love Beldotti Bakeries because it has everything you could ever want from a bakery. From their breakfast items to their endless

above: The long-standing Dairy Queen is still a draw to fans.

New-Place Pick “Connecticut Sports Performance is a new indoor sports training facility that specializes in building better and more confident athletes. They do a great amount of work with baseball and softball players not only from Stamford, but also throughout lower Fairfield County.”

above: Alive@5 is a favorite summer music series.

Best View “Driving down Broad Street from Stamford Hospital into downtown.” Coffee Spot “Lorca has been the spot where two buddies and I meet. Another great breakfast location near my office is Season’s on Bank Street.”

Fave Food “I never turn down an invitation to Colony. My go-to is hot oil and sausage cooked well done. As for a dish, the chicken parm over pasta at Cafe Silvium!” What Makes Stamford Great “The people who have lived here for a long time and have passed on their beliefs and way of life to the younger generations who are making Stamford an even better place to live and raise a family.”

above: Lorca’s coffee art

“I want to be a passionate, energetic and competitive coach and a mentor for the baseball program and the community. I develop players into young, hard-working and respectful men, on and off of the field and in life when they leave our program.”

Longtime Business Pick “Dairy Queen has been a constant in town when things have been changing all around them.” Fave Food “This is tough one to answer. I have so many great friends in the business that I couldn’t possibly pick one over another. I really try to get around as much as I can and visit them all and show my support and admiration for the hard work they put into their craft.” What Makes Stamford Great “Stamford has become an important economic force in the region and has all the challenges of a big city, but, at heart, we are still a small town where you can always run into people you have known for years.”

“Being in the restaurant business has many challenges, but being able to work and live in the place of your birth is fantastic. I can’t imagine being anywhere else, and witnessing the growth of Stamford and playing a small part in it is wonderful.”

MURPHY, CONTRIBUTED; FIREWORKS ©NDABCREATIVITY - STOCK.ADOBE.COM ; DESSERTS COURTESY FACEBOOK.COM/BELDOTTIBAKERY; MARCHETTI BY KYLE NORTON; ALIVE@5 BY HAPPYHAHA.COM; LORCA BY JOE CHARLES; DAIRY QUEEN BY GARVIN BURKE

Years in Stamford 28 Years

by joey macari

stamfordmag.com

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 16

2/9/22 9:15 AM

E C O a a v

NOW OPEN DISCOVER LUXURY SENIOR LIVING

SCHEDULE A TOUR OF OUR MODEL APARTMENT TODAY! 215 High Ridge Road | Stamford Explore Waterstone on High Ridge, Fairfield County’s finest senior living community. Offering engaging programs, luxurious amenities and brand-new, beautifully appointed apartments, Waterstone on High Ridge is the very best in curated elegance and style.

Receive the personalized support you need through our on-site continuum of care – from independent living to assisted living to memory care provided by Bridges® by EPOCH. Now open for tours, the Waterstone team is available to guide you through the property and leasing details virtually or in person.

WaterstoneLivingStamford.com | 203.208.3313 Independent Living | Assisted Living | Memory Care by Bridges®

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 17

2/9/22 9:15 AM

buzz

COZY TIME

left: Founder Jimena Bender below: The Pima Cotton Classic Pants ($24) and Bodysuit ($22) below, left: The Unisex Mint Long Hooded Pocket Jersey ($49)

SNUGGLES N CUDDLES HAND-CRAFTED CHILDREN’S CLOTHES AND MORE by diane sembrot

above: Ruffle Pants in pink Pima cotton ($32) and long-sleeve bodysuit ($22) far right: The Beige Pajama Set in Pima cotton ($44)

PHOTOGRAPHY BY UNA STUDIO

new online shop, Snuggles n Cuddles, specializes in handcrafted children’s pajamas, shirts, pants, sweaters, bodysuits, swaddles and more. “We use natural Peruvian pima cotton, an environmentally friendly organic fabric that is ideal for babies and kids who have allergies and are prone to skin irritation,” says founder Jimena Bender. “Not only is harvesting by hand more environmentally sound, but it’s also better for the cotton itself. Peruvian Pima cotton grows lush and lovely along the northern coastal valleys of Peru. There, the rich soil soaks up just the right amount of moisture at nearperfect equatorial temperatures. The result is cotton with a silky luster and an unbelievably soft texture.” Snuggles n Cuddles also has baby slippers made with merino fleece and baby alpaca wool from the Peruvian Andes (no harm—the alpacas are sheared annually for their own health). The Stamford resident turned to Peru, where she was born and raised, for the fabric that would be the basis of her line. “I started it because I saw the need in the market for hypoallergenic 100 percent cotton clothing for babies and kids,” she says. “Babies and kids are so precious, and we take good care of them by providing the best-quality garments for their soft and delicate skin.” Snuggles n Cuddles also partners with Kids in Crisis (kidsincrisis.org) —a percentage of proceeds go to the nonprofit to help those in need. See more at snugglesncuddles.com.

stamfordmag.com

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 18

2/9/22 9:15 AM

Blank_s

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 19 Blank_singleAD.indd 1

2/9/22 9:15 AM 2/7/22 12:14 PM

buzz

above: Creative Director Cooper McManus and cofounder BJ Gedney celebrate Hat Attack’s more than forty years in the business of style.

Top It Off H

eading out? Grab a hat. You know which one—the one designed by Hat Attack. The family-run accessories brand recently celebrated its fortieth anniversary. Launched in September 1981 by husband-and-wife duo Bill and BJ Gedney (who were only dating at the time), the brand is now recognized across the country. It’s known for its fresh takes on bucket hats, baseball caps, chic fedoras, slouchy cashmere beanies as well as straw tote bags accessorized with colorful tassels and more. The line-up has year-round needs, from mittens to sunhats. The brand’s creative director, daughter Cooper McManus, moved Hat Attack from its

above: Hat Attack’s Canvas Packable Hat ($78)

Bronx factory to its home base in Stamford. Hat Attack has launched collaborations with brands like Shoshanna and influencers such as Hanna Montazami, and donated to charitable efforts among other initiatives. Also, among its fans, it counts a few big celebrities, such as Meghan Markle, Jennifer Aniston, Halle Berry, Lucy Hale, Vanessa Hudgens and Olivia Culpo. Hat Attack can be found online at such places as Shopbop, Revolve and Anthropologie and at boutiques across the country. If you can’t find what you are looking for, check hatattack.com. Read on for the inside scoop from BJ and Cooper.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF HAT ATTACK

HAT ATTACK has been perfecting the art of accessories for more than forty years by diane sembrot

stamfordmag.com

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 20

2/9/22 9:15 AM

buzz Forty years! What’s the fundamental principle that has kept the brand moving forward? BJ: We have always strived to build great partnerships and relationships with our customers. We pride ourselves on shipping quality, on-trend accessories and working together with our partners to grow the businesses together. How has the business changed? BJ: We started this business before the world of computers, Internet, even fax machines! So much has changed in the dynamics of the business in that regard. Some of it is much easier now; some is more complicated. Everything, from the way we work with our factories, to the way the customers place orders has changed.

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF HAT ATTACK

Cooper, how have you changed the business since becoming creative director? Cooper: I think that adding a new perspective and age bracket to the design team has been a big change for the brand. My mom and I have similar but slightly different styles, and I think that shows in our hat and bag designs. Combined, I think that we make a great team, and we are able to produce accessories for all ages. I’ve also brought a bit of insight regarding other parts of the business, such as social media and the web presence. We’ve certainly grown a lot in the digital world in the last ten years. How did the pandemic impact the business? BJ: We were severely impacted in 2020. Every store had to cancel their orders due to lockdowns and closures. We rebuilt slowly and were able to work together with our customers to ship the canceled orders as they reopened. Covid reinforced the importance of all the partnerships we have developed over the years. It was a tough year, but one that left us with many lessons. Cooper: Anyone who was not patient and understanding was not the kind of customer we had a future with. While we were shut down, we also had time to evaluate

Fringe Bucket Hat in denim ($78)

The Cami Tote ($155) with beautifully woven straw and bamboo handles

The Traveler Bag ($170) with clever place to hold your fringed straw hat

above: Classic Travel Hat ($124) with simple beaded tie

the need to move to Stamford. We had been thinking about the move for many years but were always too busy to find the perfect space, work out a moving plan, clean out thirty-seven years of stuff.

We love adding new customers, but also we are careful to protect our loyal existing accounts. What are three of most important lessons you’ve learned as a family business? BJ: Have separate job responsibilities. We meet during the day but also spend time on individual projects. We listen to each other and understand that not all aspects of the business will be agreed on 100 percent, but that the end goal is always the same. We’re all doing what is best for our family and the business. We also try to leave the work conversations

What’s ahead for the brand? BJ: We have learned to love Zoom appointments with buyers. They have become the main focus of our sales efforts. The efficiency of working with customers right from the new in-house showroom is amazing. We continue to look at new products made by the artisans in all of the countries we do business with—six currently.

for the business day when possible. What does the city mean to you? BJ: Our children were raised in Stamford. We have lived here for thirty-seven years. All three of our girls are graduates of Westhill High School. We live in the Shippan area and love the sense of community and appreciation for the city. We work with many of the local notfor-profits and feel strongly about giving back. Cooper is now raising her four daughters here and has met so many entrepreneurial friends of her generation.

MARCH/ APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

12_21_STM_FOB_BUZZ_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 21

2/9/22 9:15 AM

We’ve leveled playing field... Who willthebe voted

THE BEST? M O F F LY M E D I A

GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2022

YOU PICK THE WINNERS! BESTOFGOLDCOASTCT.COM VOTING ENDS MARCH 18

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! M O F F LY M E D I A

GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2022

in fairfield county

NEW! ATHOME! VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE HOME CATEGORIES!

BECOME A SPONSOR: Contact your Moffly Media representative

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 22

2/9/22 9:16 AM

shop produced by janel alex ander

TRENDS

Spring is about bold post-pandemic trends—size, color and texture you will want to start dreaming about now.

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 23

2/9/22 9:16 AM

shop

NILI LOTA N

TIBI WARDRO BE NYC Double Breasted Blazer, $995, wardrobenyc.com

L'AGE NCE

BIG

Jayda Jacket, $595, Westport, tinadragone.com

From double-breasted to belted and longer lengths—this is a trend we are ready to get behind in a “big” way

NI L I LOTAN Valerie Jacket Mustard (also in black), $1,250, Greenwich, saks.com

M ADEWE L L Dorset Blazer $175, White Plains, The Westchester, madewell.com

Curbside Ankle Jean, $238, Greenwich, Westport, intermix.com

Your basic denim will get a refresh with all the new shapes surfacing. Dip your toe in with a straight shape, rigid denim or take this season’s balloon shape for a ride.

AN I N E BI NG Sonja jean, $229, aninebing.com

AG OL DE Cherie Rigid High Rise Straight Leg Jean, $190, modaoperandi.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

M OTH E R

WEAR IT WITH

stamfordmag.com

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 24

2/9/22 9:17 AM

pure bliss “No. 4 Destination Spa in the U.S.”

Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2021

winvianfarm.com

Confidence. It’s built over time. Our students graduate with the courage to have a point of view and the skills to express it, honed through years of practice.

FOR MORE ABOUT OUR ADMISSION EVENTS www.countryschool.net/visit New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent day school for students in Pre-K (ages 3 & 4) through Grade 9 living in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Graduates excel at top day, boarding and public secondary schools and go on to lead lives of impact and purpose. For more information, please visit countryschool.net.

GO BOLDLY. 635 Frogtown Rd, New Canaan, CT • (203) 801-5608

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 25

2/9/22 9:17 AM

shop

ANTHROPOLGIE

Tassels and strings are the latest evolution from last year’s crochet craze. Fringe crosses the personal style profile giving Western, BOHO and rock ‘n’ roll vibes.

ON THE

NET-A-PORTER/ BOTTEGA VENETA

CHLOE

NE K E I A Brass and Leather Chandelier, $4,925, ngalatrading.com

Z I M M E RM ANN Postcard Shell Fringe Skirt, $1,450, zimmermann.com

L AM ARQUE

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Leather Fringe Jacket, $495, Greenwich, saks.com

stamfordmag.com

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 26

2/9/22 9:17 AM

Providing peace of mind to the local community for 50 years.

