/// spring renewal Reboot Your Workout & Beauty Routines /// plus: TOP LAWYERS ///
3 Interior Design Trends The pros pick the home projects that everyone wants now
Outdoor Spaces
Dreamy ideas for starry nights and sunny days at home
Fashion Finds
Hot looks, styled your way
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Every Every Box Box Has Has AA Story Story
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contents MAR/APR 2021 vol. 23 | issue 2
features
departments
45
by diane talbot sembrot
Need expert legal advice? Look no further. Here’s the guide to the top lawyers in Fairfield County.
BUZZ Post-winter hair and skin; Beach Box brand launches; training during Covid-19; Barneys at Saks; college talk
55
SHOP Henry C. Reid’s amazing renovation
12 EDITOR’S LETTER 15 STATUS REPORT
TOP LAWYERS
REAL ESTATE How did our area do during the flurry of real estate activity, thanks to New Yorkers leaving the city? Here’s what the numbers and pros say. by ji l l john son m an n
62
SOCIAL LANDSCAPING
27 15
DO Books for your wish list; new fertility treatments GO Travel during Covid-19 HOME Three designers pick the 2021 home trends; home organization with California Closets; for the love of merlot; Smallbone
Modern exterior decorating is expanding outdoor spaces for safe socializing, dining and entertaining—and solitary serenity-seeking.
EAT Quick and healthy with Organic Krush
by t om c on nor
38 MONEY MATTERS
70
How much house can you afford? 41 VOWS
SPRING FASHION
79 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
Find the new trend you love, and style it to make it work for you.
80 POSTSCRIPT by d onna mof f ly
by m e gan gagnon top: Study lounge by Laura Tutun below: The new location of Haus of Pretty
on the c over | 10 gr ay l ane, westp ort | listing with michelle&co., william r aveis real estate WESTPORT MAR/APR 2021, VOL. 23, NO. 2. WESTPORT (USPS/ISSN 1941-9821) is published bi-monthly by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St., Westport, CT 06880. Periodical postage paid at Westport, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to WESTPORT PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. U.S. Subscription rates: $19.95/1 year, $34.95/2 years; Canada and Foreign $44/1 year, $72/2 years. westportmag.com
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Thank you for welcoming us! We are proud to be serving the Westport community.
Michele Piskin Executive Director
at Westport
Westport’s Only Independent, Assisted & Memory Care Community 203-720-6273 residencewestport.com
Now Open! Select apartments available – including Emerald Suite concierge. An LCB Senior Living Community. Over 25 years of excellence in New England
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digital content & MORE
mar/apr 2021
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MARCH 15
STAY CONNECTED Our magazines are just the beginning. Head online to sign up for our 4 EDITORIAL NEWSLETTERS for Fairfield County.
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Shopping Our editors give you the scoop on must-know finds in fashion, home, beauty and anything that fits into a shopping bag.
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Do This/Try That Will you accept the challenge? We suggest one thing you can do—yes, during Covid-19. Like it, and you may have picked up a new hobby for life.
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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.
If you need to know what’s going on before anyone else, this one’s for you. It’s the first look at the new magazine issues.
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vol. 23 | no. 2 | mar/apr 2021 editorial
editorial director
Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com editor: westport, fairfield living, stamford
Diane Sembrot–diane.sembrot@moffly.com style director
Megan Gagnon–megan.gagnon@moffly.com books correspondent
Emily Liebert contributing editors
Elizabeth Hole–editor, custom publishing Julee Kaplan–editor, new canaan • darien Amy Vischio– creative director-at-large, athome copy editors
Terry Christofferson, Kathryn Satterfield, Scott Thomas contributing writers
Liz Barron, Tom Connor, Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Lauren Fetterman, Malia McKinnon Frame, Jill Johnson Mann editorial advisory board
G. Kenneth Bernhard, Bridgett Csapo-DiBonaventura, Nancy Conroy, Nancy Gault, Caren Hart Nelson, Jennifer O’Reilly
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
Taylor Stroili–taylor.stroili@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–lloyd.gabi@moffly.com
Calendar@Moffly.com Editor@WestportMag.com Weddings@WestportMag.com renew, or change your address, please email us at subscribe@greenwichmag.com, call 1-877-467-1735, or write to WESTPORT 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. TO SUBSCRIBE,
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WHAT’S IN YOUR YARD? vol. 23 | no. 2 | mar/apr 2021 publisher
Gabriella Mays
publisher, westport•weston•wilton gabriella.mays@moffly.com
sales & marketing Gina Fusco publisher, new canaan•darien•rowayton gina.fusco@moffly.com Karen Kelly-Micka
publisher, stamford, ocean house karen.kelly@moffly.com
Jonathan Moffly
publisher, athome, fairfield living jonathan.moffly@moffly.com Hilary Hotchkiss account executive hilary.hotchkiss@moffly.com Rick Johnson account executive rick.johnson@moffly.com Kathleen Godbold 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
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John W. Moffly IV & Donna C. Moffly
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editor’s letter
MAR/APR 2021 / DIANE TALBOT SEMBROT
MAKE SPACE spacious properties and town amenities, from excellent schools to the ever-changing downtown area. Even during this pandemic— especially so—we are lucky enough to live in a safe, supportive community. It’s easy to live here, making it an equally easy place to plant deep roots. Our feature story digs out the real estate numbers to back up what we’re all seeing each day. We also include a story about landscaping. Next time you’re standing at the window, sipping a cup of coffee/tea/green juice and wondering what you could do to make better use of the yard, pool area or deck, this story might come to mind. We look at the projects that are enjoyable now (especially as we continue to spend more time at home) as well as pay off if we do ever decide to move. I have no plans to move. I suppose if a cottage by the water opened up I might be tempted. As for those big dreamy homes, I hope you will make the most of where you live—make it a pleasure and a comfort in a world in turmoil—and then invite me over (yes, after social distancing is lifted).
diane.sembrot@moffly.com
P
WILLIAM TAUFIC
A
s I warned you in the last issue, once I get the vaccine, I’ll be shaking hands with or hugging everyone I see. But as I rolled up my sleeves and really started to see the bigger picture of this March/April real estate issue, I realized I left out a specific detail: I’ll also be looking for invitations to local homes. Take a peek inside to see the properties that are on the market (Hello, that cover shot!)—not to also mention how magnificently you are designing your homes and shaping, lighting and outfitting your outdoor spaces. I usually think that a sweet, romantic cottage would do for me—a shabby-chic writer’s nest. Then I see a brand-new contemporary home with multiple views of the water, sky-high ceilings and beautifully outfitted kitchens, home theaters and workout rooms, and I have to admit that there is a part of me that is not opposed to living in a grand estate after all. “Does it come with a dock?” I mean, wouldn’t we all love to ask that question? I am not alone in this. When you check out writer Jill Johnson Mann’s “State of Real Estate” story, you’ll see that our towns are attracting new residents. You’ve seen the new license plates—New Yorkers are drawn here like bees to the honey of our big homes,
westportmag.com
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Henry C. R
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Presenting a collaboration with ILA, an exquisite collection using reclaimed gold and the earth’s finest gems.
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buzz STATUS REPORT
left: The interior of Haus of Pretty and the owner’s new product line
FRESH START STEPS TO TAKE NOW FOR BETTER POST-WINTER HAIR b y d i a n e s e m b r o t
PHOTOGRAPHY BY N. LALOR
L
eaving winter behind, spring’s promise of a new beginning emerges. The timing is perfect for the HAUS OF PRETTY (hausofpretty.com), a hair and beauty salon founded by Kelsey Morey, to open in a new spot. In February it moved from Railroad Place to a space on Riverside Avenue near the Whelk and Saugatuck Sweets (Morey calls it a pre-city or dinner-date glam spot). It’s double the square footage, providing room for Nataliya Lalor’s photography studio, N. Lalor Photography (nlalorphotography.com). Morey also introduces her own hair product line and high-end home hair-color kits (available online). We asked about winterstressed hair. Here’s her rescue plan.
Is there help for winter hair? “After a cold winter filled with hats, scarves and loungewear, no doubt, your tresses may be feeling the stresses of the season. When environmental factors like dry air, freezing temperatures and friction from added layers combine, it can be a recipe for broken and dull strands. Now is the perfect time to add much-needed nutrients back into your hair to have your best look by summer. At Haus of Pretty, we are focused on the science behind healthy hair. When nutrients are taken out, they must be put back in, in order to create optimal strands. This begins with healthy hair color. Make sure your
colorist is using bond multipliers and strengtheners in your color formula. These special chemical additives prevent your hair from breaking, losing nutrients and moisture during processing.” What steps should we take? “After any type of color, you should be receiving a pH balancing treatment to add needed nutrition and help seal your hair. This would be a gloss or pH conditioning treatment following your shampoo. They act as a topcoat for your hair, similar to nail polish. It adds shine. The pH calms your hair strands, preventing future damage.”
Kelsey Morey Owner/founder Haus of Pretty
Nataliya Lalor Owner/photographer N. Lalor
MARCH/APRIL 2021 WESTPORT
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buzz you were wondering—yes, using professional shears does make a huge difference in terms of contributing to healthy hair. Our shears are made from quality, sharpened steel that leaves smoother cuts on a microscopic level, lending to better overall texture and manageability in your hairstyle. This is the reason our scissor cuts for men give better grow outs than clippers. We believe every detail matters when it comes to your hair health. These small adjustments will lead to big end results.”
Jennifer Adell Efstathiou/ Lead Aesthetician
WINTER-TO-SPRING SKIN
below: The salon’s fresh, bright and airy vibe
Winter is tough on skin. Jennifer Adell Efstathiou, lead aesthetician at New Beauty Wellness Spa, suggests stepping back from using balms, oils and serums to lock in moisture. Read on for her suggestions on how to acclimate to the change of season, beautifully.
LIGHTEN UP Our skin holds more water content in the spring and summer months so there is not as much need for thicker moisturizer. Find something a bit lighter.
Any tips for shampooing? “We are big fans of dry shampoo, dry conditioners and washing your hair as little as possible. Dry shampoo is best used right before you get in the shower. Spray and put your hair up before jumping in. The steam will make the dry shampoo particles absorb oil most effectively. You can follow this with a leave-in conditioner, dry conditioner or oils. We don’t recommend serums until the weather is warmer—they can make your hair stiffen and break during cold seasons. Opt for something cream-based instead. When you do wash your hair, make sure you are using something moisturizing, sulfate-free and color-safe. Our shampoos are aloe-based, which creates a gentle but effective moisturizing and balanced cleanse. We recommend staying away from entirely organic shampoos. We’ve noticed these can be allergen producing and extremely drying for clients. The sweet spot for healthy hair is in the middle of the road between safe, manufactured chemicals and beneficial natural ingredients.”
C’S THE DAY If you are not currently using a vitamin C, make sure to plug in this antioxidant powerhouse. Because we are outdoors more in spring, we have more exposure to those buggers, and vitamin C works on the fine lines and wrinkles, and it’s a beautiful brightener.
PROTECT YOURSELF
Add in a separate broad-spectrum SPF as your last step in your a.m. regime. Many people rely on SPF through their makeup during winter months. Make sure you are using a 30 or higher as spring and summer approach. Always look for a broad spectrum.
BRUSH OFF
When our skin is dry we absolutely need to stay on top of exfoliation. To avoid micro-tears and causing more dryness, I recommend using a chemical exfoliant such as an AHA cleanser or peel pad several times a week.
Anything else? “Investing in silk pillowcases and soft wrap headbands are other great ways to maintain longterm hair health. This prevents breakage from friction around your hairline at night, and during the day when you’re sailing around Westport in a couple of months or so. Also, we recommend keeping up with regular trims to keep your mane as tangle free and in the best shape as possible. In case
TAKE COVER
If you wear foundation regularly, try to make the transition to a tinted moisturizer and some concealer instead. Your skin will thank you.
CLEAN UP
Spring clean your skin care along with your closets. Ditch opened products you haven’t used in at least six months. Old products can breed bacteria so make sure you are starting fresh. This also helps keep you using only what you truly need.
SALON PHOTOGRAPHY BY N. LALOR; HEADSHOT BY ALLISON DANIEL
What about long term? “Regular maintenance for any type of hair, color treated or not, would include in-salon or at-home protein and oil treatments once per week. Protein and oils rich in omega-3s and fatty acids protect your hair from damage by forming a sort of armor on the outer layer. It is also beneficial for the scalp, as an oily environment protects your follicles and encourages new growth. By doing this once per week, you are creating an ideal environment for hair health and growth. You may find that you will have to wash your hair less as a result of the oil rebalancing.”
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INSIDE THE BOX
DR AW A LINE In late 2019 Sophie and Jeff learned from friends—who are now featured in some of the brand’s lifestyle photos—that the area of Fairfield they live in is known as The Beach Box. They liked the notion and name enough to see it as a business. They started working on a logo of bright blue, orange and pink to capture the energetic vibe of the coastal neighborhood and then started to build out a line of lifestyle products. The launch collection includes long-sleeve tees for adults, youth and toddlers, sweatshirts for adults and trucker and baseball hats. “The Beach Box CT is a modern-day ‘love where you live’ story,” says Sophie. “We created the brand as a way to show our respect and gratitude for living in such an amazing coastal community. Our hope is for it to be a conversation piece, a common ground between neighbors who sport our lifestyle pieces and a way to connect with community, especially in the current environment. On a personal note, the brand also means a chance to be creative and to see an idea through. We are a creative couple and the opportunity to work on a passion project during quarantine gave us a welcome focus.” She almost leaves out that they are both prepped to start up a brand. She explains: “Jeff and I both already have experience with launching our own businesses and seeing creative ideas through, so, to be completely honest, we’d overcome the mental leap part prior to launching.”