NOT JUST GOOD. GUARANTEED.

It’s not just about killing bugs! At JP McHale Pest Management, our goal is to provide a superior client experience at every point of interaction. Simply stated, we treat our clients like family.

Call us to protect your home today! 866.280.1667 | SALES@NOPESTS.COM | WWW.NOPESTS.COM NY Bus Reg #08690 | CT Bus Reg #B-1086

Join us to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield County

An I n ti m ate Eveni n g with Vanessa Williams

Dancing afterwards with DJ April Larken Friday, June 3, 6:30 pm Serafina at the IC, Stamford, CT Tickets: clcfc.org

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 27

2/9/22 9:17 AM

shop WEAR IT WITH

BOT TEGA V E NE TA

Lean into the trend and layer on swinging accessories.

Fringe Pouch Bag, $1,495, Greenwich, therealreal.com

P I NKO Tweed Fringed Edge Dress, $394, farfetch.com

JO H ANNA O RT I Z Fringe Cotton Blend Midi Dress, $1,450, modaoperandi.com

CH RI STO P H E R K ANE Crystal Chain Tee, $395, Norwalk, White Plaines, bloomingales.com

A . E M E RY

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Tuli Sandals, $180, kirnazabette.com

J IM M Y CH O O Suede Mules with Crystal Chains, $3,125, jimmychoo.com

stamfordmag.com

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 28

2/9/22 9:17 AM

Enjoy cocktails, dinner, & dancing We’ll recognize our Champion for Recovery – Tichianaa Armah, MD, Chief Psychiatry Officer, Community Health Center, Stamford. and our Town Champions who have made their communities better places to live and work. - Shelly Skoglund, President, Community Fund of Darien Board of Directors - Mayor Caroline Simmons of Stamford - Trey Laird, CEO and Founder, The Lighthouse Sober Living and Recovery 365 of New Canaan - David Rabin, CEO, Greenwich United Way

For Tickets and Sponsorships, contact: pgilligan@laurelhouse.net or 203-324-7735 Proceeds make it possible to sustain Laurel House’s life-changing programs and services

www.laurelhouse.net www.rtor.org

The Domestic Violence Crisis Center is committed to promoting the fundamental right of all individuals to be safe in their personal relationships. Our professional staff offers confidential services at no charge, including court and legal services, group and individual counseling, temporary shelter, housing services, children’s services, medical advocacy, multilingual services, PeaceWorks prevention education and a 24-hour hotline (1-888-774-2900). DVCC is the only domestic violence agency serving the communities of Stamford, Norwalk, Westport, Darien, New Canaan, Wilton and Weston.

The Westy Mission To give our Customers peace of mind by continuously providing the finest service, buildings and ethical standards in the storage industry.

777 Summer Street, Suite 400 • Stamford, CT 06901-1022 Phone: (203) 588-9100 5 Eversley Avenue • Norwalk, CT 06851-5821 Phone: (203) 853-0418 www.dvccct.org TOLL-FREE 24 HOUR HOTLINE: 1-888-774-2900 MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 29

2/9/22 9:17 AM

shop

ALTUZARRA

CHLOE

SUNNY

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Bright, third-rock-from-the-sun colors were rocking the spring runway. From Altuzarra tie-dye reds to Chloe tangerine and golden yellows, warm colors are perfect for a post-pandemic boost to keep us feeling vibrant and happy!

stamfordmag.com

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 30

2/9/22 9:17 AM

shop T H E E L DE R STAT ES M AN Stripe Italian Smoking Jacket, $1,955, Westport, shop.mitchellstores .com

UL L A JO H NSO N Cut Out One Piece, $315, modaoperandi.com

EST E L L E

Coral Colored Stemware, $175, Greenwich, hoaglands.com

L AP I M A Lisa Red Solid Sunglasses, $493, us.lapima.com

T I BI Sporty Nylon Asymmetrical Balloon Skirt, $475, tibi.com

A.L .C. Blakely Dress, $495, Rye, New York, angelasedit.com

M O RAN M ART I N

Melinda Charm, $575, martinejewelry.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

WEAR IT WITH

SAB LY N Miranda Silk Midi Skirt, $450 Greenwich/ Westport, intermix.com

Pair sunny colors with their neighbors across the color wheel. They will ground the deep saturation by offering a cool contrast.

UL L A JO H NSO N Plisse Satin Peplum Top, $395, Greenwich, Westport intermix.com

BOT T EGA VE NE TA

T HEORY Shaped Cardigan Navy, $395, Greenwich/ Westport, theory.com

V INCE Hand Crochet Grid Cardigan, $695, Greenwich/ Westport, vince.com

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

Leather Envelope Bag, $3,500, Greenwich Saks, saksfifthavenue.com

CH LO E Leather Slide Sandal, $795, Norwalk, White Plains, nordstrom.com

22_31_STM_SHOP_March/April-NEW.indd 31

2/9/22 9:17 AM

Photos by Melani Lust

Moffly Media would like to congratulate our 2021 honorees and thank the sponsors that made it possible for us to celebrate our local heroes! Missed our virtual event? Log in and view the inspiring awards ceremony hosted by actor James Naughton Visit ilovefc.com/lightafire Gold Sponsor

Platinum Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Scan here for information

Become a 2022 Sponsor For information & participant opportunities for 2022 please contact Gabriella at 203.571.1626 • Gabriella.Mays@moffly.com

32_37_STM_FOB_GO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 32

2/9/22 12:38 PM

LAF_thank you ad 2021.indd 1

2/1/22 12:14 PM

EXPLORING OUR MAJESTIC NATIONAL PARKS

by kim-marie evans photo gr aph by vener a alex androva

NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL L

ast year visits to national parks hit an all-time high. Millions of people in search of solitude and an escape from Covid took advantage of the 85 million acres of open land our collective backyard has to offer. The ease of access and the word “park” in the name might give some explorers a false sense of simplicity and ease. Unless you’re a hardcore backpacking type, navigating the vast wilds of a national park is best done using the buddy system and with preparation. The SOS button on my Subaru was my only buddy when I got my car stuck in the famously tricky mud of Utah with the sun setting and a flash flood moving in. I overestimated my abilities and the relative safety of marked trails and underestimated Mother Nature. I survived, my car did not. But don’t let that deter you. Simply take it as friendly warning. We should all make time to safely explore the expansive beauty our country has to offer—your heart and soul will thank you for it.

Arches National Park, Utah

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

32_37_STM_FOB_GO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 33 12:14 PM

2/9/22 12:38 PM

THERE'S A PARK FOR EVERY TYPE AND LEVEL OF EXPLORER

pick a park The National Park System is made up of 423 sites, only sixty-three have the “National Park” designation in their names.

The Utah 5 ARCHES BRYCE CANYON CANYONLANDS CAPITAL REEF ZION

5 Most Popular GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS YELLOWSTONE ZION ROCKY MOUNTAIN GRAND TETON

Best Wildlife YELLOWSTONE There’s a national park for every adventure. You can explore all park rules and fees at recreation.gov.

32_37_STM_FOB_GO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 34

If you’re not a hardcore backpacking type or just don’t want to figure out how to use yet another tech device, think about hiring a guide. One overthe-top option comes from GEOFFREY KENT, FOUNDER OF ABERCROMBIE & KENT. The famed explorer will shepherd twenty-two guests for a oncein-a-lifetime park experience through the wild and beautiful West this June. His branded Inspiring Expeditions have taken him to the heart of every continent except North America— until now. “I’m looking forward to finally exploring the ‘Serengeti of North America’ on game drives and hikes with wildlife biologists and expert local guides,” he says. Guests will arrive at each destination by private jet. From there, helicopters will ferry them deep into the parks and back to the plush confines of nearby Aman resorts. This itinerary includes more than just the national parks, but a similar or shorter itinerary can

be custom-created. The adventure will start in Napa at some of the most notable wineries opened exclusively for Geoffrey and his guests. Parks will include Arches National Park in Utah, Yellowstone and Grand Teton

National Parks in Wyoming and, of course, the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Guests will have access to sites not normally open to the public, float the Colorado River in style and spend time with local Native American tribes

price: $135,000 per person for double occupancy dates: June 1 through 12, 2022 Custom itinerary pricing varies—and does not include Geoffrey. abercrombiekent.com

and famed Navajo artist Shonto Begay. abercrombiekent.com

ALEXANDER - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; FOTOS 593 - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

A Bucket List Expedition

2/9/22 12:38 PM

Know Before You Go above left: Yellowstone National Park above right: Morning light over John Moulton barn at Grand Teton National Park

AHEFLIN - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

below, opposite page: Zion National Park, Utah

Add Some Glam Until recently, luxury accommodations in or near the national parks have been few and far between. However, accommodations book up early. So, if you’re considering an adventure in the natural world this summer, the time to book is now. Here are a few of my favorites. UNDER CANVAS offers luxurious tents situated near some of the most popular parks— providing a lovely alternative to

do-it-yourself camping. Though I loved my stay at Under Canvas, there was a bit more “camping” than I bargained for. The only way to stay warm at night is to stoke your wood heater and there’s no electricity, so no hairdryer. undercanvas.com OPEN SKY in Zion opened last year with three safari-style tents, and it is adding seven this year, which will most definitely sell out. (Tents come with two of my favorite travel amenities— housekeeping and hairdryers.) stayopensky.com MONTAGE RESORTS just opened in Big Sky Montana and offers guestrooms, suites and residences. montagehotels.com

Some parks will be requiring reservations in 2022. For details go to recreation.gov. ACADIA NATIONAL PARK MAINE

Download the National Parks App and save your itinerary for use offline.

ARCHES NATIONAL PARK U TA H

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK M O N TA N A

HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK H AWA I I

MUIR WOODS NATIONAL MONUMENT CA LI FO R N I A

Rent a Garmin InReach Explorer+ for just $30 a day (retails for $450) from Vermontbased Kit Lender. If you really want to go off the grid, they’ll rent you an entire camping setup. kitlender.com

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK CO LO RA D O

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK V I RG I N I A

ZION NATIONAL PARK U TA H

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

32_37_STM_FOB_GO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 35

2/9/22 12:38 PM

WELL READ

WITH WARMER WEATHER JUST AROUND THE CORNER, SPRING INTO SPRING WITH THESE 10 STANDOUT NOVELS FROM FICTION’S LEADING LADIES. YOU CAN THANK ME LATER!

THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED BY LISA JEWELL

From the No. 1 New York Times bestselling authors of You Are Not Alone, An Anonymous Girl and The Wife Between Us comes this transfixing novel about eccentric and provocative therapist Avery Chambers, who says if she can’t resolve your issues in ten sessions, she won’t work with you. Maybe that’s why her controversial methods are so successful and almost preoccupying enough to fill the void she feels since her husband’s death. But when golden couple Marissa and Mathew Bishop seek Avery’s counsel after Marissa cheats on her husband, things do not go as planned, and nothing good can come of it.

In this electrifying story of psychological suspense from the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Then She Was Gone, one enchanting summer night in suburban England, a young couple vanishes after attending a party at the vast estate of a new college friend, leaving their baby behind with his grandmother, who’s desperate to find them. Fast-forward a year, when a writer moves into a cottage near the same estate (known as the Dark Place) and uncovers a cryptic note that reads, “DIG HERE.” This one will have you flipping the pages at warp speed.

THE LIZ TAYLOR RING BY BRENDA JANOWITZ

SECRETS OF OUR HOUSE BY REA FREY

SOMEBODY’S HOME BY KAIRA ROUDA

It’s the late 1970s and Lizzie Morgan and Ritchie Schneider are madly in love, as they experience Long Island’s breathtaking beaches and luxurious yachts. But, like any relationship, theirs is not perfect, and they end up taking a nine-month break that concludes with the gift of a magnificent elevencarat ring—strikingly similar to the diamond Richard Burton bestowed on Liz Taylor following their own hiatus. The ring was a representation of the Schneiders’ enduring commitment…until it wasn’t. When it suddenly reappears decades later, the Schneiders’ three children are desperate to get their hands on it, but the path to determining the heirloom’s destiny is punctured with old grievances and plenty of anguish, especially when a secret is unearthed that makes them question everything.