A NEW BUSINESS DEVOTED TO A COASTAL NEIGHBORHOOD’S CHARMS b y d i a n e s e m b r o t
S
STEPHANIE ELLIOTT PHOTOGRAPHY
ophie Sikaitis had founded the small Fairfield-based business Pearl Street Swim (pearlstreetswim.com) and things were going well. Then Covid-19 hit. “Quarantined and committed to staying home, we realized just how truly lucky we are to live in the Fairfield Beach community,” she says, taking the sunny view. Over that first summer of social restrictions, she (a full-time mother and entrepreneur) and her husband, Jeff (a full-time marketing pro), focused their attention into a new launch, called THE BEACH BOX CT (beachboxct.com). “The lifestyle brand was born out of a true lovewhere-you-live mentality,” says its cofounder.
LOVE WHAT YOU DO Sophie makes it clear that it isn’t always easy. Obviously, she has no regrets—she enjoys the work and loves her town—but she has learned a thing or two that she would pass along to others looking to follow their passion project from draft to ribbon cutting. “Two pieces of advice I’d give anyone with a creative idea who wants to take the next step,” she says. “Make sure you are truly passionate about the project. Taking on an extra project or job is not for the faint. We all live such busy lives and you’re going to have to consistently carve out
above: The Moran Family of Fairfield Beach wears The Beach Box CT’s long-sleeve tees. below: The Beach Box CT’s embroidered baseball cap and beach crew.
time that you might otherwise use for yourself or have downtime and commit it to development. Make sure you’re going to enjoy it. Start small and invest what you can manage. I used to believe that everything had to be fully developed and perfect before sharing, marketing, selling—that’s just not true, especially in the age of social media. Get going with what you have, growth will come.” PARTNER UP Part of what continues to motivate Sophie and Jeff is the charitable part of the business plans. “We’re really thrilled to be an official partner to Operation Hope CT and give back to the organization on a consistent basis,” she says. “It is imperative to us that while we celebrate our community, we also do right by it. Operation Hope’s mission is for every person in our community to have supportive relationships, hope for the future and a place to call home.” BUILD A BIGGER BOX What lines actually define the neighborhood that is the box? That seems to be the question on locals’ lips. “We’ve had a lot of folks ask, ‘But, wait, what exact streets make-up The Beach Box? Am I in or am I out?’ We want to make clear that The Beach Box CT is in no way exclusive,” says Sophie. “Yes, the brand refers to the neighborhood ‘box’ nestled between Jennings and Penfield beaches and our Fairfield town center, but it’s all in theory. The Beach Box CT is all about loving a life by the coast and being grateful for our community, we welcome everyone.”
MARCH/APRIL 2021 WESTPORT
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Lessons in COVID-ERA WORKOUTS by diane sembrot
B
rian Trainor is the owner of F45 TRAINING (f45training.com/ westport) in Westport. Because of Covid restrictions, he had to close the fitness studio for over three months and was able to offer only online classes. As locals know, he wasn’t alone— local gyms have been at the mercy of guidelines, and, of course, they agreeably comply. Since then, the state has allowed re-openings for small-capacity use. Brian, therefore, is giving the gym’s members his full attention and doing all he can to create a safe community place to work out during the pandemic. F45 still offers its training challenges through its app—offering goal tracking, daily meal plans, community support, recipe libraries, and F45 At-Home workouts. We caught up with him to ask how workouts are done at gyms now.
SAFETY FIRST Covid restrictions, it’s no surprise, has hit gyms hard, though Trainor remains resolutely positive. “Like millions of small businesses across the country, Covid has definitely taken its toll on our studio, but we have the best gym family in the world,” he says. “We have received incredible love and support from our entire F45 team and without them, we wouldn’t have been able to make it through quarantine. Since our reopening on June 17, we have been doing everything in our power to ensure the safety of our members is our number one priority. Slowly, but surely, word is getting out about how we adapted to Covid restrictions to still provide the best workout around, while being as safe as possible. We are still rebuilding to pre-Covid numbers, but we are extremely grateful to still be up and running.” MAKE A CONNECTION Despite his reassurances, he and his team do realize that not everyone may want to return to the studio yet. For that reason, they offer training classes over Zoom. “Since March 15, we have been running a Zoom workout every single day for those members that do not feel comfortable with returning to the studio yet. Monday through Friday, we run a class at 8 a.m. and on
THE WN! TDO N U O C 45
rts F The enge sta l l a h . ay C h 29 d 45-D on Marc abits an h y alth sults in n he Lear rk for re s. wo ay 45 d
SET A GOAL F45 has also provided another way to keep members active and involved. They designed an app that helps guide participants through scheduled lifestyle programs to motivation. “We encourage all of our members to have goals in and out of the gym. Our most common saying is: ‘To be better than you were yesterday. We believe all goals are possible when you surround yourself with like-minded individuals that want to see you succeed,” he says. “To ensure this accountability, we run multiple ’45-Day Challenges’ throughout the year where we put members on a team led by one of our amazing coaches. In forty-five days, we are trying to achieve lifechanging results by making small life-style changes. This means guiding you in the right direction when it comes to nutrition, sleep and hydration and we are actually there for our members every step of the way.” KEEP GOING As Covid-related restrictions pass the year-mark, fatigue is real. Does an entrepreneurial and athletic mindset have any insights to stay motivated? “I am the owner and head coach at F45 Westport, but it really isn’t what I am saying or doing that keeps me going,” he says. “Covid is dragging on and on, but the energy and passion I see each and every day from our members keeps me going. We have changed our entire format to fit Covid restrictions and masks have been enforced, but our F45 family shows up and puts in the work, day in and day out, without a single complaint. I have been told by multiple members that we have been their saving grace throughout this pandemic, and that is what keeps me going. I love the community we have built and I am not going to stop fighting until we are back to where we were.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE KOHUT/KKKPHOTOS
Keep Going
the weekends our class moves to 9 a.m. We record all of our Zoom workouts as well for those not able to attend and we post them on a private YouTube account. With the uncertainty around Covid-19, Zoom has been a great tool for us to stay in touch with some incredible members.”
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NEW HORIZONS
PRE-COLLEGE SUMMER PROGRAMS OFFER A HOST OF BENEFITS TO TEENS STARTING TO PLAN THEIR NEXT LIFE ADVENTURE by deena maerowitz, jd, msw
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hen exploring options for teen summer plans, parents often ask me about pre-college programs that are hosted by colleges and universities. In particular, parents wonder if attending such programs now will enhance candidates’ college applications later. While there is no direct relationship between enrollment in a summer program and admission as an undergraduate, such activities offer plenty of benefits for college-bound teens:
Attention, Shoppers
INCREASED CONFIDENCE AND A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE Living in dorms, eating in dining halls, and making friends from around the world are fun challenges. Teens take pride in rising to the occasion of managing their time and laundry without parental reminders.
A NEW MEMBER OF THE SAKS FAMILY NOW CALLS THE AVENUE HOME
BARNEYS AT SAKS BY CHI CHI UBIÑA
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n January Greenwich welcomed a new face to the retail scene when Saks unveiled its first standalone BARNEYS AT SAKS store in town. Formerly the Saks Fifth Avenue The Collective, the 14,000-square-foot location will feature men’s shoes and accessories on the first floor and women’s contemporary fashion on the second. With shoes and accessories from designers including Alexander McQueen, Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana and Valentino, and jewelry, watches and sunglasses from Tom Ford, Movado, Prada, Gucci and Saint Laurent, this marks the first time Saks has offered men’s merchandise in Greenwich. But ladies, there’s still lots here for you, too. The Ready-to-Wear collections include (among plenty of others), 3.1 Phillip Lim, Alice + Olivia, Aviator Nation, Derek Lam, Frame, Isabel Marant Étoile, Moussy Vintage, Naadam, Proenza Schouler White Label, Rag & Bone, See by Chloé and Staud. All of the Saks services that you have come to know are available. Need help putting together the perfect look? Personalized selections can be prepared and waiting for you in a private dressing suite. Prefer to shop from home? Shop virtually via video conferencing with a style advisor. If you’d like to visit the store in person but want to avoid other shoppers, shop by appointment before or after store hours. Same day delivery service is also available. 200 Greenwich Avenue; 203-862-5300; saks.com/c/barneys-at-saks
IMMERSION IN SPECIAL INTERESTS Some programs spend weeks exploring a particular topic—like robotics, journalism, filmmaking, entrepreneurship or social justice. This intense focus can inspire tremendous growth and allow students to explore new fields. AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAMPLE COLLEGE-STYLE COURSES Students can enjoy classes with more focused themes that
are unavailable in most high schools. Compared to “Senior English,” courses that offer a deep dive into gothic novels or literature of the Harlem Renaissance may spark a love of learning. A VISION OF THEMSELVES ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS When students do start their college search, having lived on one campus may give them insights into others. Do they prefer a large college or a small campus? An urban or rural setting? SAMPLING A SETTING BEFORE APPLYING FOR EARLY DECISION Some students may like to see what living on a specific campus is like before applying to a school for early decision, which is binding. Of course, the most important aspect of any summer program
is what teens take away from it—new friends and expanded horizons. And as with any endeavor, the connection between this experience and the college application process depends on how relevant it is to a student’s personal growth and future dreams. Choosing meaningful summer activities is about focusing on students’ current interests, while also keeping an eye on what will support their development as young adults. Within that realm, pre-college programs are certainly something to consider.
Deena Maerowitz, JD, MSW of the Bertram Group, is a published author and speaker on college planning who advises students through the college admissions process. thebertramgroup.com
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shop above: Double Saturn pendants from Bone Simple Design illuminate the display cases from above, and tall loveseats designed by Moss Design are covered in Rosemary
Hallgarten’s Wool Pique fabric; (from left) president and co-owner Greg French, store manager David Glucksman, and principal and co-owner Harry French; Benjamin Moore’s Polo Blue updated the exterior, along with outdoor sconces from Carolina Lanterns & Lighting and vintage planters from Outdoor Design & Living.
DESIGNER GEM
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hen only the best will do, Henry C. Reid Jewelers always delivers. Offering everything from gorgeous diamond rings to beautiful watches to the perfect hostess gifts, the fine jewelry and gift store has been serving Fairfield County since 1910, and last year, the time was right to transform its more traditional-feeling retail space at 1591 Post Road in Fairfield into a fresh, transitional and chic design. But the redesign was about more than just looks—the store wanted to further enhance the elevated shopping experience the brand is known for, where every customer is treated like family. “We actually started planning this project a few years ago, but by the time we got through approvals and zoning, the pandemic hit,” says president and co-owner Greg French. “It was at that point that we decided to move forward with the renovation to give our clients and town an updated experience as well as contribute to our beautiful downtown’s evolving façade.” To take on the task and fulfill his vision, Greg turned to interior designers Meghan
above: Meghan De Maria (left) and Courtney Yanni (right) of Moss Design with Christian P. Árkay-Leliever.
De Maria and Courtney Yanni of Moss Design, who later brought hospitality designer Christian P. Árkay-Leliever into the fold. The design team already had a built-in rapport— the trio had become instant friends after meeting at Rooms With a View in 2019—and they brought a unique blend of residential and
hospitality design to the project. “Greg had a vision and so many great ideas, and he allowed us to just go for it, which was so exciting,” says De Maria. Working closely with Greg and his father, principal and co-owner Harry French, Moss Design homed in on the overall look of the store, including the finishes, color palette, ambient lighting and soft goods, and collaborated with ÁrkayLeliever to determine the optimal floor plan and layout. A gut renovation of the store ensued, and the jewelry shopping experience was reimagined from the inside out. The updated exterior, now painted a captivating blue and bearing the family crest, is illuminated by gas-lit lanterns from Carolina Lanterns & Lighting, while large windows showcase jewelry and flood the interior with natural light. Inside, customers are greeted by white oak flooring, rich blue cabinetry, sophisticated light fixtures and glossy white display cases arranged in an elegant horseshoe design. “The contrast between the darker exterior and the bright, light interior is transportive,” says Yanni.
PHOTOGRAPHS: JANE BEILES
HENRY C. REID JEWELERS UNVEILS A STUNNING NEW JEWEL OF A SPACE b y l a u r e n f e t t e r m a n
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True Blue This beloved color features prominently in the redesigned space:
above: The bar and wall cases are painted Benjamin Moore’s Blue Danube. The vintage sterling silver displayed
on the bar was collected by Henry C. Reid and is available for sale. In the floor on the right, pieces of glass give customers a peek at goldsmiths working below. below: In one of the seating areas, a Tini VI table from Oomph Home, painted in Derbyshire by Sherwin-Williams, is topped with a floral arrangement by Diane James Home.
PHOTOGRAPHS: JANE BEILES
“It feels as sophisticated and elegant as the jewelry it showcases.” Special touches turn each shopping trip into a memorable occasion. While viewing the display cases, couples can cozy up in one of the tall custom loveseats by Moss Design. “Buying an engagement ring or anniversary gift is a very special moment that shouldn’t be rushed,” says De Maria. “The loveseats create that moment. They have a beautiful
curvilinear line that hugs you together.” Customers can also stop by the chic, built-in bar and enjoy a drink while they admire the collections, or sink into one of the two comfortable seating areas flanking the entrance while waiting for a repair. Every design choice was carefully chosen to ensure the jewelry remained the star. “There is intentionally no hardware on the display cases—they’re light and clear, and the jewelry just pops,” says ÁrkayLeliever. And Greg’s favorite part? The four pieces of glass embedded in the floor, where customers can view jewelers at work below. “I wanted to break down the barriers and show people that we have talented goldsmiths right below our feet working while they watch,” says Greg. “This is the difference— we do everything in-house. It’s so much fun.” The new space offers customers a luxurious yet welcoming shopping experience that caters to their every need. “When you’re walking in downtown Fairfield and you see the Henry C. Reid storefront, you can’t help but go inside,” says Árkay-Leliever. Henry C. Reid Jewelers, Fairfield; 203-255-0447; hcreidjewelers.com Interior designer: Moss Design, Southport; 917-292-6153; mdmossdesign.com Hospitality designer: Christian P. ÁrkayLeliever; 203-685-5177; arkay-leliever.com Architect: Peter Cummings Inc., Fairfield; 203-767-0643; petercummingsinc.com
top and middle: Ship’s Wheel pendants from Dunes and Duchess and the standing display cases are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Danube. bottom: In one of the seating areas, chairs were covered in Designers Guild’s Marshall Aqua stripe fabric and Kravet’s Blue Velvet.
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neck deep A Head-Turning 2021 BEAUTY PICK
above: SkinLab at Harbor Point
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Q&A
et’s just be honest: things are tough. We’re stressed and scared, and when we try to take a break from the news, we walk outside in the sun. Will all of this show on our face? We mean dehydration, worry lines and sun exposure. With the complex health, political and cultural issues stirring us up, it is good to care for yourself. We turned to the experts at SKINLAB BY NICHOLSMD in Harbor Point (nicholsmdskinlab.com) to ask what we should throw in our bag now for a powerful, effective and luxurious facial treatment at home—but they replied with head-turning advice: Don’t overlook your neck. The brand new Tripeptide-R Neck Repair ($120) from SkinCeuticals is designed to be a fortifying, high-performance treatment for what they say is one of the most challenging areas to treat. It contains 0.2% Pure Retinol to address lines and wrinkles, 2.5% Tripeptide Concentrate to help strengthen and firm skin, and 5.0% Glaucine Complex to support resistance to visible aging. Defined neck appearance? It’s a topic that might not come up over cocktails with friends, but it’s a welcome tip in a judgment-free/let’sget-real talk at your dermatologist’s office. You can find this product at skinceuticals.com, dermatologists offices and SkinLab.
with Dr. Kim Nichols, owner of SkinLab by NicholsMD
No. 1
When would you recommend using Tripeptide Neck Repair? I recommend patients start using a neck product like this before they notice signs of aging such as wrinkles and folds on the neck, as these are easier to prevent than they are to correct. Start by applying the treatment nightly along with a sunscreen during the day. After a week, if tolerated, I would recommend upping the dosage to twice daily, but make sure you are still using a sunscreen.
No. 2
Is there an in-office treatment that would complement it? I highly recommend an integrated approach to skincare, which means using clinically proven skincare in tandem with in-office treatments for the best results. The SkinFirm Treatment would be a great option for patients looking to address aging skin on the face and neck. This treatment involves a microneedling session to go deeper and address more intensive aging concerns. A few days after treatment, you will see firmer, more youthfullooking skin.
No. 3
I highly recommend an integrated approach to skincare, which means using clinically proven skincare in tandem with in-office treatments for the best results. DR. KIM NICHOLS, owner of SkinLab by NicholsMD
ALL IMAGES CONTRIBUTED
Is the Stamford SkinLab currently doing in-person treatments? Yes, we are currently offering in-office treatments on an appointment-only basis.
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OH BABY NEW CUTTING-EDGE FERTILITY TREATMENTS HELP
WOMEN CONCEIVE WITH A HOLISTIC APPROACH
by liz barron
PHOTO BY ©FOTODUETS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
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or those struggling with infertility, modern technology is certainly evolving and working in their favor. And, thanks to the presence of a new Westport practice, REJUVENATING FERTILITY CENTER, founded by Zaher Merhi, MD, FACOG, HCLD, there is more hope than ever. Dr. Merhi, who also runs a practice in Manhattan, provides individualized treatment protocols to target each patient’s needs, with various cutting-edge practices to help families reach their goals faster than before. Dr. Merhi’s main philosophy when it comes to invitro fertilization (IVF) is that the less medication he can use, the better the result will be. While certain medications can certainly assist in egg production, the quality of those eggs is often in question. “When you are able to use less medication, the quality of the eggs produced is usually higher,” he says. “You only need one good egg to make a healthy baby.” But this doesn’t mean medication is always abandoned. Treatment plans vary from patient to patient, and Dr. Merhi customizes the course of action based on the patient’s age and ovarian reserve (number of eggs in her ovaries). If a young patient has a high ovarian reserve, Dr. Merhi uses larger doses of medication to “feed” all of the eggs and
ensure that they effectively mature and grow. As a woman gets older, she will tend to have fewer and more “fragile” eggs, which means that less medication is needed. Dr. Mehri explains that “over feeding, or over
FERTILITY FACTS HEALTHY HABITS Diets rich in vitamin D and taking vitamin D supplements have shown potential to help with producing healthy eggs. Avoiding fried foods is also important as some of the chemicals in these foods could negatively impact the quality of a woman’s eggs.
WHEN TO GO Women younger than 35 should try to conceive naturally for one year. Women older than 35 should try for six months prior to seeing a fertility doctor.
INVESTMENT Average IVF cycle costs vary from $6,000 to $12,000.
SUCCESS RATES From 25 percent to 70 percent and decline as maternal age advances
medicating, can actually negatively impact the quality of the eggs.” Dr. Merhi’s practice offers a large range in traditional treatment options, but his center is one of only a few clinics in the world to offer ovarian rejuvenation. The experimental, minimally invasive procedure involves injecting platelets into each ovary in order to restore ovarian tissue, thus increasing the chances of producing not only more eggs, but also better quality eggs. Success rates depend on patient’s age, diagnosis and frequency of the menstrual cycle. While low anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels or low ovarian reserve are more wellknown reasons why women continue to seek fertility treatments, Dr. Merhi says there are other issues that continue to cause fertility issues. For example, premature ovarian insufficiency can make pregnancy difficult and tends to occur when women younger than 40 stop producing eggs. It is similar to entering menopause at a young age and, he says, with few to no eggs it is difficult to get pregnant. polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can also interfere with pregnancy by causing irregular ovulation. That said, Dr. Merhi says that he can provide women with every chance possible to have a successful, healthy pregnancy.
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by kim-marie evans
SAFETY—THE NEW LUXURY THERE’S NO QUESTION THAT WE ALL WANT TO TRAVEL. BUT IS IT SAFE?
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ravel has never felt as elusive, yet as essential, as it does now. Parts of the globe are temporarily off-limits—and then they’re not. We’re told flying is safe. Oh, wait, no it’s not. Navigating the ever-changing quarantine rules seems impossible. The confusion has kept many of us grounded, cold and pasty white. How can we travel safely and responsibly? We’ve got a few tips and two sunny, sandy, Covid-safe destinations.
CONTRIBUTED BELMOND CAP JULUCA
The newly relaunched Belmond Cap Juluca resort in Anguilla
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go KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Misty Ewing-Belles, managing director at Virtuoso, a premier network of luxury travel advisors, says the company has never seen this much pent-up demand for travel and travel advice. Everyone wants to know: Will the restaurants be open? Is it safe? Will there be anything to do when we get there? Misty offers some guidance.
LOOK FOR DESTINATIONS WITH STRONG INFRASTRUCTURES. Now may not be the time to head to a rustic island with only one restaurant. Local government support of tourism is critical.
ARE YOU MISSING FAMILY OR FRIENDS? Try a travel pod. Everyone follows the same protocol prior to travel and reunites at a safe destination. Preferably with a beach and cocktails. You can cocreate your travel plans on Virtuoso’s new website virtuoso.com/wanderlist.
TOP: CONTRIBUTED FOUR SEASONS ANGUILLA BOTTOM: CONTRIBUTED ANGUILLA TOURISM BOARD
DON’T GET ON YOUR FLIGHT only to find that someone has been seated right next to you due to aircraft changes. During Covid, airlines are shuffling planes to fit the passenger load. They’ll switch your seat, and it might not be the one you want. A good travel advisor will be on top of all of those changes for you so there are no unpleasant, and unhealthy, surprises.
BERMUDA BOUND
A little easier to reach are the pink sands of Bermuda. Though the island doesn’t have a bubble, its strict protocol makes it a perfect and safe getaway. All visitors must provide proof of a negative PCR test taken within five days of travel. Bermuda then tests guests on arrival and again on the fourth, eighth and fourteenth days of their stay. If this seems needlessly complicated, we assure you they’ve made it simple. Bermuda has partnered with Costco to easily allow nonmembers to purchase at home saliva tests with guaranteed turnaround time. For anyone close to Manhattan, OpenClear does testing exclusively for Bermuda-bound travelers one day a week. Another good reason to visit Bermuda? The St. Regis opens next month on the sands of St. Catherine’s beach.
ANGUILLA’S BUBBLE
Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of travel company Embark Beyond, says currently his clients’ number one choice of destinations is the Caribbean island of Anguilla. And they aren’t alone. Readers of Travel and Leisure awarded Anguilla No. 1 Island in the Caribbean for the past three years. The island calls its tourism plan “the bubble,” and it’s working. You can’t just buy a plane ticket and pack a bikini. The entry requirements are stringent. Visitors pay an entry fee based on length of stay. They must pre-register and provide proof of insurance covering Covid-19 medical tests and hospitalization, doctor’s visits, prescriptions and air ambulance service. They must also provide a negative PCR test taken within five days of arrival. If just reading this exhausted you, we get it. So does Ezon.
above: If the Four Seasons resort in Anguilla isn’t one of the best places to relax and truly get away from it all, we don’t know what is.
His team handles every detail. They connect clients with concierge doctors who administer inhome PCR tests and guarantee the turnaround time. As many clients fly private, Embark also ensures the crew has been tested. Once on the island and tucked into a villa or hotel room (our favorites: the recently relaunched Belmond Cap Juluca and the Four Seasons), it’s almost like pre-Covid life. “Guests enjoy pretty much every activity they would
have in prior years, except hanging out at a local dive bar,” says Ezon. How is this possible? Every visitor is tested upon arrival and doesn’t leave their hotel until they get a negative result. (Usually within twentyfour hours.) After that, visitors can book activities from scuba and snorkeling to golf and dining out. Activity providers work hard to meet rigorous safety standards. Thanks to strict adherence, the island has seen a nominal number of Covid cases since it reopened to travelers.
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home HOME STUDY/LOUNGE
FINISHED BASEMENT
BLACK-AND-WHITE KITCHEN
Clean space for school work
Found space gets luxe treatment
Opposites attract in this combo
now trending HOME PROJECTS T O P R I O R I T I Z E T H I S Y E A R
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ome of us have just moved to town and we’re settling into our new homes. Others of us have lived in and loved the same home for decades. Across the spectrum of homeownership, most would likely agree that some changes are not just a want, but an actual need. It could be a spruce up or a major renovation, but the timing is universally agreed: Now. We’re spending a lot of time at home, and more than ever appreciate the comfort and joy of well-organized and beautifully designed spaces. It works for us and renews us. Turn the page for the home-design forecast predicted by three professionals.
by diane sembrot phot o gr aphy by amy vischio
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home
above: Interior designer Laura Tutun left: Home study for teens below: A lounge feel was built into the room design.
study space
BOLD OVERHAUL
PORTRAIT BY CATHERINE WHITE
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hether working or schooling at home full-time or intermittently, carving out proper work space pays off. Where we might have a home office, the kids or teens might be getting by with a work space in their bedrooms. But with the stresses of doing more work at home—and spending more time at home, with fewer friends dropping by less often—there’s good reason to create a work/relax area that is truly a space of their own. Consider an overhaul completed by Laura Tutun, the principal designer of L Tutun Interiors in Rye, New York. “The project was a gut renovation of a home built in the 1800s. The footprint was not expanded, however, every room was repositioned in the home,” she says. One of the major changes was repurposing an old guest room into a lounge area. “The fireplace and lounge area make it super comfy for watching TV with friends or lounging with a book,” she says. “We designed custom magnetic boards for each desk area and the desks are fully equipped with plenty of storage and file drawers to maximize organization.” Tutun adds that the space was designed with long-term thinking in mind and that she believes every new home in 2021 will have a designated area that can be multifunctional. “The second-floor study/ office space is the second-most used space in the home,” she says. “Certainly, a must-have given our ‘new world.’ When the couple are empty-nesters, this space will easily transition into a full-time office for the wife or, as we have all seen during 2020–21, when adult kids return, a perfect multifunctional office for one or two.”
Designer: Laura Tutun Firm: L Tutun Interiors Contact: ltutuninteriors@gmail.com MARCH/APRIL 2021 WESTPORT
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home
above: Interior designer Karen Bow
basement
SOPHISTICATED SPACE
top: This finished basement is meant for fun, with a wall-size photo of where the couple honeymooned. bottom: Soft textures warm the space.
Designer: Karen Bow Firm: Karen Bow Interiors Contact: karenbow.com Interior Decorative Design and Painting: Shelly Denning Builder: Robert Lewandowski, RL construction LLC
PORTRAIT, CONTRIBUTED
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wning a home comes with a neverending wish list of projects. A finished basement is one that might fall to the bottom of the list, yet actually pays off once it’s done. A finished basement is like found space for the extras in life, like a playroom for the kids, a tech-forward workspace for the teens, a yoga studio for mom, a game room that should be for the teens but also attracts dad, or even just thorough organization of home stuff. There’s always a reason for a room set off by itself. Interior designers will remind you that finished basements shouldn’t get second-rate attention. That would downplay its potential. Take, for example, a play room upgraded to a chic adult hang out. “The family has grown out of the previous space and wanted to add additional indoor luxury living,” says interior designer Karen Bow. “The custom fireplace and bar are the absolute showstoppers in the space.” Additionally, a sentimental wall mural of where the homeowners honeymooned in Italy adds story. “It sets the tone for the space, and I always love to add personal touches that reflect the people who live in the home. The wall mural absolutely captures my heart.” Bow brought in faux finisher Shelly Denning, who lacquered the pool table, transforming it from a very dark mahogany to the perfect shade of gray, which picks up colors in the mural. “I absolutely love the overall monochromatic affect and the sentimental elements and the books that reflect the honeymoon journey in Italy,” Bow says of the project. Going forward, she expects such projects to continue. “Now that we are all spending so much more time inside,” she says, “to upgrade the space for college students coming home and additional workspace is no longer a luxury, but a necessity.”