Desi’s dream getaway home, nuzzled in the mountains of North Carolina, is sleek, lavish and alive with obscure secrets about the man she desires, whom she knew long ago before purging him from her life altogether. The man is definitely not her husband. When Desi arrives from Chicago with her family to the spend the summer there, even more secrets threaten to emerge and she’s forced to cope with a marriage in jeopardy, her seventeenyear-old daughter’s first love and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. As this rousing domestic drama unfolds, and the fear of a future in peril intensifies, Desi comes to realize that the bonds of family can withstand even the most powerful current.

On the heels of her last novel, The Next Wife, USA Today bestselling author Kaira Rouda delivers a stirring suspense novel about what should be a peaceful neighborhood, a charming home and an encouraging fresh start. But, when Julie Jones leaves her stifling marriage and, along with her teenage daughter, seeks a new beginning in Oceanside, California, they’re confronted with a big problem. The former owners have left their son Tom behind, and, even though Julie believes he’ll vacate in three days, Tom’s plan is that he’s never going to leave. There’s one thing you can be sure of…before the weekend is over, someone will get their comeuppance.

stamfordmag.com

32_37_STM_FOB_GO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 36

2/9/22 12:38 PM

CONTRIBUTED

THE GOLDEN COUPLE BY GREER HENDRICKS AND SARAH PEKKANEN

CONTRIBUTED

by emily liebert

CONTRIBUTED

THE MAGNOLIA PALACE BY FIONA DAVIS

THE TOBACCO WIVES BY ADELE MYERS

HOME OR AWAY BY KATHLEEN WEST

WOMAN ON FIRE BY LISA BARR

ONE ITALIAN SUMMER BY REBECCA SERLE

New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis is back with an enticing novel about twenty-one-year-old Lillian Carter, whose mother passed away eight months earlier during the Spanish flu outbreak of 1919, leaving Lillian’s life in shambles. For years prior, she was a coveted artists’ model in New York City, but lately her work has withered and an impending scandal has rendered her without a safety net. When she takes up employment as a private secretary to the arrogant and severe Helen Frick at the Frick mansion, Lillian becomes entangled with the family’s drama and finds herself ensnared in a web of amorous rendezvous and pilfered jewels, the risks of which are a matter of life or death. Fifty years later, English model Veronica Weber has her own opportunity to earn money for her family within the former Frick residence-turnedmuseum. When Veronica and her burgeoning art curator colleague Joshua come upon hidden messages in the museum, they’re lead on a quest to resolve Veronica’s financial troubles, which could also expose the truth behind a decades-old murder.

Set in the 1940s, this lively historical debut about the hazards of big tobacco, follows budding seamstress Maddie Sykes. She arrives in Bright Leaf, North Carolina—a vibrant and flourishing nirvana— where her aunt has a prosperous sewing business with a dazzling clientele, the wives of influential tobacco leaders. Before long, Maddie realizes that her new neighborhood isn’t exactly as idyllic as it first appeared and that bad luck seems to plague many of the women, as do considerable health concerns. Coincidence? Not so much, according to Maddie’s discoveries. She knows that blowing the whistle on big tobacco is the right thing to do, but how can she when it’s the key to everyone’s survival, and she doesn’t know whom to trust?

There was a time when Leigh and Susy were dear friends and teammates in line to win an Olympic gold medal in hockey. However, when Leigh’s design for the final roster boomeranged, she abandoned her dream, which included the very person privy to her secret. Twenty years later, Leigh’s life is on the right track— she’s found success in both the personal and professional arenas and is mom to a hockey prodigy. Then a career opportunity takes her family back to Minnesota and the cutthroat world she escaped. It also lands her in Susy’s circle again, a constant reminder of her once-teammate’s Olympic grandeur. Tension aside, Susy wants Leigh to accompany her in the coaches’ box, while Leigh feels that maintaining a safe distance is the only way to conceal her history with Jeff, her former coach. But then suggestions of favors in trade for her son’s ice time surface and Leigh faces the predicament of whether to admit what happened at the liability of her marriage or play Jeff’s game. She may just have to rely on Susy after all.

A determined journalist… an international art scandal focused on a Nazi-looted masterpiece… secrets, greed, sacrifice and love. These are just a handful of the ingredients in this triumphant novel from Lisa Barr, author of the award-winning Fugitive Colors and The Unbreakables. After landing a job with Chicago’s top investigative reporter, Dan Mansfield, Jules Roth is tasked with an assignment that’s both odd and clandestine, which is to unearth the most celebrated painting of renowned Expressionist artist Ernst Engel, Woman on Fire, stolen by the Nazis seventy-five years ago. Why? Because legendary shoe designer Ellis Baum is dying and he’s intent on possessing the portrait immediately. In the meantime, Margaux de Laurent, an art heiress and gallerist in Europe— who always gets what she wants—is also looking for the painting. Her only obstacle is Jules, who has Adam Baum, Ellis’s grandson, on her side— and he’s all too aware of how merciless Margaux can be. May the best woman win.

If you loved Rebecca Serle’s New York Times bestseller In Five Years (it’s a must-read), you’ll consume this poignant and memorable tale about the enduring attachment of a mother and daughter. After Katy’s mom and best friend Carol dies, not only is she distraught, but she also has to embark alone on the trip of a lifetime they had planned—two weeks on the Amalfi Coast, in Positano, where Carol spent the summer before meeting Katy’s father. However, once Katy arrives, she instantly senses her mother’s essence. That, along with the picturesque scenery and culinary delights, buoys her spirit. Then, out of nowhere, a thirtyyear-old Carol appears— alive and well—and Katy is deeply confused. They spend the summer together, as Katy comes to know a Carol who’s not the mother she remembers. This divine novel is about recovering from loss and how those who are closest to us will always be present.

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

32_37_STM_FOB_GO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 37

2/9/22 12:38 PM

home home

by megan gagnon

1 CRATE & BARREL Calder cocktail glasses; $12.95 each. Westport; crateandbarrel.com

2 DIPTYQUE Basile plates; starting at $45. diptyqueparis.com

deco dining

3 DEBORAH RHODES Round 15” lacquer placemat with black marble design; $80 each. deborahrhodes.com

4 MITCHELL GOLD + BOB WILLIAMS Handblown whiskey decanter; $167. Greenwich; mgbw.com

5 RALPH LAUREN HOME

6 ANTHROPOLOGIE Marais taper candles; $22 for set of two. Westport; anthropologie.com

GET GRAPHIC WITH YOUR SPRING TABLE

7 ESTELLE Colored wine stemware in amber smoke; $75 for set of two. Nordstrom, Norwalk; nordstrom.com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

Wentworth gold 5-piece place setting; $95. New Canaan; ralphlauren.com

4 5

stamfordmag.com

38-41_STM_FOB_HOME_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 38

2/9/22 9:20 AM

Final A-

awards

the premier home design competition

You have to be in it to win it! Visit athomealistawards.com to learn more about getting on the 2022 A-List.

Enter beginning March 1st!

P L AT I N U M S P O N S O R

GOLD SPONSORS

38-41_STM_FOB_HOME_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 39

2/9/22 9:20 AM

Final A-List_2022_Mar_Apr_20202indd.indd 1

2/8/22 3:20 PM

home

going green

W H E N I T C O M E S T O GREEN, W E ’ R E A L L A B O U T O L I V E

with a design firm called moss design, it’s no secret that we l ove green! olive green is a particul ar favorite as it has a depth and warmth t o it that makes it especially versatile.

—meghan de maria and courtney yanni, moss design

6 1 AERIN

2 ARTERIORS

3 CEDAR & MOSS

4 ASPLUND

5 ST. FRANK

6 WALTER G.

Calinda round vase; $295. Hoagland’s, Greenwich; hoaglands.com

Leandro lounge chair; $3,380. Schwartz Design Showroom, Stamford; schwartzdesign showroom.com

Pearl wall sconce; $399. cedarand moss.com

Frame 160 Cabinet; $5,400. shophorne.com

Alpaca throw blanket; $225. stfrank.com

Marbella moss pillow cover; $141. dearkeaton.com

7 BUNNY WILLIAMS HOME Nailhead sofa in olive solid velvet; starting at $7,800. Trovare Home Design, Greenwich; trovarehomedesign. com

ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

stamfordmag.com

38-41_STM_FOB_HOME_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 40

2/9/22 9:20 AM

Moffly-F

MEET FLOWCODE, THE NEXT GENERATION OF QR CODES

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

38-41_STM_FOB_HOME_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 41 Moffly-Flowcode-Ad-Final.indd 4

2/9/22 9:20 AM 4/6/21 10:11 AM

The Connection

A reality check about our relationship with social media and work by joey macari

s social creatures, we love how social media connects us and makes us feel part of a community. Many of us rely on platforms like Instagram or Facebook to stay in touch with loved ones, to find inspiration or insight and to perform our day-to-day jobs. Ironically, this reliance on technology can also generate feelings of detachment and isolation from the real world and even a bit of paranoia when the algorithm directing you content feels just a little too accurate (“How did they know that?!”). Whether it’s out of habit or necessity, scrolling can create anxiety cycles that can be hard to break. To help us understand what’s going on, we consulted two Stamford life coaches who specialize in socializing the smart way and how to compartmentalize cyber connectivity.

SOCIAL MEDIA LIMITS In 2017, after spending more than ten years working in various roles within the mental health field (including private practice, emergency response and the education system), Stamford native Amy Albero founded Revive Center for Wellness (revivecenterforwellness.com). The allfemale-staffed wellness center provides therapy, counseling, fitness and nutrition, and mindfulness coaching through its multiple offices in Fairfield County. Revive prides itself as a mental-health-and-wellness hub on Instagram @revivecfw, which posts advice on such subjects as practicing gratitude, combatting procrastination and understanding the hallmarks of imposter syndrome. “My vision for Revive was for it to be a collaborative and supportive community

of clinicians focused on personal and professional growth,” says Amy. “I wanted my team to feel a sense of belonging—that they could achieve well-being and could learn and grow from one another.” Here, she provides tips on how to use social media responsibly. Quality Over Quantity: “Mindless scrolling can inevitably lead to engaging in comparisons with other accounts, causing you to question your life, your choices and your level of success. While these comparisons can be useful guides that may help individuals to mature, they can also create stress, anxiety and self-doubt when we perceive ourselves to be lagging behind. However, social media accounts are highly curated, often presenting the best of someone, while hiding the

PHOTOGRAPHY ©ALESSANDRO BIASCIOLI - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

above: Want to feel connected but find that social media is making you feel isolated? You might need a break—and some new habits for socializing.

stamfordmag.com

42_45_STM_FOB_DO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 42

2/9/22 9:22 AM

do imperfections of everyday life. Comparing oneself with these perfect depictions of their peers only heightens the probability of feeling left behind, which in turn increases feelings of anxiety and stress. It is so important that as you are consuming social media content, you are aware of, and attentive to, how what you are viewing and interacting with can impact how you are feeling about yourself and your life.” Take a Break: “For nearly all people, I recommend that they start the process of reducing stress by logging off social media and putting their phones down for some material amount of time each day. Social media breaks are a great form of mental selfcare, which are activities that help us mentally reset so that we can feel more present and focused. For those with more introverted personalities, a social media break may consist of reading a book, listening to music or journaling. For those with more extroverted personalities, going to their favorite local coffee shop or spending time with friends and/or loved ones can help them de-stress. If the activities are working, keep them up! If you are still feeling stressed, try different activities during your social media break until you find what works best for you to lower your stress.” Set Boundaries: “The best suggestion that I can offer, whether your job involves social media or not, is to create firm boundaries between work and your personal life. Boundaries are empowering and give us a sense of personal control over our lives, which can increase happiness and decrease stress. With boundaries in place, you can be more mindful of, and intentional with, the actual social media content that you are consuming and consider what emotions it elicits within you. In our personal lives, we have a greater control over the content that we consume and can choose to consume content that generates only positive emotions. In other words, mute, block or unfollow accounts that create feelings of stress, sadness or angst.” Parting Thoughts: “I choose to believe that everyone is doing the best that they can. Having this mind-set allows for a deeper sense

of empathy and patience with others. I also encourage people to utilize deep curiosity rather than judgment when someone is expressing a perspective that is different from their own. Remember, just as you cannot be summarized by your worst moments on social media, neither should those whom you presume to judge. We are all so much more complex and layered than our feeds portray us to be.”

WORK BURNOUT In 2018, while serving as an artist’s assistant for a nonprofit board, Emily Derr connected with business coach Beth Weinstein, who aided professionals growing their businesses using spiritual, wellness and purposebased entrepreneurial coaching and growth strategies. A seed was planted. “Originally, I wanted to help artists, museums and other creative businesses form transformational collaborations with other businesses and individuals to gain access to members, patrons and donors, along with offering them social media management and public-relations services,” explains Emily. “I came to the realization, however, that these individuals and businesses encountered stressful situations that needed real-world, dogma-free techniques to ground themselves, manage the stress, beat the creative resistance and prevent burnout.” Emily enrolled in a seven-week intensive workshop with Shirzad Shamin, author of Positive Intelligence, and earned her Level 1 Breathwork Coach Certification from Greg Mannio’s Method Infinite Breathworks, which gave her the tools to help private clients. Her program, Grassroots Impact Coaching, is based on the premise of grounding and growing both professionally and personally. Read on for advice on how to manage professional and personal burnout (more on Instagram @EmilyLauraDerr). Do with Less: “With smartphones and technological devices, we are always on. We are always reachable and accessible. Scary! When do you wind down and unplug? With the pandemic, more people are working remotely while juggling family and household

obligations. Also, when in-person connection is not possible or social activities are limited due to the pandemic, people rely heavily on social media. With social media, we can have that constant feeling of FOMO [fear of missing out]. People scroll through socialmedia feeds comparing themselves with others, which can lead to thinking that they are never doing enough and that they have to keep up with their friends, colleagues, celebrities, etc. There is this notion of do, do, do and the temptation to load up your schedule with activities to show others you are productive.” Prioritize: “Busy has become this badge of honor, but busy really means you have lost control of your priorities. I prioritize, and I ask myself, What are the three most important things I need to do today? I have come to accept that I will never do it all. I have mastered saying no to activities and people that are draining. Most of the time, I recognize when I am starting to feel depleted and I ask myself, How am I feeling physically and emotionally? and What do I need right now? When I need rest, I rest. I take walks, play with my two parakeets, paint, take a virtual yoga or exercise class, practice breathwork meditation or surround myself with people who are supportive.” Love What You Do: “My advice is to ask yourself if there is something in your current job you really love? If so, design your schedule so you do more of that. Embrace delegating the tasks that are not in your Zone of Genius—from the book The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks. People want to help you, so ask them. Also, is there a project you could initiate to reinvigorate your passion at work? Take some time in the morning or in the evening to reflect on this.” Parting Thoughts: “If you cannot find or create anything in your current work situation that lights you up, start exploring other opportunities. Schedule virtual or in-person meetings with people who are in professions and industries that interest you. Join virtual communities. Enlist mentors. Volunteer. Look for volunteer roles on volunteermatch.org or catchafire.org.”

MARCH/ APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

42_45_STM_FOB_DO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 43

2/9/22 9:22 AM

Y R T IS TH

dia by

sem

bro

A few things to do, places to go, high steps to try in March and April

DO THIS

CHEER THIS

STAMFORD RESTAURANT WEEK (stamford-downtown.com) ends March 6. If you missed it—or just want something to compare it to—check out Greenwich Restaurant Week, March 28– April 3, with the Opening Night Party on March 29. See more at greenwichrestaurantweek.com.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 13 with a spin around the rink. STAMFORD TWIN RINKS will have giveaways—plus, it is offering free skate rentals to those who wear green during the event. It runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Get the details at stamfordtwinrinks.com.

The permits are approved, so the ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE is on! Grand Marshal Roger Fox will lead the march with bagpipes, Irish dancers and more. Kicks off at 2 p.m. on March 5. Grab something green to wear and see more at stamfordstpatricksdayparade.com.

stamfordmag.com

42_45_STM_FOB_DO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 44

2/9/22 9:22 AM

BOB CAPAZZO/MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE.

EAT THIS

FOOD © FILIPOVICH FILIPP – ADOBESTOCK.COM, PARADE, CONTRIBUTED

left: If you're willing to drive for good food, check out Greenwich Restaurant Week right: The St. Patrick's Day Parade in Stamford

RESTAURANT WEEK RUNS MARCH 29-APRIL 3 7TH ANNUAL

RESTAURANT WEEK Get Your Ticket to the Hottest Foodie Event in Town…

Sample tasty light bites. Sip creative cocktails. Mingle with top Greenwich chefs.

OPENING NIGHT PARTY

Wednesday, March 29 • 6 - 9 p.m. • $75/Ticket

Hotel | Restaurant | Spa |Coffee Bar

Hotel Restaurant Spa Coffee Bar

Visit GreenwichRestaurantWeek.com or scan here to purchase tickets and view a list of participating restaurants.

BOB CAPAZZO/MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE.

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Participating restaurants include

A portion of ticket proceeds from OPENING NIGHT PARTY beneﬁting

greenwichrestaurantweek

To become a particpating restaurant or sponsor the opening night party, contact Andy Amill at andrew.amill@moﬄy.com

42_45_STM_FOB_DO_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 45

2/9/22 9:22 AM

Spring Luncheon

featured guests

Tuesday, April 5, 2022 Hosted in-person at the Stamford Marriott or Virtually!

alexis mcgill johnson planned parenthood federation of america

Abortion access is in crisis in the United States. Join our biggest event of the year to talk about abortion access, locally and nationally, and support sexual and reproductive health care services at Planned Parenthood. Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination will be required for those attending in-person.

Tickets & Sponsorships available at ppsne.org/luncheon

julia iyasere, m.d. dalio center for health justice newyork-presbyterian hospital

CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING We welcome wedding announcements together with candid photographs. Weddings should have a current Stamford family connection and must be submitted within three months of the wedding day. Regretfully, we are unable to run every wedding submitted. Send Information to: editor@stamfordmag.com Stamford Magazine 205 Main Street Westport, CT 06880 STOCK.ADOBE.COM

stamfordmag.com

46_47_STM_PEOPLE_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 46

2/9/22 9:23 AM

people&PLACES by janel alex ander

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DIANE KNETZGER 1

FUTURE 5 / Power of Connection

Up to Par

uture 5 held its second annual Power of Connection golf outing at Rockrimmon Country Club in Stamford. Rain could not hold the talented golfers back as they raised important funding for their organization. Their goal was to raise funding for twenty-five students to attend Future 5 next year. The membership-based organization provided a series of golf clinics at Sterling Farms to introduce students to the world of golf, caddying, networking and scholarship opportunities. Since its founding in 2009, Future 5 has guided more than 650 high school and college students, ensuring that they “land with a plan.” Future 5 is composed of volunteers and community partners who help them build strong character and positive relationships for getting a college education. These foundations are at the heart of a student’s success. S 1 Barry Rickert, Brian Carroll, Jesse Lee, Jessica Lee 2 Patty Sacks, Lisa Josephson, Debbie Clain 3 Simone Melnick, Kathy Baker, Pat Kravetz, Wendy Schechter, Liz Klotz (seated) 4 John Starks, Polly Perkins Johnson, Jeff Fager, George DeMenocal 5 Brad Benjamin, Joel Florin, Ed Bralower 6 Amanda Dubois-Mwake, Josh Cenejust, Polly Perkins Johnson, Harry Day 7 Rick Swift, Charles Revson 8 Nancy Benjamin MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

46_47_STM_PEOPLE_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 47

2/9/22 9:23 AM

vows by alison nichols gr ay

KATHLEEN ELIZABETH GODBOLD & WILLIAM BAINBRIDGE DYKE 1

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALEX GORDIAS

athleen and Will met in the spring of 2011 while at college in Boston. They became fast friends working part-time jobs at Vineyard Vines. But the friendship really blossomed when the store requested that Will dress up in a hot pink whale costume to promote the label during Boston’s Marathon Monday and Kathleen was tasked to help him navigate getting into the costume. Friendship quickly led to courtship. After eight years together, Will proposed while on a walk through the Boston Public Garden, where they had often spent time after dinner dates. When Reverend Franky Jean announced that the couple was officially wed, the pair exited San Pedro Catholic Chapel in Islamorada, Florida, to a trumpet rendition of Cat Stevens’ “Morning Has Broken.” A reception followed at Pierre’s of Islamorada (where the Netflix hit Bloodline was filmed). The colorful flowers throughout the ceremony and reception were in loving remembrance of the bride’s mother, Connie, as was Kathleen’s veil, worn by her mother on her own wedding day. The bride, daughter of Christopher Godbold and the late Connie Godlbold of Florida, graduated from East Ridge High School and Suffolk University. Kathleen is our very own partnerships manager for Moffly Media. The groom, son of George Dyke of Vermont and Elizabeth Fox of Greenwich, graduated from Brunswick School and Boston University. Will is an ocean freight trader for GENCO Shipping & Trading in Manhattan. The newlyweds live in Old Greenwich and are planning a getaway to Spain and Portugal this spring. G

stamfordmag.com

48_49_STM_Vows_March_2022.indd 48

2/10/22 9:23 AM

vows

1 Basking in the moment 2 Will with his groomsmen 3 Officially official 4 Kathleen with her bridesmaids 5 The wedding party with family 6 Tropical blooms 7 Something blue 8 The newlyweds’ casita 9 The tent under the stars 10 That dip, that kiss! 11 Standing room only 12 Besties from the couple’s weekends in Weekapaug 13 The father of the bride, Chris, having a blast 14 A cheeky flower girl, Lola Portela 15 The little man with the rings, A. Fox Barker 16 Kathleen with Leigh Murphy and Kelly Markey 17 Will having a dance with his mom, Elizabeth MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

48_49_STM_Vows_March_2022.indd 49

2/10/22 9:23 AM

BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

GREAT OUTDOORS

Aili DiBonaventura

or many, Covid-19 changed the way to think about home. Fewer hours spent at the office meant more time to scrutinize walls, windows and willows. Less willingness to vacation or to entertain inside heightened the desire to gather outside. Combined with historically low interest rates for borrowers, the pandemic sparked an outdoor improvement boom. “People are putting a lot more stock now in having a beautiful

outside,” says Aili DiBonaventura, head appraiser at Fairfield Appraisal and a Realtor with William Pitt in Southport. The most popular splurges? Outdoor kitchens, TVs and surround sound; retractable awnings, firepits and pools. And landscaping, lots of landscaping. “The feeling is, if you’re going to be stuck at home, you might as well put in what you want.” Adding these outdoor features doesn’t come cheap. “If you put in a new pool, you’d want to landscape it and to hardscape it.” Hardscaping refers to landscaping features that aren’t alive, such as patios, arbors, columns and the like. “You might put in privacy screening with some plantings. You’d want to hide the mechanics. If you put in all that landscaping, what about irrigation? You might spend $150,000.” That’s not necessarily money that will be recouped in a sale down the road. Contrary to popular belief, adding landscaping and other outdoor features does not automatically increase a home’s value, DiBonaventura warns.