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above: Interior designer Diane Karmen left: The designer's own kitchen below: The room is defined by contrasting black accents, giving the space a coordinated look.
black & white
CHIC COMBO
PORTRAIT BY DEBBIE HAZAN
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he kitchen has always been a gathering place, but now we’re also cooking more often and stocking up on supplies. Making smart use of the space is essential, for efficient use and a sense of peace. Consider the harmony in interior designer Diane Karmen’s own blackand-white kitchen. “When I bought it in 1998,” she says of her expanded 1940 Cape-style house, “I gutted and enlarged the kitchen using classic white cabinets and black countertops. It was timeless design, which held up visually for almost twenty years. When I found myself working on major kitchen renovations for clients, I was inspired to bring a fresh design to my own.” The contrasting color-combo provides the comfort of pure balance—a stabilizing retreat from a chaotic world. “I love layering whites and neutrals with different textures in my decorating. Adding pops of black creates a grounding effect that feels timeless,” she explains. “The result is an uncomplicated backdrop, then add color, texture and elements from nature: wood, stone, marble, plants, fresh flowers, etc. Many clients are drawn to white spaces, which can sometimes be cold. Adding texture transforms white to warm and inviting.” She points to the Carrara Bella marble island countertop and floating shelves for dishes and glassware. “I didn’t plan on refinishing the floors, but after rebuilding the island, it was necessary. I used the opportunity to bleach and white wash the red oak throughout the house. I was surprised how much the bleached floors enhanced the space with warmth and beauty, adding yet another layer of natural texture.” Expect this trend to continue. “The home should feel calm and soothing—a place to retreat and feel renewed, and the kitchen is the center of almost every home,” she says. "When it comes to color trends, a black-and-white palette is clean and uncluttered.” Designer: Diane Karmen Firm: Diane Karmen Interiors Contact: dianekarmen.com MARCH/APRIL 2021 WESTPORT
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home
Get to Work
Finding space for a HOME OFFICE
by diane sembrort
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t the start of the new year, we’ve been working at home for a long time—and we need an upgrade. “Home offices need to work as hard as you, meaning a home office should be more than a desk and a chair. The work area should be well-lit for virtual meetings, free from distractions and be well-organized for better productivity,” says Masha Alimova, Director of Information Technology and Marketing, for CALIFORNIA CLOSETS. Known as experts in custom-design systems, their features are adaptable to each person’s unique working needs, including homeowners who don’t have space for a dedicated office. “The solution is to redesign an underutilized area to create a multifunctional space. Understanding that your needs will change over time, we can create a transitional solution,” Alimova says. “One client asked for a playroom for her kids that featured a reading nook, which doubled as a homework/workspace. Within the playroom, we installed floor-to-ceiling built-in storage for what now holds toys but can easily adapt to storage for office supplies or everyday items.” A clean aesthetic and plenty of storage are essential to maintaining a productive workspace, she adds: “Some simple adjustments you can make would be adding a keyboard tray, built-in drawer dividers and a slide-out printer drawer. Adding a keyboard tray and slide-out printer drawer declutters your desktop, instantly giving you more room to work without compromising the accessibility of these items. One of the best accessories we offer is the fusion track system. This system allows frequently used desk supplies to be wall mounted for easy access while preserving desktop space.” Making sure you get everything you need from a space, California Closets works with you on a custom-designed system. 2021, we’re ready for you.
Creating the perfect home office is about custom choices.
PRO TIP FROM THE CALIFORNIA CLOSETS TEAM:
Redesign an underutilized area to create a multifunctional space.
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Own your worth Women‘s path to financial independence Private Wealth Management
Women hold a third of the wealth in the world, and that share is growing faster than ever. This gives them tremendous power to live their dreams and change the world. Like you, at UBS we’re looking to grow that potential for women today, women of the next generation and those that follow. It is our focus and belief at UBS that as the world’s largest wealth manager,2 we can usher in a new mindset for women to make sure that they are taking a seat at the financial table. This mission is particularly important, because our Own Your Worth research shows that many women are still not taking part in major financial decisions today. At UBS, we have an impressive, dedicated team leading the effort to drive meaningful change. Thank you to all who joined our Own Your Worth women’s event!
Thomas Mantione, CEPA®, CPWA® Managing Director–Wealth Management
If you missed the event in February, you can scan the below QR code and listen to the podcast or check out our website for more information ubs.com/team/shantzmantione.
Andrew Shantz, CEPA®, CPWA® Senior Vice President–Wealth Management
Scan to listen to our recent podcasts.
Jill Orlando Relationship Manager
The Shantz Mantione Group UBS Financial Services Inc. Private Wealth Management 750 Washington Boulevard, 11th Floor Stamford, CT 06901 866-860-7266 toll free
ubs.com/team/shantzmantione
Source: BCG, Managing the Next Decade of Women’s Wealth, April 2020. Scorpio Partnership’s “Global Private Banking Benchmark 2018” rank of global wealth managers by assets under management. As a firm providing wealth management services to clients, UBS Financial Services Inc. offers investment advisory services in its capacity as an SEC-registered investment adviser and brokerage services in its capacity as an SEC-registered broker-dealer. Investment advisory services and brokerage services are separate and distinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and separate arrangements. It is important that clients understand the ways in which we conduct business, that they carefully read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to them about the products or services we offer. For more information, please review the PDF document at ubs.com/relationshipsummary. For designation disclosures, visit ubs.com/us/en/designation-disclosures. Private Wealth Management is a division within UBS Financial Services Inc., which is a subsidiary of UBS AG. © UBS 2021. All rights reserved. UBS Financial Services Inc. is a subsidiary of UBS AG. Member FINRA/SIPC. CJ-UBS-1719414556 Exp.: 02/28/2022
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house red
FULL-BODIED WINE S H A D E S P A I R W E L L W I T H E V E R Y T H I N G
Drink in the warmth of rich red hues, which work splashed on walls and in subtler accents throughout your space. Take the time to find the right blend, whether it's a deep and dramatic bordeaux or a more modern Marsala. by megan gagnon
ANTHROPOLOGIE
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS
Zadie quilt in berry; starting at $178. Westport; anthropologie.com
I love burgundy because it’s both bold and sophisticated. Weave it into a space in small doses, with an accent like an ottoman or throw pillow. That touch of deep color goes a long way in warming up a room. Christin Engh, Principal & Founder, Mare Design
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AERIN
PARACHILNA × JAIME HAYON
Small block print napkin; $39.95 for set of four. Williams Sonoma, Westport; williams-sonoma.com
Lightolight wall lamp; $1,360. aplusrstore.com
HERMÈS
CLÉ
H Deco dinnerware; starting at $80. Greenwich; hermes.com
Midnight Port Zellige 3.5” x 4” x 3/8” hex; $2.24 per piece. cletile.com
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above: Named after the renowned street in Manhattan’s Little Italy, this Smallbone Mulberry kitchen design exudes clean lines combined with an eclectic mix of materials including sustainable oak with Calacatta Oro marble worktops.
Luxe Living
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ith more than a forty-year heritage of British design and craftsmanship, Smallbone has added the new Greenwich Showroom to its roster. Known as a pioneer in cabinetry and kitchen design, the luxury lifestyle brand carries its attention to detail throughout the entire house and is ready to make its mark in Greenwich homes.
“With its magnificent homes and top-end industry professionals in design and architecture, Greenwich has always been a natural environment for Smallbone to work and thrive in. Our very first showroom opened in Greenwich in the 90s,” says Ronnie Shemesh, Lux Group Holdings President Value Creation Officer. “We are delighted to be back in the town and look forward to bringing our flair and style to upcoming projects.”
CONTRIBUTED
CHIC AND SLEEK DESIGN WITH HAND CRAFTSMANSHIP HERITAGE
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“Understanding how one’s client enjoys living life is ultimately the driving force for any great design.” –RONNIE SHEMESH, LUX GROUP HOLDINGS PRESIDENT VALUE CREATION OFFICER
above: The new Icarus kitchen collection features floating, scalloped glass cabinets inspired by Greek mythology and a dramatic—and utilitarian—glass centerpiece. below: Smallbone offers whole-house solutions including bespoke wine rooms and dressing rooms.
From elegant wine walls, bedside tables, armoires and wardrobes to beautifully appointed dressing rooms, media rooms, home offices and studies, every project begins with the craftsmen in its Wiltshire workshop. The Greenwich Showroom presents the company’s whole-home furniture collections, including the newly updated Mulberry Collection featuring clean lines and strong color, as well as cutting-edge technology such as the Samsung AirDresser that uses heat, air and steam to eradicate germs. Every project has a dedicated design and installation team and is a close collaboration between designer and client. “Understanding how one’s client enjoys living life is ultimately the driving force for any great design,” says Shemesh. “For example, if you love to entertain a large group or family, with everyone engaging in the kitchen space, then we’ll create the ultimate lifestyle room—a space that allows for entertaining, cooking and socializing, often incorporating informal dining, a bar, TV viewing area and the increasingly popular multiple work-bays for that quick Zoom meeting. With rooms uniquely designed for each individual, they become a special part of how we live, and this is the reward of a personal client relationship.” 45 East Putnam Ave.; smallbone.co.uk
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eat left: The new eatery in town center: Michelle Walrath and Fran Paniccia cofounded Organic Krush right: Thai Tofu
CRUSHING IT W
e know what restaurants, markets and cafés are, but what’s a lifestyle eatery? Check out ORGANIC KRUSH (organickrush.com), the food option that opened in early November at 374 Post Road East. It comes to our shores via Long Island and has locations reaching as far as Virginia. We’re Lucky No. 7 in their collection. As the name implies, everything on the impressively full menu—from cold-pressed juices to make-your-own bowls—is free from GMOs, hormones, pesticides and fake ingredients.
These 100 percent certified–organic creations are served all day—for breakfast, lunch and dinner—as well as offered on a full catering menu for private events. The restaurant is eco- and ocean-friendly and follows sustainable practices, and no Styrofoam in sight. The Westport location, at 3,000 square feet, seats seventy-five; head to the patio for outdoor dining with heaters. This is the only location with brand-new work pods, where guests can set up in their own booth-like
CONTRIBUTED
A NEW PLACE TO EAT—BECAUSE WESTPORT LIVES FOR FOOD by diane sembrot
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eat
KNOW YOUR OPTIONS
Five picks from the menu
above: Plenty of grab-and-go options for busy days. below: Veggie frittata
space, outfitted with free WiFi and snacks while they work for unlimited time. Students, for example, could come in and use the work pods for homework. Michelle Walrath and Fran Paniccia cofounded Organic Krush after realizing through personal experience the challenges around finding quick, healthy, organic foods that families enjoy. Teaming up with Chef James Tchinnis of Swallow Restaurant in Montauk, they created a menu that includes paleo, vegan and gluten-free options. “Westport is such a dynamic city and we’re thrilled to be opening our next location in such a happening shopping center,” says Walrath. “We love the community of families, businesses and groups of people who really seem to care about health and wellness. It’s a natural gathering hub for us.” Paniccia adds, “We are so excited to open our next Organic Krush in Westport. We felt great vibes from the first day we visited the town and we can’t wait to get to know the community better and share all that we have to offer.” The location is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Oatmeal Pancakes Top with blueberries, strawberries, yogurt, local honey or pick your own favorites, including bananas, chocolate chips, coconut, maple syrup and raspberries.
Avocado Toast Gluten-free bread, avocado, pico de gallo, and one sunny-side up certified organic egg.
Chicken Bone Broth Bowl Roasted chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, onions, cayenne, paprika, cumin, cilantro, tortilla
Austin Chicken Organic roasted chicken, corn, tomato, avocado, cilantro, red onion and smoked paprika aioli
CONTRIBUTED; FROM ISTANGRAM ORGANICKRUSH
ORDER UP!
Brownies Gluten-free brownie with dark-chocolate chips
You can check out the Westport menu for current, local offerings: organickrush.com/ organic-krushmenu-westport.
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money matters JUST THE FACTS
Karen Mulreed
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ow you see it, now you don’t, that “For Sale” sign down the street, which barely lost its sheen before a “Sold” sign covered it up. According to U.S. Postal Service statistics, some 16,000 New Yorkers moved to Connecticut since March 2020, when Covid-19 seized the city. Since then, many former city dwellers have discovered what we already knew: lower Fairfield County can be a great place to plant stakes.
“Oh my gosh, we have never been so busy, ever,” reports Karen Mulreed, president and owner of Westport Mortgage, who joined the firm in 1997. This newfound appreciation for our county, combined with shrinking housing inventory and historically low interest rates, means that buyers need to move fast if they want to move in. One way to leapfrog other potential buyers is with a preapproval letter in hand from a mortgage lender. To get that, you’ll need to assemble information. “I look at it as a puzzle,” Mulreed says. To determine how much house you can buy, pull out your trusty calculator. Figure out your monthly take-home pay, then multiply that by 25 percent to get a ballpark place to start. (If you take home $10,000 per month, for example, start with an estimated mortgage payment of $2,500.) Some lenders will nix applications in which the mortgage payment exceeds 28 to 33 percent of your monthly income.
BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER
BASIC MATH BEFORE BUYING YOUR DREAM HOME
Next, add up your debt payments each month (car loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.) to calculate your debt-to-income ratio. The lower, the better. Now, figure out how much down payment you can come up with. While lenders no longer require 20 percent, a larger down payment can mean more lenient qualifying requirements or lower interest rates on your mortgage. Ratios and calculations in hand, head to the right place to learn your credit score. “Having really good credit is one of the best things you can do,” Mulreed says. “If you really want to run your credit, you need to go to myfico.com. It gives you the scores as I will see it, as the lender, not the consumer. We like to run it because then we can put it through our automatic underwriting program.” Brokers like Mulreed take all this information to lenders, who will offer various mortgage products with various terms. Variables will include your down payment amount, interest rate,
length of the loan, points and private mortgage insurance (see box). The factors tug in one direction and the next, and that’s where puzzling comes into play. “On paper you can have a financial picture that allows you to buy more, but what if your kids are in daycare? Or coming out of daycare? Maybe your career is on its way up so you can stretch a bit. How does it all fit together?” Once you’ve lined up a mortgage, expect to pay another 2.55 percent, give or take, in closing costs, says Mulreed. This covers a percentage of property tax, homeowner’s insurance, attorney fees, appraisal fees and more. Then, go shopping! “We encourage everyone, every day to come and talk to us first. That way, you’re looking only at homes that you can afford. Your Realtor wants to know [that you can get a mortgage], and the seller wants to know, especially with Covid. If you know that you can afford the house, it kind of puts the fun back in shopping.”