SMART LANDSCAPING INVESTMENTS

The appraiser says that the biggest mistake homeowners make when adding outdoors is not knowing when to stop. “There is such a thing as too much. As a real-estate sales person, sometimes I’ll hear people look at a beautiful garden or outdoor kitchen and say, ‘Wow, that looks like a lot of work, (or) a lot of maintenance.’ When you look at all your monthly costs, that’s a lot to weigh into consideration.” Before embarking on a landscape/architecture project, hire a pro and make a plan. “You don’t have to implement it or you can do a few things at a time.” Match your landscaping with the style of your house and property. “We’re seeing a trend toward more contemporary colonials, which are very sparse in terms of moldings and trims. The landscaping that goes with those is much more sparse as well.” While the latest gadgetry and fun furnishings might help you and your family pass time at home now, try to remember life pre-pandemic. Did you spend

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

summers at a vacation home or winter weekends skiing? If so, maybe your new outdoor living space will lose its luster. Once your project is complete, stay on top of maintenance. Landscaping “is programmed to grow and reproduce,” DiBonaventura says. “Keep it maintained or it will take over.” Ultimately, curb appeal is what makes a house stand out from another. “Sometimes I pull up and the buyer takes one look at the outside and says, ‘I’m not even getting out of the car,’ ” DiBonaventura says. Conversely, “There’s a wow factor when you walk up and the landscaping looks good, it’s well-maintained on the outside, and there’s a great patio in the backyard that’s not over-the-top. It tells a buyer that someone’s put thought into it.” All said, resale value needn’t dictate whether or not to do a project. DiBonaventura says, “At the end of the day, what do you want? You need to be happy. The next buyer will do what they want with the house.”

Comparing nearby projects

How much will outdoor improvements affect your home’s value? To find out, know thy neighbor, or at least their property. Regardless of how much you spend on a project, the fair market value of your home, as far as an appraiser is concerned, “is all about comparable sales.” Go online and search for recent home sales in your area. Find properties similar to yours, checking out things like square footage, number of bedrooms, baths and the like. Outdoor features like lush landscaping and posh patios might lure a buyer inside, but they won’t hoodwink an appraiser into upping the value. “As an appraiser, we look at market area analysis.” In other words, at similar homes a mile down the road, without too many glitzy features.

CONTRIBUTED

money matters

stamfordmag.com

50_51_STM_FOB_Money Matters_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 50

2/9/22 9:25 AM

PROGRAMS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

SUMMER IMMERSION PROGRAMS

SUMMER IMMERSION: NEW YORK CITY Students entering grades 9 through 12 or freshman year engage in a rich and demanding academic experience on Columbia’s historic campus, in the heart of New York City.

DESIGNED FOR ACADEMICALLY EXCEPTIONAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

SUMMER IMMERSION ONLINE

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM DEADLINE: MARCH 3 COMMUTER & ONLINE PROGRAM DEADLINE: MARCH 31 Scan or visit precollege.sps.columbia.edu/hsmm

Students currently in grades 9 through 12 dive into the Ivy League experience with Columbia’s worldclass instructors and a rigorous and collaborative online experience.

Listen, watch, and get inspired on the go.

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

CTPublic_Hearst_7.65x4.5.indd 1

MARCH/ APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

11/5/21 10:29 AM

50_51_STM_FOB_Money Matters_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 51

2/9/22 9:25 AM

CONTRIBUTED

Mayor Caroline Simmons takes on supporting the city's schools and businesses, improving transportation and the environment, and addressing housing and economic pressures while also raising her own growing family.

stamfordmag.com

52_55_STM_mayor_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 52

2/9/22 2:00 PM

by chris hodenfield

CAROLINE SIMMONS ONE-ON-ONE with the new mayor of Stamford

he new mayor of Stamford, Caroline Simmons, has an exuberant energy that suits the bustling city she now manages. Befitting a city with such wide-ranging life and business interests, Simmons brings varied perspectives to the job: a Harvard grad who worked and studied in the Middle East, studied terrorism in the federal government and local economics in the state legislature in Hartford. A Democrat married to a Republican (like her bipolitical parents in Greenwich), she certainly knows about family values. After two months on the job when we spoke, she was preparing to have a third child, which only seemed to ratchet up her sunny enthusiasm.

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

52_55_STM_mayor_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 53

2/9/22 2:00 PM

Q: What prepared you for this job? Well, it was so great to represent Stamford in the legislature for seven years and just hearing from the constituents about their concerns and needs. The pandemic exacerbated the problems and it really made me want to run for mayor, to try to fix things and make things run better for people. My previous experience at the federal level was working at the Department of Homeland Security, where I got some executive experience working with cities across the country and protecting them from threats. I was there just after 9/11, so there was intelligence sharing between federal, state and local law enforcement. Q: Was there an executive who impressed you? Janet Napolitano, who had served two terms as governor of Arizona and was cabinet secretary at the time. She was a real mentor to me—she was all about public safety and putting people first, and just observing her in meetings and the intelligence in the questions she would ask. Q: Who’s offered the best advice? I’ve had a really great conversation with the mayor of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Paige Gebhardt Cognetti. She’s a young mom and

just had a baby when she first got into office. She’s given me some great advice on how to manage taking care of a city while balancing family needs. Q: What are your toughest challenges? There’s infrastructure. Combating climate change, improving our schools and helping our economy recover. First, just improving the roads and bridges and sidewalks. Fifty percent of them are in poor condition, so we have an enormous capital need. We’ve had multiple meetings across the city, so we’re doing everything we can to have our engineering and departments ready for the federal infrastructure funds that are coming. We have several projects that are shovel ready. Second, we want to make the city more resilient to climate change. If you look at Hurricane Ida and the flooding, there’s a need to modernize and upgrade our grid. We’re coastal, so we have to capture federal funding. Then there are our school facilities, where we have about $500 million in capital needs. Many of our schools were built in the 1930s so we have substantial needs there. In terms of top infrastructure projects, there is modernizing the train station and replacing the old parking garage. The West Main Street bridge is another priority, which has been stalled for about twenty years. If you drive through Stamford, you know our roads and sidewalks need work. We’re working on doubling our paving capacity. We’ve also had meetings with the police chief and the rank-and-file members. I think our biggest need right now is that the first responders are facing workforce shortages,

so we’re doing everything we can to support them there. The Covid and social response has really taken over our office at the start of the year. The police have done an outstanding job helping us. With all these things, there’s also Covid, snowstorms—all the firehoses we’re drinking out of every day. Q: What are the citizens asking about? Roads and schools are what they talk about. On the campaign trail that’s the top two we heard. I think it’s just quality of life. Then, of course, cost of living, which has skyrocketed. Making Stamford affordable is a concern we hear from folks. We took a first step this week— we proposed an expansion of the senior citizen tax-credit program. This is a way for seniors to get back credit on property taxes, which have gone up consistently for so many years. Q: What did you learn on the campaign trail? I found campaigning a real rewarding experience—going door to door and making phone calls and hearing directly from constituents on how to make the city better. People have passionate views. I really enjoy the democratic process. It was certainly heated at times, but I think that’s a good thing when you’re debating the future of the secondlargest city in Connecticut. We’re fortunate that Stamford is the economic engine of the state. We’ve got such growth potential. We can continue to grow our film and media businesses. We are increasingly a hub for biotech companies. We are attracting companies who no longer want to be in Boston or New York, companies that are going to smaller cities that are more affordable and have great quality of life for families and workforce talent. I think that’s really going to benefit Stamford. Q: So, you’ll be managing a city while managing a family? Many families in our city are working multiple jobs and juggling so much. We’re just another working family. We joke that we’re already a 24/7 household. I’m used to waking up in the middle of the night, and my husband [former State Senator Art Linares] is an entrepreneur. So we’re used to the busy schedule. Being a mom and a working parent helps me have that perspective of what families are going through. One thing we’re working on is making the city more family friendly. So it’s making sure we have a great team and holding people accountable, as well as 3,000 city employees who make the city run every day. The perspective is helping make me a better leader. But it’s certainly a juggle! When I call, the kids have no idea that I’m a mayor. They have a wet diaper and they need their mom. Very humbling. [Laughs] We love the job so far!

Simmons with Stamford Pride at Bedford Market

CONTRIBUTED

Q: So, life is exciting now? I have a three-year old, a one-year old and a newborn coming next week! It has been a whirlwind, indeed. I have to say it’s been nicer to be closer to home. Coming after the commute to Hartford, it’s nicer to be in one place.

stamfordmag.com

52_55_STM_mayor_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 54

2/9/22 2:00 PM

Simmons welcoming Fresh & Co. to Stamford

The long-standing Prudential Building of Prudential Commercial Real Estate

We are attracting companies who no longer want to be in Boston or New York, companies that are going to smaller cities that are more affordable and have great quality of life for families and workforce talent. I think that’s really going to benefit Stamford.

HARBOR POINT BY KYLE NORTON; PRUDENTIAL BY GARVIN BURKE

caroline simmons // mayor of stamford

Development, such as Harbor Point, propels the city forward.

Simmons at the Senior Center Picnic

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

52_55_STM_mayor_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 55

2/9/22 2:00 PM

or many, a cup of coffee is as ritualistic as it is energizing. However you take it—with cream, black, in front of your makeup mirror, quiet moments on the chaise or, more accurately, the mid-afternoon Hail Mary from the drive-thru—we love to indulge in those tender, sipping moments. If you insist on your cup of joe in the comforts of your local coffee shop, good chances are your barista knows you by name and your order (“Hot caramel latte, dash of cinnamon, right?”) just the way you like it. We would like to acknowledge those folks around Stamford who go the extra mile to ensure your caffeine quota is met. Meet a few of these java geniuses who work at your favorite coffee joints around town. by joey macari portraits and hand lettering by garvin burke

A few of the unsung heroes of your caffeine routine share their favorite drinks, moments and more

stamfordmag.com

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 56

2/9/22 2:12 PM

clockwise from top, left: Chris Hallowell of Turning Point Coffee Roasters, Ruth Martinez at Honey Joe's, Andres Oyola at Lorca, and Brianna Tarzia at Humbled

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 57

2/9/22 2:12 PM

HUMBLED COFFEEHOUSE Meet the Barista: BRIANNA TARZIA

ife has humbling experiences—those moments that bring us to our knees, change our perspective and make life exciting. For Brianna Tarzia, co-owner alongside her mother, Dawn Coppola, at Humbled Coffeehouse (humbledcoffeehouse.com) on Hope Street, opening this store was art imitating life. “I never thought I would end up being a barista at a coffee shop that I own. To be honest, prior to opening Humbled, I was not much of a coffee drinker,” she says. “I did not know the difference between coffee and espresso. As the owner of the business, I had to become an expert on the products and services I would be providing. A week before we opened, I was trained for about two to three hours by a barista who worked at a local roaster. That was all the training I received. The way I became so efficient was practice, practice and more practice.”

above: Humbled Coffeehouse proudly serves Bonjo Coffee Roasters, brewed locally.

Like making the bed in the morning or practicing positive affirmations in the mirror before the daily grind, Humbled prides itself on starting the day off

right. “A warm cup of coffee is a necessity for a lot of people,” Brianna says. “You’ve heard people say, ‘Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee.’ People begin every morning with a cup of coffee to help kick-start their day. Customers are always greeted with a smile and a, ‘Hey, how’s it going today?’ If they come often, they do not even need to say their order. Remembering customer’s orders and asking if they would like ‘the usual’ really helps them to feel at home. Being a barista is a rewarding experience and it feels good to know you helped someone begin their morning with a nice cup of coffee.” left: Humbled is a favorite haunt for students, remote workers and other locals who appreciate good coffee served with a good attitude.

PHOTOGRAPHY; PHOTO OF BRIANNA BY MCLEE MATHIAS: ESPRESSO MACHINE, CONTRIBUTED; INTERIOR BY GARVIN BURKE; COFFEE FROM IG @HUMBLEDCOFFEEHOUSE

above: Brianna Tarzia works her magic at the espresso machine.

Brianna shares a core favorite among baristas: the reward of a cup-well-received. “My favorite thing about being a barista is the look on a customer’s face when they try a new drink and absolutely love it. The feedback and relationships I have built with customers is definitely the most rewarding part of the job.” Customers, new and old, are drawn to the warm welcome that is the cafe’s aesthetic. Portraits of ’90s icons like Biggie and Kurt Cobain and inspirational wall quotes hug an ornate, modernmeets-boho lounge area. If you’re a fan of fun flavors, Humbled is chock-full of them. “My favorite beverage to drink is a cold brew, with mocha sauce and cream,” Brianna shares, but the buck doesn’t stop at mocha. Ever tried their maple pancake syrup or Nutella iced latte? If the answer’s no, start driving.

stamfordmag.com

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 58

2/9/22 2:12 PM

"being a barista is a rewarding experience and it feels good to know you helped someone begin their morning with a nice cup of coffee." Brianna Tarzia // co-owner and barista

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 59

2/9/22 2:12 PM

favorites like your standard cappuccino and Americanos, the cafe’s Rishi Masala Chai is a delicious alternative to coffee; and the smoothies, lunch and breakfast sandwiches, toasts and flatbreads are not to be missed. For something extra special, try their affogato, which is a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a double shot of espresso. Ruth’s personal favorite, both in the crafting and indulging, hits close to home. “All of our drinks are enjoyable to make. However, I would have to say our hot signature latte is by

Meet the Barista: RUTH MARTINEZ

lot of us believe in manifestation, or in other terms, to turn something from an idea into a reality just by willing it into existence. For Ruth Martinez, a barista at Honey Joe’s Family Coffeehouse (honeyjoescoffee.com), she manifested a job at her favorite coffee shop. “I started as a customer at Honey Joe’s,” Ruth shares. “I loved going there to take some online classes. It was the perfect environment for it. Once in a while, I would also go with friends. I commented to them, ‘I would love to work here.’ A few months after, a below: Ruth Martinez

friend told me they were hiring. I took my chances and, luckily, I got the job! I am grateful for the opportunity. This profession has helped me develop and strengthen many skills.” Though the pandemic has certainly presented its challenges, Honey Joe’s—owned by Susan Krissel and her husband, Steve— officially opened in July 2020 and has maintained its position in Stamford as a family-friendly space for all to enjoy, rain or shine. Because Covid can’t cancel good coffee, Ruth is overjoyed that she can continue to make customers happy with a cup and care. “Nothing makes me happier than seeing someone enjoy the coffee or any other drink I make. It is the greatest reward,” she says. “Everyone who comes into the store has a different story. We all have different days ahead of us. A perfectly crafted coffee can make the day worth it. It can give us energy for the rest of the day, warm us up and prepare us for the hardships that may come. It can help us get it together and move on. Honey Joe’s has a variety of drinks to help prepare you for whatever type of day is ahead of you.” Honey Joe’s sources its brew from La Colombe coffee roasters—a one-of-a-kind roast from Philadelphia that Susan enjoyed while studying at University of Pennsylvania. In addition to tried-and-true

far my favorite. It’s crafted with two shots of espresso, two pumps of honey, a dash of cinnamon and eight ounces of steamed milk. My favorite part about making this latte is creating latte art. When I pour the steamed milk into my honey-filled shot, the cinnamon starts to move around beautifully. As I make the heart, it hugs it and accentuates my art. It adds a creative touch to it.” Whether you reserve quiet “me time” or a proper catch-up with friends, Honey Joe’s provides the boost you need. “Honey Joe’s is a perfect place for all. Inclusive and accepting. We have spaces for all types of customers. We have a den for students and people working from home. We have a play space for children and a common space for anyone who just wants to feel the cafe vibes. Most important, our variety of drinks are crafted with love and care for our customers.”

left: Honey Joe's mascot delights all ages. below: Industrial lighting casts a soothing glow over the cafe.

PORTRAIT BY GARVIN BURKE; CONTRIBUTED

HONEY JOE'S FAMILY COFFEEHOUSE

stamfordmag.com

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 60

2/9/22 2:12 PM

above: Owner Chris Hallowell pours latte art. right: Turning Point's cafe is irresistibly cozy, inviting guests to slow down and enjoy their order.

TURNING POINT Meet the Barista: CHRIS HALLOWELL

PHOTOGRAPHY: BY GARVIN BURKE.

B B

coffee, I noticed so many arista meets bartender similarities with wine, in that with Chris Hallowell, there are structural elements like owner of Turning body and acidity—and there’s Point Coffee Roasters terroir. I wanted to try as many on High Ridge Road. Turning coffees as possible, but there Point opened in 2018 and has weren’t local roasters making a since become a destination lot of single-origin coffees. So, for artisanal coffee, exotic and I started buying single-origin fine teas, lunch and breakfast green coffees and roasting them food options and more. Here’s in a popcorn popper. I became the more: Starting at 10 a.m., obsessed with how much better customers are welcome to try the quality was, and within four prosecco (on tap!), multiple craft months of starting to drink beers and a rotating wine list coffee, I had a small commercial carefully curated from Chris’s roaster in my garage. After a unique career past. while, my wife and I wanted “My previous career to share our coffee, so was as a wine critic NEW: we opened Turning and editor at a We’re opening up Point Coffee wine magazine, TURNING POINT CHEESE & Roasters.” for which all I PROVISIONS a few doors Roasted did was assess up from the café this year, in-house means wines,” he so I'm looking forward you don’t have shares. “I came to adding cheesemonger to my title. to look far to to coffee later —Chris Hallowell find its source. than most. When Chris’s favorites I started drinking

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 61

represents many of the trust-theprocess aspects that make the shop distinctive. “My favorite drink to make at the beginning when we weren’t as busy was a pour over,” he says. “I loved showing off our single origins, and the process of making one is almost meditative when you don’t have a line of customer waiting to place an order. My go-to drink, however, is a traditional macchiato, which is espresso ‘marked’ with foamed milk. It showcases the coffee much more than a latte, but still has a little added sweetness and richness from the milk.” Amid a pandemic and other hardships, customers continue to look to Turning Point to be a respite from their everyday

concerns; an expression of the store’s namesake. Chris echoes the same on behalf of his team. “At the shop I think it feels cozy with the rustic shiplap walls and walnut countertops, but what brings it home are the relationships that have been built between our baristas and customers and that sense of community. One online review reads, ‘This spot became my Cheers during Covid (Norm!),’ which made my day. There is that sense of familiarity when a regular comes in, and it makes you feel great. I'd like to think it feels the same for the regular.”

The cortado is an espresso mixed with an equal amount of warm milk to reduce the acidity.

The café is a comfortable place to relax and enjoy each sip.

2/9/22 2:12 PM

"whenever i put out a beautiful tulip and someone pulls their phone out to take a photo, it’s my favorite compliment." Andres Oyola // barista

One pumpkin muffin with maple glaze and two cortados with beautiful latte art design of leaves.

stamfordmag.com

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 62

2/9/22 2:12 PM

offerings. Tres Leches Iced Coffee (word for “three milks” containing cold-brewed iced coffee with tres leches cream, coconut-sweetened condensed milk and whole milk) and a Lorchata (cold brew concentrate with horchata—Mexican-style cinnamon rice milk drink) are stellar for anyone wanting to branch out of their usual. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with simple—just ask Andres. “My favorite beverage to make is probably just a simple latte or flat white because they’re the easiest to practice my latte art in. My favorite drink is either

above: Lorca's own mural artist Cris Dam creates the shop's eye-catching wall art.

LORCA COFFEE BAR

Meet the Barista: ANDRES OYOLA

PHOTOGRAPHY: PORTRAIT AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY GARVIN BURKE; ALL OTHERS BY JOE CHARLES

lot of people in the coffee biz enter the world of specialty brews due to some kind of perk-up-moment that shows them what coffee can truly be (other than the dose of caffeine we might need in a day). Andres Oyola, a barista at Lorca Coffee Bar, is no exception. “I got into coffee because of Lorca,” he says. “I would always pass by on my walks to school, and once I had my first cup of coffee, I was hooked. I always liked coffee, but this place let me fall more in love with the coffee.” Andres embodies the belief that our simplest pleasures can evolve into some of the most meaningful and powerful parts of our life. Lorca is one of the veteran coffee shops in Stamford, having opened in 2012 on busy Bedford Street. Its founder, Leyla Dam Jenkins, combined her love of

Brooklyn coffee and her Spanish heritage to create the three C’s of Lorca: coffee, culture and churros. When you walk into Lorca, you immediately get that cozy book-nook feel. The Spanish influence is easily recognized in the unique coffee

an autumn spice latte with oat milk—only served in the fall—or for any other season, a cold brew latte with oat milk is always my go to.” Gratitude goes a long way in the coffee world. “My favorite thing about being a barista is seeing everyone’s reactions when they fall in love with a cup,” Andres says. “Whenever I put out a beautiful tulip and someone pulls their phone out to take a photo, it’s my favorite compliment.” When you visit Lorca, you can count on a warm welcome, both in hand and heart. “We accomplish it by giving our customers a feeling of a second home. People aren’t only coming to Lorca for the amazing drinks and food, but also for the familiarity of coming in and having everyone treat you like family. So many regular customers we know by name and by drink, and it makes the entire experience of coming in for a coffee that much more homey.”

left: Opt for the Andres Special, a latte made simply and perfectly. below: Along with beverages, Lorca serves food, such as panini, also made with care and pride.

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

56_63_STM_Baristas__Mar_Apr_2022.indd 63

2/9/22 2:12 PM

The State of by scott thomas

As 2022 reveals itself, so too does

Stamford's residential market

agent of Compass Stamford. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my eighteen years of real estate.” Coming off a year in which unit sales jumped 24 percent, it was unrealistic to continue that kind of sustained run. Still, unit sales increased—in the third quarter alone, sales jumped 35 percent—and ended the year about 10 percent above 2020, according to the MLS, with an average sales price increase of 15 percent. While Stamford real estate continued its two-year winning streak, it also brought about undesirable consequences. “It was a complicated year,’’ says Barbara Hickey, an agent for William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty. “That’s what happens when you’re dealing with so much volume. Everything moved at a rapid pace. You’re just pumping

hether it is the blackjack table at a Connecticut casino, a basketball game or even an evolving relationship, momentum is a curious thing. It starts without warning, maintains uncertain durability and seemingly loses steam as innocently as it started. There are often multiple factors in any hot streak, which can be evaluated only afterwards. Such is the case for the Stamford real estate market. The momentum that was generated in 2020 continued unabated throughout the following year. “If I had to summarize the year, I would call it unprecedented, competitive and hot,’’ says Staci Zampa, a founding

stamfordmag.com

64_69_STM_Real Estate.indd 64

2/9/22 12:39 PM

Real Estate

GREENWICH PHOTO

Park Tower Stamford condominiums boast a pool, fitness center, movie theater, concierge services and more.

work in the opposite direction, though that seems unlikely, especially in amenity-rich Stamford. For now, people who have market-ready homes can command top dollar and receive quick and fair offers. Selling is the easy part. Buying, however, is far more challenging. Limited inventory, rising prices and even the possibility of bidding wars all contribute to a complex scenario. “Many buyers have lost one or two multiple bid situations,’’ Hickey says. “Some have lost eight, nine or even ten. After that, they’re just throwing in the towel and deciding to rent for another year. It’s a very difficult market; 2021 was just as grueling and fast-paced as 2020.’’ Now, Stamford’s hot market moves into the new year. What, we ask, do buyers want the most?

stuff out. You’re laying the track, and the train is right behind you.” While the pandemic spurred the activity, 2021 was a “more measured and contemplative market than in 2020 but still moving at an attractive rate,’’ according to Vikktoria Cooper of Coldwell Banker. “We were forced through a paradigm shift; the watercooler was replaced by virtual meeting rooms. And lending rates at historical lows with the money supply at generously high levels has awakened the millennials, arguably the largest buyer pool in history, and downsizers.” When will the ride end? That’s the thing about momentum. There is no end in sight, and 2022 might even be better than 2021. There is, however, one other fundamental principle behind momentum. It is fleeting and does not last forever. Even worse, momentum can also

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

64_69_STM_Real Estate.indd 65

2/9/22 12:39 PM

Every market in Stamford has seen upticks during the past two years. Whether it is Springdale, Glenbrook, West Side or anywhere else, single-family homes, condos and townhomes have seen appreciation and most transactions have moved along in less than three months. “There is a huge pool of buyers out there,’’ Staci Zampa says. “Some are paying cash and they still can’t find homes. We’ve seen everything—multiple offers, bidding wars, overpricing, you name it. The most important thing is if you’re not working with a Realtor, you’d better get one.” Some areas have seen astonishing trends. The fastdeveloping Harbor Point area and North Stamford, which saw homes linger on the market just a few years ago, are now highly coveted. Amenities are the draw. In Harbor Point, homeowners can be close to the water, shopping, entertainment and transportation. Once a mostly industrial area, Harbor Point and the city’s South End was hardly a desirable real estate location. That has changed markedly over the past decade, and the mixed-use area has helped Stamford leapfrog New Haven to become the state’s second largest city. The city’s population increased by nearly 13,000 people from 2010–2020 according to the U.S. census. North Stamford is far different but just as desirable for potential buyers. The appeal of vast acreage, privacy and outdoor living has drawn people out of urban environments. “North Stamford, hands down, had a great year,’’ Vikktoria Cooper says. “Offering more acreage and quieter, more arboreous surroundings, North Stamford has had a welcome revival.” For example, an Interlaken Road home with five bedrooms, seven baths and 6,274 square feet on 1.9 acres sold in 2017 for $750,000. It sold again last summer for $1,080,000. North Stamford, with its big price tags, homes and lot sizes, is hot again.

above: The two bedroom Park Tower Stamford penthouse at 1 Broad Street has a home office with storage and a beautiful view (Staci Zampa, Compass; $1,275,000)

Taster’s Choice The trend in the past five years has been move-in ready. Covid and reality television have exacerbated the shift. “A lot of the people buying are like millennials do,’’ Staci Zampa of the Staci Zampa Team, says. “They want turn-key—they don’t want to do any work. But they do want to have little activity areas for their children. A pool is a bonus. Having a larger lot, even to accommodate a pool, is also something people want. It’s the complete opposite of what they were looking for before. Now people want to be in the suburbs, but close to downtown with larger lots and outside areas.”