1 // Raise your down payment and lower your interest rate.
2 // Raise your points upfront and lower your monthly payment.
3 // Shorten the term of the loan, lower your interest rate and pay much less over the life of the loan— but much more each month.
And so it goes—the give and take of mortgage conditions. A recent calculation on bankrate.com illustrates how a buyer in Connecticut with excellent credit looking to buy a $600,000 home can affect the terms of the deal: Put 20 percent down ($120,000) and pay $4,600 up front in points on a 30-year fixed-interest rate of 2.375 percent. The monthly payment would be in the neighborhood of $1,800. Reduce that down payment to 13 percent ($78,000), pay no points, and the interest rate raises to 2.5 percent, with a monthly payment of $2,055. Changing one factor affects all the rest. Shop around to get the best deal from your broker or banker.
CONTRIBUTED
THE PUSH AND PULL OF MORTGAGE PAYMENT PLANS What you need to know for the best deal for you.
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The nominations are in! Now it’s time to
VOTE for your favorite local businesses for Best of the Gold Coast BESTOFGOLDCOASTCT.COM Voting ends MARCH 15
BECOME A SPONSOR: Contact your Moffly Media representative
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vows
BLAKE FRIEDMAN & GARRETT BROOKS 1
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSEPH LAURIN
B
lake Friedman and Garrett Brooks owe their romance to music. As an intern in internal medicine at Harvard/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Blake asked in the intern group chat if anyone wanted to attend a Radiohead concert; fellow intern Garrett said yes. Later, he would admit that while he didn’t care for Radiohead, he did care for Blake. The two started dating soon after. The relationship culminated over a year later with a proposal in Hawaii. After a dinner, Garrett led Blake to a moonlit beach and dropped to one knee and asked her to marry him. Of course, she said yes. Then the pandemic hit. “We planned three weddings, all of which were canceled, before we finally found a beautiful local venue where we could hold the ceremony and reception safely outdoors,” says Blake. The small celebration was held at Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island, and was officiated by Justice of the Peace Greg Nawrocki. Attendees were immediate family: Garrett’s parents, Stephen and Linda Brooks, and his brother and sister-in-law, Justin and Vicki; as well as Blake’s parents, Walter and Deborah Derish; sister and brother-in-law, Seth and Lindsay Kerschner; and nephew and niece Julian and Vivienne. The bride’s fourteen-year-old dog, Lucky, walked with the flower girl, Vivienne, down the aisle. Julian served as ring bearer. The couple honeymooned in Acadia National Park before returning home to Boston. No word on whether or not they listen to Radiohead these days. A graduate of Staples High School, Blake earned a degree in Literatures and Cultures in English from Brown University and a masters of science in clinical research and a doctorate in medicine from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She is resident physician in dermatology at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital. Her parents live in Westport. Garrett earned his bachelor’s degree in physiology and neuroscience from University of California, San Diego, and his doctorate in medicine from Case Western Reserve. He is resident physician in neurology at Harvard/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. His parents live in Woodland Hills, California. –Diane Sembrot »
5
6
1 Blake with Garrett and his parents, Stephen and Linda 2 The happy couple at the ceremony in Newport 3 The bride’s parents, Deborah and Walter Derish, and their grandchildren, Julian and Vivienne Kerschner 4 Blake flanked by her mother, Deborah, and sister, Lindsay 5 The groom and the flower girl say cheers to the happy celebration, as Justin Brooks and Blake enjoy the sweet moment. 6 Garrett and Blake with Lucky, the bride’s dog since she was nineteen
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MARTHA LEE CIVITILLO & DAVID HUNTER BURNHAM
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PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKE SHAUCK OF IRIS PHOTOGRAPHY
hough a fierce storm had knocked out electricity in much of Fairfield County, sparks flew for Martha and Dave when they first met through friends in August 2016. Torrential rain and wind ruined their plans to attend a Cee Lo Green concert at Stamford’s Alive at 5, so they took refuge in a bar, where they talked and danced the night away. The couple, who share a love of Dark ‘n’ Stormys and sailing, skiing and swimming, among other things, dated for two and a half years. After asking Martha’s parents for their blessing, Dave proposed in her family’s rose garden, as both families looked on. One emotional yes later, they popped champagne and celebrated. Dave’s aunt, Minister Krysia Burnham, and Minister Erica Thompson officiated at the ceremony at Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford. The reception followed at Hartford Golf Club in West Hartford. Due to Covid-19, the ceremony was live-streamed for friends and family around the world. They also had two seatings at the outdoor reception, which meant two first dances—and double the fun. The bride, daughter of Kathy Sherts Civitillo of West Hartford, and the late Bill Civitillo, graduated from Kent School and St. Lawrence University. Martha is national sales director at patch .com in New York City. The groom, son of Karen Birck and Paul Burnham of Wilton, graduated from Wilton High School and St. Lawrence University, where he also earned his master’s. Dave is a math teacher at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan. The newlyweds plan to go on a South African safari for their honeymoon. They call New Canaan home. –Alison Nichols Gray W 1 The newlyweds 2 Karen Birck, Dave Burnham, Martha Civitillo and Paul Burnham 3 Martha with her bridesmaids 4 Dave with his groomsmen 5 The wedding party in a golf cart parade 6 The reception tent 7 Wiggs, Sarah and Martha Civitillo, Dave Burnham, Kathy Sherts Civitillo, Scott Grimes and Whitney Civitillo
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CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING We welcome wedding announcements together with candid photographs. Weddings should have a current Westport, Weston or Wilton 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: Joey.Macari@moffly.com Westport Magazine 205 Main Street Westport, CT 06880 STOCK.ADOBE.COM
Our Mission The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved.
The Westy Mission To give our Customers peace of mind by continuously providing the finest service, buildings and ethical standards in the storage industry.
If you would like to learn more about BCA, please visit breastcanceralliance.org
Contact us! Breast Cancer Alliance, 48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 P 203.861.0014 F 203.861.1940 Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director
www.facebook.com/ breastcanceralliance
@BCAllianceCT
@breastcanceralliance
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PHOTOGRAPH BY ©CORGARASHU - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
TOP LAWYERS in
FAIRFIELD COUNTY MARCH 2021 GREENWICH
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TOP LAWYERS in
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
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300-plus leading lawyers practicing in Fairfield County. The list has been compiled by DataJoe Research through peer voting and research. With this list, you won't need to ask your friends for referrals or waste time searching online. All you have to do is review what follows, find the relevant area of practice, visit the websites and call for a consultation. Then leave the rest to the professionals.
e all know it’s best to consult with an attorney for advice when a legal problem arises, but the truth is most of us only seek out a lawyer once that issue—an accident, wrongful termination or custody battle— comes up. Our intent with the list that follows is to encourage you to plan ahead. But in case you need advice this minute, the research has been done for you with this listing of ADOPTION LAW
VICTORIA FERRARA
The Ferrara Law Group 2150 Post Rd, Fairfield 203-255-9877 victoriaferrara.com
APPELLATE LAW BRENDEN LEYDON
Wocl Leydon, LLC 80 4th St, Stamford 203-333-3339 woclleydon.com
NORMAN ROBERTS II GraberRoberts, LLC 350 Bedford St, Stamford 203-590-1070 graberroberts.com
SAMUEL SCHOONMAKER IV
The Schoonmaker Legal Group, LLC 84 W Park Pl, Stamford 203-487-0291 schoonlegal.com
STANLEY TWARDY JR Day Pitney LLP 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-977-7368 daypitney.com
ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION STEPHEN FOGERTY
Halloran & Sage LLP 315 Post Rd W, Westport 203-227-2855 halloransage.com
ELAINE GORDON
Gordon ADR, LLC PO Box 1218, Westbrook 800-237-7007 gordonadr.com
DOUGLAS MINTZ
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2658 carmodylaw.com
LYNDA MUNRO
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St,
Bridgeport 203-330-2065 pullcom.com
ALAN NEVAS
Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3120 verrill-law.com
DEBORAH NOONAN
Deborah Noonan 10 Wall St, Norwalk 203-246-4741 divorcemediatect.com
JAY SANDAK
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2699 carmodylaw.com
MAURICE SEGALL
Maurice Segall LLC 1111 Summer St, Stamford 203-359-1999 ctmediation.com
VICKI VOLPER
Vicki Volper, JD, LLM 246 Post Rd E, Westport 203-222-1202 vickivolper.com
ATTORNEYS FOR NONPROFITS STEFANIA BARTLETT
MATTHEW BEATMAN
Mcelroy, Deutsch, Mulvaney and Carpenter, LLP 30 Jelliff Ln, Southport 203-319-4022 mdmc-law.com
JOSEPH MARTINI
JEFFERY SKLARZ
DAVID MOROSAN
BUSINESS LAW
KEVIN PALUMBERI
Spears Manning & Martini LLC 2425 Post Rd, Southport 203-292-9766 spearsmanning.com
Green & Sklarz LLC One Audubon St, New Haven 203-285-8545 gs-lawfirm.com
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4162 cohenandwolf.com Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2692 carmodylaw.com
R BEACH
Day Pitney LLP 24 Field Point Rd, Greenwich 203-862-7824 daypitney.com
HEATHER RAHILLY
Wiggin and Dana LLP 281 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-363-7603 wiggin.com
STEVEN CERTILMAN
Steven A. Certilman, P.C. 350 Bedford St, Stamford 203-977-7800 certilman.com
JUSTIN GALLETTI
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2243 pullcom.com
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4137 cohenandwolf.com
KRISTIN MAYHEW
JENNIFER PAGNILLO
ELIZABETH AUSTIN
DAVID LEVINE
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St., Bridgeport 203-330-2213 pullcom.com
SETH COOPER
BANKRUPTCY AND WORKOUT
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2284 pullcom.com
IRVE GOLDMAN
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4417 cl-law.com Day Pitney LLP 24 Field Point Rd, Greenwich 203-862-7875 daypitney.com
KAREN JEFFERS
Zeisler & Zeisler, PC 10 Middle St, Bridgeport 203-368-4234 zeislaw.com
MATTHEW SUSMAN
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4236 cohenandwolf.com
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-319-7123 brodywilk.com
KAREN WACKERMAN
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-319-7135 brodywilk.com
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2278 pullcom.com
THOMAS GOLDBERG
THOMAS WALSH JR
Day Pitney LLP 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-977-7383 daypitney.com
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-319-7145 brodywilk.com
BARBARA YOUNG
MICHAEL HERLING
Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3123 verrill-law.com
Finn Dixon & Herling LLP 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-325-5015 fdh.com
CIVIL LAW LITIGATION ROBERT ADELMAN
Adelman Hirsch & Connors, LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-331-8888 ahctriallaw.com
CHARLES DELUCA
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5000 ryandelucalaw.com
MONTE FRANK
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2262 pullcom.com
STEVEN FRENKEL
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4206 cl-law.com
DAVID GOLUB
Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
MARC GRENIER
DePanfilis & Vallerie LLC 25 Belden Ave, Norwalk 203-846-9585 dandvlaw.com
ROBERT HICKEY
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5005 ryandelucalaw.com
MICHAEL JONES
Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara, LLC 170 Mason St, Greenwich 203-661-6000 ibolaw.com
MICHAEL KAELIN Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4106 cl-law.com
STUART KATZ
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4205 cohenandwolf.com
GARY KLEIN
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2696 carmodylaw.com
THOMAS LAMBERT
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2147 pullcom.com
PAUL LANGE
Law Offices of Paul A. Lange, LLC 80 Ferry Blvd, Stratford 203-375-7724 lopal.com
ROBERT LAPLACA
Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3110 verrill-law.com
DAVID MARTIN
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4108 cl-law.com
FRANK MURPHY
Tierney, Zullo, Flaherty & Murphy, P.C. 134 East Ave, Norwalk 203-853-7000 tierneyzullomurphy.com
CATHERINE NIETZEL
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5020 ryandelucalaw.com
JAMES NOONAN
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5045 ryandelucalaw.com
TIMOTHY RONAN
Pullman & Comley LLC 281 Tresser Blvd, Stamford
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Pullman & Comley’s Westport team
Pullman & Comley, LLC 253 Post Road West P.O. Box 3179 Westport, CT 06880 203-254-5000 | pullcom.com Pullman & Comley is one of Connecticut’s preeminent fullservice law firms and a leader in the business community since 1919, partnering with our clients to solve their most complex legal challenges. With three offices in Fairfield County, we have close ties to the communities where we live and work. We serve emerging growth businesses and public and private companies of all sizes, as well as educational institutions, government entities and nonprofits, in the areas of business and finance,
environmental, energy, healthcare, labor and employment, litigation, real estate and land use law. We also provide a range of legal services tailored to individuals, families, and closelyheld businesses. Our Family Law attorneys, for example, are skilled in all aspects of divorce, property distribution, alimony, child support and child custody, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and collaborative divorce. The Alternative Dispute Resolution practice offers mediation services in both business disputes and all family and matrimonial matters. Our Trusts and Estates attorneys provide estate, gift tax, business succession, charitable giving, and philanthropic planning; estate settlement; trust administration; conservatorships; and probate
litigation. Attorneys in our Tax practice regularly advise businesses, individuals and tax-exempt entities on all aspects of federal, state, local and international tax matters. We have built our reputation over the past 102 years on being there for our clients – and our communities – in the most challenging times. Pullman & Comley’s mantra of “Pulling Together, Succeeding Together” describes our firm culture, and it was more evident over the past year than perhaps at any other time in our history. We are proud that even while working apart, we came together to help our clients respond to unprecedented times, navigate the uncertainty, and even create new opportunities. We are hopeful as we look forward to brighter days ahead.
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TOP LAWYERS in
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
203-674-7933 pullcom.com
203-653-5438 murthalaw.com
KRISTEN ROSSETTI
SCOTT HARRINGTON
Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3132 verrill-law.com
MICHAEL RYAN
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5050 ryandelucalaw.com
GERARD SAGGESE III
Diserio Martin O'Connor & Castiglioni LLP 1 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-569-1107 diseriomartin.com
MARC KURZMAN
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2680 carmodylaw.com
Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC 500 W Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-862-2331 whitmanbreed.com
ANDREW NEVAS
FREDERIC URY
PETER NOLIN
Ury & Moskow, LLC 883 Black Rock Tpke, Fairfield 888-529-4335 urymoskow.com
CIVIL LAW TRANSACTIONAL EDMUND REMONDINO
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
COMMERCIAL LITIGATION DAVID BALL
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4134 cohenandwolf.com
JAMES BICKS
Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3103 verrill-law.com Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2688 carmodylaw.com
PHILIP PIRES
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4122 cohenandwolf.com
JAMES RILEY
Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC 500 W Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-862-2342 whitmanbreed.com
JAMES SHEARIN
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2240 pullcom.com
FRANK SILVESTRI JR
Wiggin and Dana LLP 281 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-363-7622 wiggin.com
Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3108 verrill-law.com
JOHN CANNAVINO
STEVEN STAFSTROM JR
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4447 cl-law.com
JOHN CARBERRY
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4280 cl-law.com
COLIN CONNOR
Russo & Rizio, LLC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-254-7579 russorizio.com
DAVID FRIEDMAN
Murtha Cullina 177 Broad St, Stamford
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2266 pullcom.com
ANDREW ZEITLIN
Shipman & Goodwin LLP 300 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-324-8111 shipmangoodwin.com
CORPORATE COUNSEL HAROLD FINN III
Finn Dixon & Herling LLP 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-325-5029 fdh.com
J HANCOCK
203-625-8180 eugenericciolaw.com
Gregory And Adams, P.C. 190 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton 203-571-6306 gregoryandadams.com
MARK SHERMAN
The Law Offices of Mark Sherman, LLC 29 5th St, Stamford 203-489-2341 markshermanlaw.com
GARY HIRSCH
Hirsch Legal Group, LLC PO Box 7302, Wilton 917-623-3158 gotocounsel.com
BRIAN SPEARS
Spears Manning & Martini LLC 2425 Post Rd, Southport 203-292-9766 spearsmanning.com
CORPORATE FINANCE MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
LINDY URSO
Lindy R. Urso Attorney At Law 810 Bedford St, Stamford 203-325-4487 lindyursolaw.com
FRANK EUCALITTO
Robinson and Cole 1055 Washington Blvd, Stamford 203-462-7586 rc.com
WILLIAM WESTCOTT Maya Murphy, P.C. 266 Post Rd E, Westport 203-221-3100 mayalaw.com
NANCY HANCOCK
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2118 pullcom.com
C YOUNG
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-368-0211 cohenandwolf.com
MARK KADUBOSKI
Wiggin and Dana LLP 281 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-363-7627 wiggin.com
EDUCATION
WILLIAM PERRONE
SARAH GLEASON
Wiggin and Dana LLP 281 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-363-7604 wiggin.com
Shipman & Goodwin LLP 300 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-324-8132 shipmangoodwin.com
STEPHEN SEDOR
CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2137 pullcom.com
MICHAEL BIVONA
The Law Offices of Mark Sherman, LLC 29 5th St, Stamford 203-489-2341 markshermanlaw.com
ELDER LAW
Russo & Rizio, LLC One Post Rd, Fairfield 203-255-9928 russorizio.com
BRUCE KOFFSKY
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-319-7112 brodywilk.com
FAMILY LAW LIVIA BARNDOLLAR
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2205 pullcom.com
CAMPBELL BARRETT
Pullman & Comley LLC 90 State House Square, Hartford 860-424-4353 pullcom.com
JANET BATTEY
Ferro & Battey, LLC 320 Post Rd, Darien 203-424-0482 ferrofamilylaw.com
JILL BICKS
Pullman & Comley LLC 253 Post Rd W, Westport 203-330-2257 pullcom.com
JILL BLOMBERG
Schoonmaker, George, Colin, Blomberg, Bryniczka & Welsh P.C 1700 E Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich 203-625-1873 sgbfamilylaw.com
JACQUELYN CONLON
Conlon McGlynn & McCann 222 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-8686 conlonmcglynn.com
KEVIN DAKEN
Siegel & Kaufman, PC 1266 E Main St, Stamford 203-326-5145 siegelkaufman.com
CHRISTOPHER DEMATTIE Broder, Orland, Murray & Demattie LLC 55 Greens Farms Rd, Westport 203-222-4949 broderorland.com
NICOLE DIGIOSE
Broder, Orland, Murray & Demattie LLC 55 Greens Farms Rd, Westport 203-222-4949 broderorland.com
ANNE DRANGINIS
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2246 pullcom.com
Cohen and Wolf PC 158 Deer Hill Ave, Danbury 203-749-5570 cohenandwolf.com
JENNIFER HAUHUTH
ERIC BRODER
GAETANO FERRO
Keogh, Burkhart & Vetter 34 Wall St, Norwalk 203-866-2535 keoghvetterlaw.com
Law Offices of Eugene J. Riccio 2000 Post Rd, Fairfield
JAMES RICE
THOMAS COLIN
WAYNE EFFRON
STEPHEN KEOGH
EUGENE RICCIO
Pullman & Comley LLC 90 State House Square, Hartford 860-424-4315 pullcom.com
GraberRoberts, LLC 350 Bedford St, Stamford 203-590-1070 graberroberts.com
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-368-0211 cohenandwolf.com
Law Offices of Jennifer A Hauhuth 2425 Post Rd, Southport 203-254-7700 jenniferhauhuthlaw.com
Koffsky & Felsen, LLC 1150 Bedford St, Stamford 203-327-1500 koffskyfelsen.com
LEE HOFFMAN
ANTHONY CENATIEMPO
ANNMARIE BRIONES
ANN FOWLER-CRUZ
ROBERT GOLGER
ENERGY OIL AND GAS
1700 E Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich 203-625-1873 sgbfamilylaw.com
JAIME DURSHT
Beltrano Law 1037 East Putnam Ave, Riverside 203-340-2610 cthealthcareattorney .com
Koffsky & Felsen, LLC 1150 Bedford St, Stamford 203-327-1500 koffskyfelsen.com
Law Offices of Joel D. Muhlbaum, LLC 1100 Summer St, Stamford 203-323-1818 ctnyelderlaw.com
Schoonmaker, George, Colin, Blomberg, Bryniczka & Welsh P.C 1700 E Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich 203-625-1873 sgbfamilylaw.com
MICHELLE BELTRANO
AUDREY FELSEN
SHARON ROSEN
Broder, Orland, Murray & Demattie LLC 55 Greens Farms Rd, Westport 203-222-4949 broderorland.com
PETER BRYNICZKA
Schoonmaker, George, Colin, Blomberg, Bryniczka & Welsh P.C.
Broder, Orland, Murray & Demattie LLC 55 Greens Farms Rd, Westport 203-222-4949 broderorland.com Wayne D. Effron, P.C. 2 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich 203-622-1160 effronlaw.com Ferro & Battey, LLC 320 Post Rd, Darien 203-424-0482 ferrofamilylaw.com
EVAMARIE FOX
Maya Murphy, P.C. 266 Post Rd E, Westport 203-221-3100 mayalaw.com
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TOP LAWYERS in
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
HOWARD GRABER
GraberRoberts, LLC 350 Bedford St, Stamford 203-590-1070 graberroberts.com
DAVID GRIFFIN
Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, LLC 5 Imperial Ave, Westport 203-227-7301 rutkinoldham.com
ERIC HIGGINS
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
JOCELYN HURWITZ
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4223 cohenandwolf.com
ROSS KAUFMAN
Siegel & Kaufman, PC 1266 E Main St, Stamford 203-326-5145 siegelkaufman.com
DYAN KOZACZKA
Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, LLC 5 Imperial Ave, Westport 203-227-7301 rutkinoldham.com
AMY MACNAMARA
The Law Offices of Amy Calvo MacNamara LLC 2 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich 203-542-2896 acmfamilylaw.com
DARCY MCALISTER
Carta McAlister & Moore LLC 1120 Boston Post Rd, Darien 203-202-3120 cmm-law.com
LAUREN MCCANN
Conlon McGlynn & McCann 222 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-8686 conlonmcglynn.com
LOUISE MCGLYNN
Conlon McGlynn & McCann 222 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-8686 conlonmcglynn.com
MICHAEL MEEHAN
MeehanLaw, LLC 76 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport 203-333-1888 meehanlaw.com
H MURPHY
Maya Murphy, P.C. 266 Post Rd E, Westport 203-221-3100 mayalaw.com
SARAH MURRAY
Broder, Orland, Murray & Demattie LLC 55 Greens Farms Rd, Westport 203-222-4949 broderorland.com
ANDREW NEMIROFF
Reich and Truax 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-254-9877 reichandtruax.com
PAUL TUSCH
EDWARD NUSBAUM
AIDAN WELSH
SARAH OLDHAM
Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, LLC 5 Imperial Ave, Westport 203-227-7301 rutkinoldham.com
CAROLE ORLAND
Broder, Orland, Murray & Demattie LLC 55 Greens Farms Rd, Westport 203-222-4949 broderorland.com
THOMAS PARRINO
Parrino|Shattuck, PC 285 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-557-9755 parrinoshattuck.com
RACHEL PENCU
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-368-0211 cohenandwolf.com
YAKOV PYETRANKER
Pyetranker, P.C. 1111 Summer St, Stamford 203-989-0997 pyetrankerpc.com
ALAN RUBENSTEIN
Halloran & Sage LLP 315 Post Rd W, Westport 203-222-4301 halloransage.com
ARNOLD RUTKIN
Rutkin, Oldham & Griffin, LLC 5 Imperial Ave, Westport 203-227-7301 rutkinoldham.com
THOMAS SHANLEY
Thomas M. Shanley, P.C. 37 Arch St, Greenwich 203-542-9391 shanleylawfirm.com
MARK SOBOSLAI
The Law Offices of Mark R. Soboslai, LLC 383 Riverside Ave, Westport
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2282 pullcom.com
LOUISE TRUAX
Fogarty Cohen Russo & Nemiroff LLC 1700 E Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich 203-661-1000 fcsn.com Law Offices of Edward Nusbaum, PC 212 Post Rd W, Westport 203-226-8181 nusbaumfamilylaw.com
AMY MURRAY
203-226-5759 marksoboslai.com
PATRICIA WEITZMAN Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3116 verrill-law.com
Cacace, Tusch & Santagata 1111 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2000 lawcts.com
IMMIGRATION LAW
Schoonmaker, George, Colin, Blomberg, Bryniczka & Welsh P.C 1700 E Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich 203-625-1873 sgbfamilylaw.com
ADAM MOCCIOLO
Pullman & Comley LLC 281 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-330-2128 pullcom.com
INSURANCE
GENERAL PRACTICE
JONATHAN BOWMAN
ANTHONY DEPANFILIS
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4135 cohenandwolf.com
DePanfilis & Vallerie LLC 25 Belden Ave, Norwalk 203-846-9585 dandvlaw.com
JOHN CANNAVINO JR
GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-549-6621 ryandelucalaw.com
MICHAEL ANDREANA
EDWARD MCCREERY III
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2235 pullcom.com
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2216 pullcom.com
IRA BLOOM
Berchem Moses PC 1221 Post Rd E, Westport 203-227-9545 berchemmoses.com
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
MARIO COPPOLA
Berchem Moses PC 1221 Post Rd E, Westport 203-227-9545 berchemmoses.com
JED FERDINAND
Ferdinand IP 1221 Post Rd E, Westport 203-557-4224 ferdinandip.com
JESSICA KENNEDY
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2215 pullcom.com
PAUL GREELEY
HEALTHCARE LAW COLLIN BARON
Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, PC 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-332-5726 znclaw.com
LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT ROBERT BRODY
Brody and Associates LLC 120 Post Rd W, Westport 203-454-0560 brodyandassociates.com
MARK CARTA
Carta McAlister & Moore LLC 1120 Boston Post Rd, Darien 203-202-3131 cmm-law.com
RICHARD CASTIGLIONI
Diserio Martin O'Connor & Castiglioni LLP 1 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-569-1109 diseriomartin.com
LEWIS CHIMES
Law Office of Lewis Chimes LLC 45 Franklin St, Stamford 203-324-7744 chimeslaw.com
DAVID COHEN
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
DEBORAH DEHART CANNAVINO
Epstein Becker & Green PC 1 Landmark Square, Stamford 203-326-7437 ebglaw.com
STEPHEN MCNAMARA
MARIA GARCIA-QUINTNER
Withersworldwide 1700 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-302-4069 withersworldwide.com
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2280 pullcom.com
EDWARD SCOFIELD
STEVEN FREDERICK
STEVEN MOORE
STEPHEN COWHERD
Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle, LLP 1 Landmark Square, Stamford 203-327-4500 ogrp.com
Ohlandt Greeley Ruggiero & Perle, LLP 1 Landmark Square, Stamford 203-327-4500 ogrp.com St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens LLC 986 Bedford St, Stamford 203-324-6155 ssjr.com
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2219 pullcom.com
CHARLES RUGGIERO
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
SCOTT LUCAS
Lucas & Varga LLC 2425 Post Rd, Southport 203-227-8400 lucasvargalaw.com
LAUREN MACDONALD Maya Murphy, P.C. 266 Post Rd E, Westport 203-221-3100 mayalaw.com
KUROSH MARJANI
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
JOSEPH MAYA
Maya Murphy, P.C. 266 Post Rd E, Westport 203-221-3100 mayalaw.com
JONATHAN ORLEANS
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2129 pullcom.com
DAVID RINTOUL
Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, PC 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-332-5782 znclaw.com
CLAIRE RYAN
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5024 ryandelucalaw.com
DANIEL SCHWARTZ Day Pitney LLP 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-977-7536 daypitney.com
MARGARET SHEAHAN
Mitchell & Sheahan, PC 999 Oronoque Ln, Stratford 203-873-0240 mitchellandsheahan.com
MARY-KATE SMITH
Law Office of Lewis Chimes LLC 45 Franklin St, Stamford 203-324-7744 chimeslaw.com
MGQ Law, LLC 246 Post Rd E, Westport 203-836-3336 mgqlaw.com
DOUGLAS VARGA
GEORGE KASPER
DANIEL YOUNG
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2119 pullcom.com
Lucas & Varga LLC 2425 Post Rd, Southport 203-227-8400 lucasvargalaw.com Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
MARCH 2021 GREENWICH
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TOP LAWYERS in
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
ZACHARY ZEID