The totally unrealistic, big-budget, thirty-minute television renovations grab the attention of many new homeowners. Covid did as well, as many people now find themselves working more frequently from the home office. “The trend for home office space has been out there for some time, but now it’s a must,’’ Barbara Hickey says. “Office hours are no longer nine to five. People continue to work when the kids go to bed. Now we can’t go without a printer, a scanner, a filing cabinet and a desk space with Internet. It’s all professions. The world never turns off.”

The trend for home office space has been out there for some time, but now it's a must. STACI ZAMPA, Compass Stamford

above: The new 49 Walnut Ridge Court in Stamford has a modern, hard-working kitchen. (Barbara Hickey, William Pitt Sotheby's; listed at $1,499,000, now sold)

WALNUT RIDGE BY HUDSON CREATIVE; STAMFORD PARK BY GREENWICH PHOTO

Hot Pockets

stamfordmag.com

64_69_STM_Real Estate.indd 66

2/9/22 12:39 PM

WALNUT RIDGE BY HUDSON CREATIVE; STAMFORD PARK BY GREENWICH PHOTO

above: The bath at 49 Walnut Ridge Court is ready for serious relaxing. (Barbara Hickey) below: The penthouse at Stamford Park combines two units for 2,540 square feet of living and floor-toceiling windows to see the horizon in the distance. (Staci Zampa)

64_69_STM_Real Estate.indd 67

2/9/22 12:39 PM

Pressure Points While the market surge has been mostly positive, it has also proven to be tremendously stressful. Mortgage officers, inspectors, movers, lawyers, city recordkeepers, buyers and sellers, and, yes, real estate agents, have faced undue strain during the past two years. Real estate transactions are complicated puzzles. Besides being the largest financial transaction most people will make in their lifetimes, real estate also brings up emotions that range from euphoria to despondency and shift repeatedly throughout the process. The excitement of finding a home to purchase is followed by the stress of pulling together all the pieces to make the transaction happen. Sellers feel the stress, too. What will the inspection find? What’s the neighbor’s house going for? Where are we going to go? For buyers and sellers, the ordeal can take months to play out. While the final black-andwhite transaction with dollar signs looks simple, the process behind it is definitely not. The buying-and-selling process takes months to complete, which does not always sit well with a world that seeks instant gratification. Also in a hot housing market, there is rarely time to reflect. Buyers need to make snap decisions or risk losing their favorite home to another buyer who is prepared to pounce.

“These are big decisions,’’ Barbara Hickey says. “The process can move only so rapidly. Common sense must be the guide. You can work quickly and efficiently, but some processes have to be completed to make a well-thought-out decision. In many instances, buyers are not being given that opportunity.” Stamford’s real estate momentum shows no signs of abating. That could turn in an instant. A rise in mortgage rates, continued inflation or shifting buyer trends could stop the momentum. The pandemic triggered the two-year surge. Could lingering complications cause its demise? No one knows. The market is indeed complicated, unprecedented and rapidly moving. “Buyers are reacting to the economics and lifestyle imposed by the pandemic,’’ Vikktoria Cooper says, “such as, low rates, acceptable tax structure compared to neighboring New York, newer homes or those promising an extra bedroom, a yard and other creature comforts that can be found in a bustling younger city with a coastline like Stamford.” Now it’s full steam ahead into a new buying-and-selling season. “I think we’re going to have a spring market that is unprecedented,’’ Staci Zampa says. “One more crazy year before we get back to normal.”

Rentals are a welcome residential alternative. Buyers looking to explore Stamford might decide to rent first. VIKKTORIA COOPER, Coldwell Banker

stamfordmag.com

64_69_STM_Real Estate.indd 68

2/9/22 12:39 PM

Finding a new home can be exciting, but a tight market means it will take work and fast decision-making to submit a winning offer.

TEMPORARY FIX

Stamford’s Hot Rental Market

Stamford has a long history of rental properties. One report indicates 48.4 percent of housing units are rentals. They are not inexpensive (at least 40 percent pay more than $2,000 per month in rent), but they are, nonetheless, occupied. Nearly 95 percent of Stamford apartments are leased. Developers placed many rentals in Harbor Point over the past decade, and another part of town saw a new one pop up last year. The Stillwater Stamford, at 57 Stillwater Avenue, is one of the new additions to the Stamford rental landscape not located in Harbor Point or directly downtown. Situated near Stamford Hospital, the complex features studios along with one- and two-bedroom units. The forty-five apartments range from 504 square feet for studios up to 1,020 for two-bedrooms. The apartments offer proximity to Metro-North and downtown. Residents will also find an outside barbecue garden, dog run, bike storage, community space and other amenities that are must-haves for today’s renters. While rental units place more pressure on the city’s infrastructure, they also allow people to get a feel for the city and determine if it’s a place in which they might like to eventually develop roots and find more permanent housing solutions. “Rentals are a welcomed residential alternative,” says Vikktoria Cooper. “Buyers looking to explore Stamford might decide to rent first. After establishing a home base, these new renters, many of whom do not yet have a family, start to navigate communities and areas of interest. They even start to create social networks that revolve around outdoor group activities or book clubs, and so forth. Before too long, they begin their home search.”

Rental units in Stamford these days must also be updated and come with amenities that are “sleek and sexy,’’ according to Barbara Hickey. “Tenants are drawn to that. They’re also paying quite a premium for it. The tenant who can afford that monthly nut is there because they want to be there, not because they have to be there.” One significant change in rentals this year is that they are no longer occupied almost exclusively by young adults trying to find their way in the world. The amenity-rich units are also the perfect holding area for people who have sold their primary residence and are plotting their next move—whether it’s retirement in Stamford, Florida, the Carolinas or elsewhere. “Rentals are also a great space for people who didn’t know where to go when their house sold quicker than anticipated or were just looking to downsize and take advantage of the hot market,’’ says Staci Zampa. “With bigger and better amenities in each new development, along with the proximity to the train we continue to draw people from New York City.” Rentals are always going to be a critical part of the Stamford residential landscape and may even be more important as the region’s population grows. “As humans we must have two things to survive: food and shelter,’’ Cooper says. “For now, we are taking advantage of the current situation and finding homes for all. It’s our mission to match buyers to sellers, renters to landlords, builders to landowners and so forth. The rental market will always be there. It’s my hope that it continues to meet the needs of our clients.”

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

64_69_STM_Real Estate.indd 69

2/9/22 12:39 PM

stamfordmag.com

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 70

2/10/22 9:29 AM

UNSPLASH

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 71

2/10/22 9:29 AM

UNSPLASH

DSFDSFDSFDSFDDSDS

Few things speak to a new lease on life like the annual migration from the great indoors to the greater outdoors. Now that the days are growing longer and warmer, we’re coming back to life along with the perennials from seasons past. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors roamed for miles to find enough food to sustain them and their tribe in hostile environments. Here in the third year of the pandemic, however, we need only step out the back door armed with hand trowels and gardening hats to sustain our bodies but also reinvigorate our minds and soothe our souls. This spring, landscape architects and designers across Fairfield County are responding to homeowners’ interests— not in manicured lawns and showcase gardens but in sustainability and doing what’s best for the environment. These professionals are ditching the formality of boxwood borders and orderly flower beds for unmade beds, free-ranging meadows, native plantings and water in any number of forms. They’re also designing large, handsome vegetable garden structures and offering a range of options for helping homeowners become increasingly self-sufficient and truly at home on the range—even if it’s the suburban range. stamfordmag.com

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 72

2/10/22 9:29 AM

TOP TWO PHOTOS BY UNSPLASH; COURTESY OF WADIA

One sign of the new informality is the open meadows alive with swaying grasses, vibrant wildflowers and pollinator plants that attract songbirds, bees and other beneficial insects. On a less than an acre of land in Westport, Jay Petrow of Petrow Designs created an open meadow of wild grasses—Korea feather grass and fountain grass—that resembles an impressionist painting but one that changes colors as the seasons change. It covers just a 30’ by 30’ section of the owners’ backyard but looks like a bigger planting than it is. “You don’t need to eliminate an acre of grass—you can start with just a small area,” says Petrow, who in the off-season creates abstract expressionist paintings that at times are informed by his meadow designs. “Late in the day in the winter when the sun is in that golden time, it hits these grasses and the colors come through. The grasses add texture and color and movement in the wind and can look good through much of the year.” Other landscape designers and professional gardeners report requests for elements that satisfy an almost primitive impulse. “The proper term I think is probably ‘homesteading,’ although I think most of our clients don’t think of themselves as homesteaders,” notes John Carlson of Homefront Farmers in Redding. Carlson’s company builds and maintains vegetable gardens as well as other forms of selfsufficiency, “But in fact that’s what we’re doing when we add beekeeping and maple sugaring, and chicken cooping and mushrooming. We’re just expanding the way they can produce food at home." Even traditional architectural firms that offer landscaping services are loosening their grip on

Landscape trends are leaning away from the perfectly manicured boxwoods in favor of natural grasses and vegetable gardens that allow homeowners to live off the land.

tradition in a bow to Mother Nature. New Canaan architectural firm, Wadia Associates designs formal mansions frequently informed by classic British estates, with formal landscapes to match. (As if to verify the firm’s commitment to authenticity, Prince Charles, a champion of architectural preservation, contributed the preface to Dinyar Wadia’s coffee table volume, New Classicists: Wadia Associates, Residential Architecture of Distinction.) The firm’s partial transition away from contained formal gardens reflects a growing sensitivity among homeowners to conservation and a greater appreciation of land and space. Something new that Wadia clients are asking for is a “live roof ”—flat, grassed surfaces, over a series of drainage systems, that aids thermal regulation below and makes that part of the home blend naturally into the landscape.

“I think the phenomenon of Covid has reminded us that space is a luxury,” Wadia says. “For a long time people were moving away from backcountry in Greenwich and now the desirability of having that kind of land is quite high. They’re also looking for more ways that they can engage with the environment organically, literally and figuratively. We have a lot of clients who are asking for greenhouses and gardens—not a formal, boxwood-framed garden but a vegetable garden.”

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 73

2/10/22 9:29 AM

top left: Mark Finlay’s entry design with overflowing greenery. above and left: James Doyle Designs’ created suburban homesteading where clients could grow veggies and raise chickens. right: Homefront Farmers’ designed an enclosed garden surrounded by bright florals.

Even more formal estates are embracing, in Wadia’s words, “a degree or rural sensibilities.” For a large stone manor, a greenhouse used for temperate plants and as a nursery overlooks a grid of raised flower and vegetable beds set between broad, gravel and slate paths.

TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK FINLAY; CHICKEN COUP AND CHIKEN BY ALEGRA ANDERSON; ENCLOSED GARDEN COURTESY OF HOMEFRONT FARMERS

During World War II, the U.S. government rationed staples and asked citizens to plant “Victory Gardens.” Some 20 million answered the patriotic call, producing fruits and vegetables for themselves and their families. It’s telling that residential architects and landscape designers today are designing home herb and vegetable patches—“Pandemic Victory Gardens,” if you will—on their own properties. Southport architect Mark Finlay, whose firm designs 10,000- and 20,000-square-foot mansions, had built for his wife a three-section garden structure of raised beds on a side portion of their property. Andrew Tyrrell of Black Rock Compost Company in Bridgeport custom-built the 20’-by20’ structure out of rot- and insect-resistant white cedar, which is completely enclosed in 1”-by-1” black deer fencing. Tyrrell’s company also manages the composting for the garden year-round. “It’s a big garden, so I designed it like a clerestory style, like a church, so the tomatoes and zucchinis are in the middle section and in the wings herbs and lettuces that grow low,” Finlay explains. The center section is nin feet high, the wings seven feet high. Deer fencing covers the top because, as Finlay found, “birds fly in and poke holes in the vegetables, then the squirrels come in ad finish the job.” The space doubles as a retreat from the stresses of life in a pandemic. “In the middle of the summer when it’s in full bloom,” the architect notes, “it’s like a really quiet Zen room.”

stamfordmag.com

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 74

2/10/22 9:29 AM

right: Architect Mark Finlay designed and Andrew Tyrrell built this custom garden structure out of white cedar and deerresistant fencing.

ENCLOSED GARDEN, COURTESY OF MARK FINLAY; VEGETABLE GARDEN BY NEIL LANDINO

below: A garden design by James Doyle.

MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 75

2/10/22 9:29 AM

A James Doyle Designs water feature

above: Wadia Associates installed a long reflecting pool that runs under a bridge and to the front of the home for an immediate sense of tranquility. below: Another Wadia design showcases a natural stream running through a slew of plantings,

WATER FEATURE BY NEIL LANDINO; TOP AND BOTTOM PHOTO COURTESY OF WADIA ASSOCIATES

Pools remain a top draw for homeowners, and especially for homebuyers from the City hot to have water in any setting. These are not our parents' pools but rather complex interactions of design, construction and mechanics. James Doyle Design Associates in Greenwich partners with structural engineers and others to create what he calls “The Moses Effect”— water separated from other water within the same walls of a swimming pool. But water also serves simpler purposed. “Obviously pools are designed for practical use,” says Doyle, “but water features bring an extra-sensory element to the land that’s very calming.” At the entrance to a magnificent French chateau on eight acres, Wadia Associates installed a long reflecting pool that runs under a stone bridge to the front door. Fountains in the entry courtyard, meanwhile, send plumes of water skyward. “The idea was to give the homeowners an immediate sense of tranquility when they come home,” says Wadia. “There’s the gentle sound of water, reflected light and lily pads. It’s a little bit of Monet in Greenwich.” Meanwhile, streams both natural and man made are primal elements—a lifeforce—that sustain birds, small animals and the human spirit. To reach a modest house on a small lot in

stamfordmag.com

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 76

2/10/22 9:29 AM

Native plants and pollinators: Black Eyed Susan, Switchgrass, and Echinacea,

TOP LEFT WATER FEATURE AND POOL BY ALEGRA ANDERSON; TOP RIGHT WATER FEATURE BY NEIL LANDINO

here and above: While pools are still a top priority for homeowners, James Doyle says he has begun to add many more types of water features into his landscape designs to create a feeling od tranquility throughout the properties.

Darien, the owners and visitors drive over a bridge and narrow stream. Jay Petrow removed the pachysandra crowding the banks and in its place, around boulders he had trucked in, put in a wealth of native plants and pollinators: Black Eyed Susan, switchgrass, asters and echinacea, among others. “I thought that would be a beautiful scenesetter for the property,” Petrow says. “I was excited about changing the landscape from what was basically an ecological desert of lawns and Pachyasandra and boxwood to something that not only looks better to me but benefits the environment.” Not that a lack of water should be a deterrent. On Dinyar Wadia’s New Canaan property, the man-made stream features a flow regulator that controls the speed of the current and the level of water, which can be lowered during heavy rains. Now that’s what we call a modern water feature. MARCH/APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

70_77_STM_FEA_Landscape_MarchApril_2022.indd 77

2/10/22 9:29 AM

WHAT’S IN YOUR YARD?

DREW KLOTZ

KINETIC SCULPTURE

203 451 2902

DREWKLOTZ.COM

78_79_STM_AdIndex_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 78

2/9/22 9:36 AM

advertisers index BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT

HEALTH, HOSPITALS & BEAUTY

California Closets �� 9

Hospital for Special Surgery �� 15 Norwalk Hospital/Nuvance Health.................................................................23

BUSINESS, FINANCE & LEGAL

JEWELRY

Cummings & Lockwood-Stamford �� 8

Betteridge Jewelers ��Cover 2, 1

Davidson, Dawson & Clark, LLP �� 6

Lux Bond & Green �� Cover 4 NONPROFIT

EDUCATION & CHILDREN

Connecticut Public Television......................................................................... 51.

New Canaan Country School..........................................................................25

Domestic Violence Crisis Center....................................................................29

EVENTS

Laurel House....................................................................................................29

Alzheimer's Association, Celebrating Hope.................................................. C3 Children's Learning Center .............................................................................27

MISCELLANEOUS

Curtain Call Theatre......................................................................................... 19

A-List Awards...................................................................................................39

Ferguson Library, A Novel Affair......................................................................79

Best of the Gold Coast CT...............................................................................22

Greenwich Restaurant Week...........................................................................45

Bob Capazzo...................................................................................................... 6

Planned Parenthood Spring Luncheon......................................................... 46

Drew Klotz........................................................................................................ 78 Flowcode �� 41

Westport Country Playhouse.......................................................................... 12

JP McHale Pest Management......................................................................... 27

FOOD, CATERING & LODGING

Light a Fire........................................................................................................32

Taco Daddy �� 5

Westy's Self-Storage........................................................................................29

The Lila Rose �� 3 Marcia Selden Catering..................................................................................... 7

REAL ESTATE & SENIOR LIVING

Winvian Farm ��25 ANA Stamford Mag 2022 half page.qxp_Layout 1 1/27/22 1:06 PM Page 1

EPOCH Senior Living ��17

a April 7 NOVEL Thursday, affair from 6 to 9 p.m. An evening of food and festivities to benefit the Ferguson Library. at the Main Library, DiMattia Building, Bedford and Broad Streets, Stamford. Honoring Ann Sexton for her longstanding service to the library and the Stamford community. Tickets are $125/sponsorships available. Reserve at fergusonlibrary.org or call 203 351-8205.

#anovelaffair2022

SPONSORS TO DATE

HEMINGWAY PRESENTING SPONSOR

Melvin Klugman

MORRISON

Friends of the Ferguson Library SL Green Realty Corp

Hooker & Holcombe Juanita James KPMG Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home Deborah & Robert Neiman UConn Stamford ALVAREZ

Bankwell Cacace, Tusch & Santagata Philip Farin & Carolyn Odyssey Group Foundation Nadel Pitney Bowes Deborah & Michael Golden Sam & Emily Gordon LAHIRI Linda & Joe Milano Stephen Corman Stephen Perry & First County Bank Susan Toliver Prince Law Group BALDWIN Betsey & Arthur Selkowitz Judith Block Amy & Tony Downer IN-KIND SPONSORS Garden Homes MBA Graphics Management SignCrafters, Inc. Laurence Morse & Pamela McKoin MEDIA PARTNERS Stamford Health Stamford Magazine/ Mofﬂy Media–Exclusive STEINBECK Magazine Sponsor The Ashforth Company/ Hey Stamford A.P. Construction Elizabeth Ball The Ferguson Award Nancy & Brad Benjamin created by Russ Hollander, Dilenschneider Group Master Goldsmith F.D. Rich Company DUBOIS

MARCH/ APRIL 2022 STAMFORD

78_79_STM_AdIndex_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 79

2/9/22 9:36 AM

postscript

MAR/APR 2022 / DONNA MOFFLY

April is also the start of the Silly Season around here and more ways to lighten our wallets.

o we’re now into March with its Ides. The Romans used the term to refer to the day of the full moon. Nothing especially unlucky about that, except for Julius Caesar who got himself stabbed twenty-three times by some disgruntled fellow senators on March 15, 44 BC (Any comparisons with Washington today is purely coincidental.) Next comes April with its tax deadline—a tough time for a lot of us, too. Sure would be swell to win the lottery, like Russ Herman’s son-in-law Dave Novalis did in New Jersey— big time. He stopped for milk on the way home from work, spotted a sign announcing the state lottery had topped $20 million, bought ten tickets and pow! He and Lisa had to pay a lot in taxes on their windfall, but still… .It couldn’t have happened to a nicer pair. The tax people also want to know how much money you give away, so you need to track that, too. Back in March 2011, I wrote an article entitled “Unsolicited Solicitations,” trying to figure out what it would cost if you donated the minimum for every nonprofit request that arrived in your mailbox in a year. Not by e-mail, text or phone call. Politics excluded. I listed repeaters just once; but if a charity hit you on national, state and local levels followed by a fundraising gala in town, it got entered four times. (With no specific price tag, I assigned $50.) On New Year’s Day 2010, I started saving the envelopes in a kitchen drawer and on December 31 added them up. Result: If you’d donated the minimum across 453 causes, you’d be out $61,811.23! Don’t even think about what it would be today. April is also the start of the Silly Season around here and more ways to lighten our wallets—for nonprofits to give us have plenty

of chances to “win” stuff, whether we want it or not. My husband, Jack, the ultimate team player, liked to help get things going by raising his paddle for opening bids at live auctions. We once got stuck with a condominium in Tobago, billed as accommodating five, which in fact had only one bedroom. Instead of a trip, we took a tax write-off. At a silent auction for Greenwich Symphony, Jack bid on two ski houses, hoping for one, and got both. Never mind that I hated skiing, but we headed north twice with some friends and had a ball. At a Community Answers Fashion Show, we landed a pony party for our grandchildren at Cindy Steinmetz’s stable and a visit to NBC’s Nightly News with Brian Williams on what turned out to be the day the stock market crashed in September 2008. Though just a bystander, I must admit that one Eagle Hill School auction brought me to tears when a gentleman won a golden retriever puppy and handed him over to a teacher who had just lost her dog. She cried, too. And, oh, those raffles. Do I covet an autographed basketball? Not much. But Jack got lucky at a Planned Parenthood benefit, and eight of us got a lunch tour of MOMA. Then there are the games. At a St. Paul’s fundraiser Jack signed me up—dragging my heels—for the Heads and Tails competition. When it finally got down to just Roy Glah and me on the dance floor, I went for heads and won tickets to Billy Elliott, dinner in New York City and a roundtrip limo ride. Who could ask for anything more? At my age today, “things” are out. But I still savor adventure and anything I can eat or drink. And it would always be nice to win the lottery.

VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENWICH, CT

OF MOSTLY MONEY MATTERS

stamfordmag.com

80_STM_ Postscript_Mar_Apr_2022.indd 80

2/9/22 9:37 AM

CELEBRATING HOPE FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2022 6:30 - 9 pm Stationed Dinner, Entertainment, Program, Silent & Live Auction 9 - 11:30 pm After Party on the roof of The Village featuring DJ April Larken

For tickets, sponsorships and additional information, visit celebratinghope.givesmart.com or contact Sadie Caccimelio, srcaccimelio@alz.org or 203.807.5845 COV3_STM_COVER_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 3

2/9/22 2:21 PM

diamond the

experts

DIAMONDS • JEWELRY • WATCHES • GIFTS

136 MAIN STREET WESTPORT 203.227.1300 GLASTONBURY MOHEGAN SUN WEST HARTFORD WELLESLEY

LBGreen.com

COV4_STM_COVER_Mar_Apr 2022.indd 4

800.524.7336

2/9/22 9:05 AM

Stamford - March/April 2022

Articles inside

EDITOR’S LETTER

POSTSCRIPT