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2077 pullcom.com
LAND USE ENVIRONMENT LEONARD BRAMAN
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
PAMELA ELKOW
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2672 carmodylaw.com
LISA FEINBERG
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2677 carmodylaw.com
WILDER GLEASON
Gleason & Associates LLC 23 Old Kings Highway S, Darien 203-655-9696 gleasonllc.com
JOHN HEAGNEY
Heagney Lennon & Slane LLP 248 Greenwich Ave, Greenwich 203-661-8400 hls248.com
WILLIAM HENNESSEY JR Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-425-4200 carmodylaw.com
JACQUELINE KAUFMAN Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2665 carmodylaw.com
BARBARA MILLER
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-319-7133 brodywilk.com
EDWARD O'HANLAN
Robinson and Cole 1055 Washington Blvd, Stamford 203-462-7556 rc.com
CHRISTOPHER RUSSO Russo & Rizio, LLC One Post Rd, Fairfield 203-255-9928 russorizio.com
PATRICIA SULLIVAN Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4124 cohenandwolf.com
AUSTIN WOLF
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-368-0211 cohenandwolf.com
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE DEFENSE REBECCA BRINDLEY
Stockman O'Connor Connors PLLC 10 Middle St, Bridgeport 203-220-6590 stockmanoconnor.com
JOHN COSTA
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5044 ryandelucalaw.com
SALLY HAGERTY
DanaherLagnese, PC 21 Oak St, Hartford 860-247-3666 danaherlagnese.com
ILYSSA KELSON
DanaherLagnese, PC 21 Oak St, Hartford 860-247-3666 danaherlagnese.com
DANIEL RYAN III
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5030 ryandelucalaw.com
ERIC STOCKMAN
Stockman O'Connor Connors PLLC 10 Middle St, Bridgeport 203-220-6533 stockmanoconnor.com
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE PLAINTIFF MARCO ALLOCCA Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
ADAM BLANK
Stamford 203-252-2666 carmodylaw.com
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
WILLIAM HENNESSEY
Law Offices Of William J. Hennessey 49 Cannon St, Bridgeport 203-366-6115 bridgeportcaraccident lawyer.com
NICOLE COATES Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
MICHAEL KENNEDY
Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
PETER DREYER Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
BRIAN KLUBERDANZ
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
CINDY ROBINSON
Tremont Sheldon Robinson Mahoney P.C. 64 Lyon Ter, Bridgeport 203-335-5145 tremontsheldon.com
DOUGLAS MAHONEY
Tremont Sheldon Robinson Mahoney P.C. 64 Lyon Ter, Bridgeport 203-335-5145 tremontsheldon.com
RICHARD SILVER Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
NEAL MOSKOW
Ury & Moskow, LLC 883 Black Rock Tpke, Fairfield 888-529-4335 urymoskow.com
NICHOLAS WOCL
JOHNPATRICK O'BRIEN
Wocl Leydon, LLC 80 4th St, Stamford 203-333-3339 woclleydon.com
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4113 cohenandwolf.com
ANGELO ZIOTAS Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
ALAN PICKEL
PERSONAL INJURY
BENJAMIN POMERANTZ
The Pickel Law Firm, LLC 1700 Bedford St, Stamford 203-348-4100 pickellaw.com Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2645 carmodylaw.com
STEWART CASPER
Casper & DeToledo LLC 1458 Bedford St, Stamford 203-325-8600 casperdetoledo.com
PAUL SLAGER
WILLIAM DAVOREN
Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
ERNEST TEITELL
Silver Golub & Teitell LLP 184 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-325-4491 sgtlaw.com
STEPHEN FINN
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
JEREMY VISHNO
Vishno Law Firm 183 Sherman St, Fairfield 203-256-2373 vishnolawfirm.com
KEVIN GRECO
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St,
PRODUCT LIABILITY
Stamford 203-327-2000 lawcts.com
JORAM HIRSCH
WILLIAM CARELLO
PROFESSIONAL MALPRACTICE NON MEDICAL DEFENSE
BRUCE COHEN
Adelman Hirsch & Connors, LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-331-8888 ahctriallaw.com
KAREN ALLISON
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5023 ryandelucalaw.com
DAVID ATKINS
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2103 pullcom.com
STEPHEN CONOVER
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com Fogarty Cohen Russo & Nemiroff LLC 1700 E Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich 203-661-1000 fcsn.com
JOSHUA COLE
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2217 pullcom.com
STEVEN ELBAUM
Robinson and Cole 1055 Washington Blvd, Stamford 203-462-7526 rc.com
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2668 carmodylaw.com
GEOFFREY FAY
ROBERT LANEY
Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport 203-222-3109 verrill-law.com
Ryan Ryan Deluca LLP 1000 Lafayette Blvd, Bridgeport 203-541-5010 ryandelucalaw.com
MARCY STOVALL
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-674-7976 pullcom.com
REGINA FLAHERTY
MARSHALL GOLDBERG
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2104 pullcom.com
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
SUZANNE SUTTON
STEVEN GRUSHKIN
REAL ESTATE
DONALD GUSTAFSON
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-368-0211 cohenandwolf.com
MICHAEL BYRNE
Day Pitney LLP 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-977-7349 daypitney.com
MICHAEL BYRNE
Byrne and O'Neill LLP 112 Prospect St, Stamford 203-327-7561 bonlaw.com
MICHAEL CACACE Cacace, Tusch & Santagata 1111 Summer St,
Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com Shipman & Goodwin LLP 300 Atlantic St, Stamford 203-324-8103 shipmangoodwin.com
PATRICK HANNA
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2667 carmodylaw.com
MICHAEL HINTON Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford
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TOP LAWYERS in
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
Westport 203-226-1001 bertralaw.com
Darien 203-202-3110 cmm-law.com
203-330-2133 pullcom.com
Hoekenga & Machado, LLC 193 Main St, Danbury 203-792-3300 hdmlegal.com
DAVID KURATA
MICHAEL MURRAY
Russo & Rizio, LLC One Post Rd, Fairfield 203-255-9928 russorizio.com
JEREMY KAYE
CHARLES MARTIN III
203-351-4492 cl-law.com
CRAIG HOEKENGA II
Kaye and Hennessey, LLC 71 Lewis St, Greenwich 203-625-5300 kayehenlaw.com
LISA KENT
Lisa Kent Attorney At Law 2425 Post Rd, Southport 203-955-1313 lkentlaw.com
MARK KIRSCH
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4254 cohenandwolf.com
HOWARD KOMISAR
Berkowitz Trager and Trager LLC 8 Wright St,
Russo & Rizio, LLC One Post Rd, Fairfield 203-255-9928 russorizio.com Robinson and Cole 1055 Washington Blvd, Stamford 203-462-7522 rc.com
KATHLEEN MERRIGAN
MICHAEL ROSTEN
Russo & Rizio, LLC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-254-7579 russorizio.com
MICHAEL PROCTOR
JONATHAN MILLS
ROBERT RAHILLY
GLEN MOORE
Carta McAlister & Moore LLC 1120 Boston Post Rd,
Cohen and Wolf PC 320 Post Rd W, Westport 203-341-5330 cohenandwolf.com
LEAH PARISI
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2 Greenwich Plz, Greenwich 203-863-6506 cl-law.com
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4100 cl-law.com
RAYMOND RIZIO
Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara, LLC 161 Cherry St, New Canaan 203-966-1492 ibolaw.com
ROBERT RUSSO
Russo & Rizio, LLC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-254-7579 russorizio.com
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2145 pullcom.com
Berkowitz Trager and Trager LLC 8 Wright St, Westport 203-226-1001 bertralaw.com
ROBERT SISCA
MARY BETH RAPICE
MICHAEL SWEENEY
RICHARD DIMARCO
Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey LLP 707 Summer St, Stamford 203-252-2690 carmodylaw.com
SECURITIES LAW RICHARD SLAVIN
Cohen and Wolf PC 320 Post Rd W, Westport 203-341-5310 cohenandwolf.com
MICHAEL RUEDA
Withersworldwide 430 Park Ave, New York 203-302-4087 withersworldwide.com
TAX LAW
Law Offices of Robert Vincent Sisca & Associates, LLC 32 Field Point Rd,
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport
Fairfield 203-254-1118 btlawfirm.com
SPORTS LAW
STEVEN SIEGELAUB
Day Pitney LLP 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-977-7304 daypitney.com
Greenwich 203-629-3831 lorvs.com
SAMUEL BRAUNSTEIN Braunstein and Todisco PC 1 Eliot Place,
Cohen and Wolf PC 320 Post Rd W, Westport 203-341-5301 cohenandwolf.com
BRETT DIXON
Finn Dixon & Herling LLP 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-325-5016 fdh.com
LESLIE GRODD
Halloran & Sage LLP 315 Post Rd W, Westport 203-222-4306 halloransage.com
WONCHI JU
Withersworldwide 157 Church St, New Haven 203-974-0325 withersworldwide.com
WILLIAM KAMBAS
Withersworldwide 1700 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-974-0313 withersworldwide.com
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TOP LAWYERS in
FAIRFIELD COUNTY
DAVID LEHN
Withersworldwide 1700 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-302-4077 withersworldwide.com
D MORRIS
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2109 pullcom.com
KELLY O'DONNELL
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2264 pullcom.com
EDWARD RENN
Withersworldwide 1700 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-974-0343 withersworldwide.com
CARA SANTORO Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4195 cl-law.com
SHAUNA SARNO
Withersworldwide 157 Church St, New Haven 203-974-0433 withersworldwide.com
TECHNOLOGY VIRTUAL RUSSELL ANDERSON
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2271 pullcom.com
WILLS DOUGLAS BROWN
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-319-7119 brodywilk.com
DAVID BUSSOLOTTA
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2223 pullcom.com
MICHAEL CLEAR
Wiggin and Dana LLP 30 Milbank Ave, Greenwich 203-363-7675 wiggin.com
LAUREN DAVIES
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport 203-330-2076 pullcom.com
B DELANY
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2 Greenwich Plz, Greenwich 203-863-6554 cl-law.com
MARGARET DELUCA
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4298 cl-law.com
JAMES DOUGHERTY
Withersworldwide 1700 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-974-0333 withersworldwide.com
ELIZABETH FALKOFF Russo & Rizio, LLC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-254-7579 russorizio.com
DANIEL FITZGERALD Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2 Greenwich Plz, Greenwich 203-863-6511 cl-law.com
JAMES FUNNELL JR
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-226-6552 brodywilk.com
JESSIE GILBERT
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2 Greenwich Plz, Greenwich 203-863-6503 cl-law.com
GREGORY HAYES
Day Pitney LLP 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 203-977-7365 daypitney.com
JEVERA HENNESSEY Kaye and Hennessey, LLC 71 Lewis St, Greenwich 203-625-5300 kayehenlaw.com
DAVID HERMENZE
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-226-6552 brodywilk.com
LEONARD LEADER
Wiggin and Dana LLP 60 Church Ln, Westport 203-363-7602 wiggin.com
EDWARD MARCANTONIO Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd,
Southport 203-226-6552 brodywilk.com
203-222-3118 verrill-law.com
203-254-5008 pullcom.com
ALESSANDRA MESSINEO LONG
CONSTANCE SHIELDS
Withersworldwide 1700 E Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-974-0418 withersworldwide.com
LUKE TASHJIAN
The Law Offices of Alessandra Messineo Long 34 Field Rd, Riverside 203-249-3601 amlonglaw.com
Whitman Breed Abbott & Morgan LLC 500 W Putnam Ave, Greenwich 203-862-2311 whitmanbreed.com
AMY WILFERT
Smith & Grant LLP 9 Greenwich Office Park, Greenwich 203-661-1110 smithgrant.com
AMY TODISCO
KAREN YATES
GRETA SOLOMON
HOWARD TUTHILL III
GEORGE SMITH
PETER MOTT
Brody Wilkinson PC 2507 Post Rd, Southport 203-319-7136 brodywilk.com
Cohen and Wolf PC 1115 Broad St, Bridgeport 203-337-4114 cohenandwolf.com
JOHN MUSICARO JR
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4343 cl-law.com
JAMES STEWART
Pullman & Comley LLC 850 Main St, Bridgeport
STEPHEN NAPIER
Berkowitz Trager and Trager LLC 8 Wright St, Westport 203-226-1001 bertralaw.com
Greenwich 203-863-6590 cl-law.com
Braunstein and Todisco PC 1 Eliot Place, Fairfield 203-254-1118 btlawfirm.com Cummings & Lockwood LLC 6 Landmark Sq, Stamford 203-351-4308 cl-law.com
LAURA WEINTRAUB BECK Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2 Greenwich Plz,
Day Pitney LLP 24 Field Point Rd, Greenwich 203-862-7811 daypitney.com Withersworldwide 157 Church St, New Haven 203-974-0355 withersworldwide.com
WORKER'S COMPENSATION MEG LYON
Hoekenga & Machado, LLC 193 Main St, Danbury 203-792-3300 hdmlegal.com G
METHODOLOGY: To create the list, the magazine contracted DataJoe Research to facilitate an online peer-voting process and Internet research process. DataJoe Research is a software and research company specializing in data collection and verification, and conducts various nominations across the United States on behalf of publishers. To create the list, DataJoe Research facilitated an online peer-voting process. We paired this with an Internet research process to identify success characteristics. DataJoe checked and confirmed that each published winner had, at time of review, a current, active license status with the appropriate state regulatory board. If we were not able to find evidence of a lawyer's current, active registration with the state regulatory board, that lawyer was excluded from the list. In addition, we checked available public sources to identify lawyers disciplined for an infraction by the state regulatory board. These entities were excluded from the list. Finally, DataJoe presented the tallied result to the magazine for its final review and adjustments. Final note We recognize that there are many good lawyers who are not shown in this representative list. This is only a sampling of the huge array of talented professionals within the region. Inclusion in the list is based on the opinions of responding lawyers in the region. We take time and energy to ensure fair voting, although we understand that the results of this survey nomination and Internet research campaign are not an objective metric. We certainly do not discount the fact that many, many good and effective lawyers may not appear on the list.
DOUGLAS OLIN
Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2 Greenwich Plz, Greenwich 203-863-6504 cl-law.com
JOSEPH PANKOWSKI JR Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP 600 Summer St, Stamford 203-327-2300 wrkk.com
JENNIFER PORT Ivey, Barnum & O'Mara, LLC 170 Mason St, Greenwich 203-661-6000 ibolaw.com
EDWARD RODENBACH Cummings & Lockwood LLC 2 Greenwich Plz, Greenwich 203-863-6551 cl-law.com
RICHARD SARNER
Richard A. Sarner of Zeldes, Needle & Cooper, PC 263 Tresser Blvd, Stamford 833-332-8670 sarnerlaw.com
DISCLAIMER DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from DataJoe.
GREGORY SAUM
The Law Office of Gregory A. Saum, LLC 1281 E Main St, Stamford 203-340-9945 saumlaw.com
SHARON SCHWEITZER Verrill Dana LLP 355 Riverside Ave, Westport
Questions? For research/methodology questions, contact the research team at surveys@datajoe.com.
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T H E STAT E O F R E A L E STAT E
ESCAPE from New York IMAGE COURTESY MICHELLE&CO., WILLIAM RAVEIS REAL ESTATE
Our Real Estate Market in the Age of Covid-19
by jill johnson mann
above: 10 Gray Lane in Westport (our cover shot) showcases perfection in every detail—from professional landscaping to modern amenities, like a sauna. Nothing to do at home, but rest and recharge in style and pure comfort. MARCH/APRIL 2021 WESTPORT
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T H E STAT E O F R E A L E STAT E
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omething has changed lately in the streets of Westport, the backroads of Weston and the driveways of Wilton. Perhaps not every citizen has spotted it, but every realtor has: New York license plates are everywhere. Going into 2020, long before anyone was talking about the C-word, realtors predicted a strong market in our area. “We started out thinking supply would be short and demand higher because millennials are moving into the housing market,” says Joni Usdan, of The JoniHomes Group at Coldwell Banker. “They’ve been interested in cities but also suburbs, as they begin thinking about schools. Then the pandemic hit, and all of a sudden we had a burst of interest in the suburbs.” As New York City quickly became the epicenter of the pandemic in America, families locked down in close quarters started looking north to more indoor and outdoor space, commodious home offices, excellent schools and a commute that—for the foreseeable future—was irrelevant. “In all my years in the business, I’ve never seen a market swing so quickly, with the exception of the post-9/11 market in the city,” says Jim Gricar of William Pitt Sotheby’s. “City buyers are responsible for the flip from a longtime buyer’s market to a roaring seller’s market. From basically 2007–08 until early 2020, our markets were overloaded with inventory in virtually every price category. Buyers were scarce and unwilling to bid on any house not perceived as a ‘deal.’ When the initial Covid lockdown happened, nearly 50 percent of our sellers withdrew their listings, understandably. We went from an inflated inventory to a wanting inventory virtually overnight, just as the flood of buyers from the city hit.”
Why Westport, Weston and Wilton? Our towns are desirable for the same reasons they always have been: the charm, beautiful beaches, great amenities, excellent schools, lower taxes than New York or New Jersey and easy access to the Big Apple. But as that Apple turned sour last spring, shaken city dwellers who had never before considered venturing this far up the New Haven line landed here. Some who imagined hitting the ’burbs eventually, pressed fast-forward on their life plans. “Prospective buyers who work in the city often would draw a circle around the area within a sixty-minute commute,” says Joni Usdan. “Now, as so many people are working from home, commute time is lower on the list of criteria. Westport, having more than a sixtyminute ride, has come back into their circle.” Jim Gricar adds, “There was one more xfactor for us here: Westchester, the usual first suburban stop, was closed. Unlike Connecticut, the state of New York deemed brokerage nonessential, causing city buyers to vault over
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10 GRAY COURTESY MICHELLE&COMPANY; 98 BANKS PLACE BY KYLE NORTON
left: The long driveway appeals to buyers wanting seclusion. Built in 2006 with built-ins, kitchen with high-end appliances, six indoor fireplaces, luxury bath and steam shower, and more. 22 Michael’s Way, Weston / Beth Saunders, Berkshire Hathaway SOLD
right (and opening page): Spectacular 5-bedroom contemporary built in 2018 with panoramic water views (see opening page). Aside from impeccable interior design, the property has three levels of decks and balconies as well as an in-ground saltwater pool and spa and designer landscape. The home also has a fitness room, sauna, theater, wine cellar and office. 10 Gray Lane, Westport. $10,900,000 / Michelle&Company / William Raveis Real Estate
left: A remodel of a custom 1830s home—by John Toates Architecture and Design LLC— includes a barn and lush gardens over 5.44 peaceful acres in Southport Village. The home features three floors and plenty of covered seating outdoors. 98 Banks Pl., Fairfield. $4,200,000 / Amy Waugh Curry, Berkshire Hathaway
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left: Perfect for big families, this 9,600-foot home has 7 bedrooms and 9 full and 2.5 baths. It also features a theater, cocktail lounge, gym, staff room, finished third-floor executive office, craft area and bedroom. The one-acre property includes a pool, spa and direct water views as well as three outdoor fireplaces. 264 Hillspoint Rd., Westport. $10,995,000 / Jim Gricar, William Pitt Sotheby’s
264 HILLSPOINT RD. BY DAN MILLSTEIN
right: Built in 2010, the light, bright and sophisticated 5-bedroom home features 3.5 baths and approximately 100 feet of gated, private Long Island Sound beach frontage. 248 Hillspoint Rd., Westport. $6,210,000 / Leslie Clarke Homes
right Five-bedroom Nantucket stone-andshingle home. Twolevels, with 6,000 feet of space, including gourmet kitchen, butler’s pantry and spa-like bedroom suites—plus, full basement and walk-up attic, three-car garage and generator. Enjoy walking to Compo Beach or Longshore Club. 5 Mayflower Pkwy., Westport, $3,899,000/ The JoniHomes Group above: Nancy Pantoliano / Berkshire Hathaway
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T H E STAT E O F R E A L E STAT E
Westchester into Fairfield County.” People weren’t as concerned about how long it takes to travel into the city as how quickly they could move out of it. “Buyers from New York will usually look in the bigger towns, Greenwich and Westport, first,” comments Nancy Pantoliano of Berkshire Hathaway. “They like the cosmopolitan feel, the shopping and theater in Westport. At the same time, many want a bigger yard. In Weston and Wilton, they can get a larger house and yard at prices that are a little lower. Luxury homes that have been sitting there are now selling because people are willing to consider a longer commute.” Usdan says, “Westport is hot, hot, hot, and Weston and Wilton are up a lot. In Wilton, the increase is unbelievable; there was a 250 percent increase in volume from October 2019 to October 2020. The mentality has changed. People are saying, ‘If I’m ninety minutes from the city, I’m okay with that, because even when Covid is over, I’m not going to go in every day.” Buyers from New York made up 30–35 percent of buyers in Usdan’s office last year. “Normally, Westporters moving within Westport is the biggest chunk, but that segment was about equal to New Yorkers in 2020,” she says. “People in many areas are looking at us. Compared to desirable areas in California, we look like a bargain. We complain here but it’s all relative. A couple of years ago, I sold a good friend’s house. They were concerned with ‘problems’ in Connecticut. But when they went out to the Midwest, they realized how much they missed it.” With our school districts safely and effectively managing a hybrid schedule this fall (with minimal phases of full virtual schooling to mitigate Covid cases), while some districts in the nation remained virtual (and often not so effectively), the appeal of our area to families is likely to remain robust.
Pandemic Amenities “There is increased interest in having a true family compound and private outdoor spaces,” says Michelle Genovese of Michelle&Company at William Raveis. “Amenities like outdoor kitchens, swimming pools and firepits were in demand last summer with more families opting to stay closer to home. Home gyms are seeing increased demand and home offices to work and learn from home became essential in 2020. More buyers are looking for guest houses to create additional office space or accommodate extended family. It’s all about flexible spaces now.” Gricar concurs: “Today’s buyers want space and safety.” As public pools, beaches, tennis courts and basketball courts either closed or felt risky to parents, families looked for ways to bring the fun home. “People are looking for all-inclusive, self-contained properties. This is why houses with pools and other leisure activity amenities are selling so well,” says Gricar. “And there’s a huge focus on home work space—for adults, for school-aged kids, for college students. The more flexible a house, the greater the attraction in terms of live and work.” Larger properties fulfill a new desire for a “buffer from neighbors,” explains Usdan. “Woodsy locations with more privacy, which were not in favor before the pandemic, now are. Buyers used to be looking for smaller houses in perfect condition on postage-stamp sized lots, and they would time the trip to train.” Most realtors do not expect the new emphasis on comfortably working from home
to fade as promising vaccines hit the market. Leslie Clarke at William Raveis comments, “This time of ‘work from home’ has helped so many realize they can be more productive at work and have time for themselves and their family. It wasn’t always possible with a threehour commute. Some may choose to split time between their office and home office for a better life balance.” Fighting for seats on Metro-North rush-hour trains may be a thing of the past. Whether due to necessity or more time for reflection, 2020 propelled people into bold moves. Linda Blackwell of Houlihan Lawrence says, “I have a client who closed in December in Weston. The wife grew up in the city and the husband in this area. She never thought she would leave the city. They had a great apartment in downtown Manhattan and three kids in school. Covid really forced them to decide what they wanted for their future. Not only did they decide they wanted to move to the suburbs, they chose ‘to live in the country’ as they said and settled on a beautiful Colonial farmhouse with a chicken coop…and they were so excited to get to keep the chickens!”
Bidding Wars Buyers who could browse at a casual pace in 2019 no longer have that luxury, if they want to nab the house of their dreams—or at least one that will save them from another cramped shelter-in-place nightmare. “Inventory is significantly down across the county,” says
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Blackwell. “In fall we saw sales way above and inventory significantly below the year before. This resulted in many multiple bid situations and bid wars. Some houses go on the market and within the day they have multiple offers. Buyers have to be ready to move on a house right away if they love it. It’s important to be pre-approved and have everything ready to put on their offer.” Prices have risen, but that doesn’t mean buyers won’t find value for their money. “We had a good deal of price repair to get through first—the difference between the historic high, in 2006, and the pre-pandemic low, in
2019,” says Gricar. “Much of the initial activity led to market price repair. Appreciation followed.” Nancy Pantoliano comments, “There was a significant increase in the number of home sold in 2020 versus 2019; Westport saw an increase of 79 percent, Wilton 67 percent and Weston 82 percent. As far as sold prices, there was also a significant increase in all three towns: up 17.2 percent in Westport, 16.6 percent in Wilton and 14.6 percent in Weston.” Herd mentality factors in. “Buyers have confidence, so prices go up,” says Usdan.
“We aren’t any different from a year ago; we were always a great place to live! Sellers were feeling so hurt and beat up then. Now they are feeling good again.” Leslie Clarke comments: “This time has also been an opportunity for Westporters to trade up or down, having confidence their property will sell in this active market. Since last March, I’ve helped many of my past clients sell their new home and find a new one locally.” Pantoliano predicts inventory will remain low and prices will continue to rise in 2021.
THE RENTAL MARKET
©ANTONIODIAZ - STOCK.ADOBE.COM
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s ubiquitous as New York license plates last summer were tales of crazy rental rates. “We had Hamptons’ prices last summer,” says Joni Usdan, JoniHomes Group of Coldwell Banker. “I had a client who came here from Hong Kong looking for a rental, and he found something much lower in price in the Hamptons—true story! All of sudden, people were getting multiples of what they would have expected for a rental. Renters were looking for a couple weeks, a month, anything, not just summer. It became a concern with sellers that if they sold their house, they would not be able to find a temporary rental.” According to Nancy Pantoliano, Berkshire Hathaway, Westport racked up 200 flexible-lease rentals in 2020, versus 85 in 2019, and 99 of those 2020 homes rented for over $10,000/month, compared to only 24 in that high-budget tier the year before. (Yearly rentals of more modest three-bedroom homes declined slightly from an average of $2,900/month in 2019 to $2,700/month in 2020.) The limited supply of rentals has been exacerbated by a trend in people who had been renting out their homes in recent years (because they didn’t want to sell in a down market) deciding to sell their homes instead. Michelle Genovesi, Michelle&Co., says, “Both the rental and sales markets are very active, but I think interest rates being at such a historic low have influenced purchasing as opposed to just renting.”
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ALEGRA ANDERSON
BY TOM CONNOR
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In Greenwich, James Doyle created a comfortable outdoor entertaining and dining space, complete with a reflecting pool.
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THIS SPRING, THE “GREAT OUTDOORS” PROMISES TO BE EVEN GREATER—OR AT LEAST MORE WIDELY USED AND ENJOYED—THAN PERHAPS AT ANY OTHER TIME IN MORE THAN A CENTURY. Thanks to a wealth of landscape design talent in our area, we’re able to shelter not only in place, but also in great comfort, safety and style. A number of the top architects, landscape architects and contractors in the county have created outdoor rooms for a range of functions in much the same way interior designers lay out indoor spaces. And in reconsidering the very idea of residential property, they’re expanding the outdoor living season from earliest spring to latest fall. The coronavirus pandemic has had at least one positive effect. “Home has become a refuge for many people,” says Ryan Raveis, copresident of William Raveis Inc. “In essence, they’re investing in their homes, and they’re enjoying life more in the place where they live.” Investment in property has helped fuel the hottest residential real estate market in decades, raising the average selling price by 20 percent. Real estate agencies in the county report as much as a 100 percent increase in business from this time last year. “Part of the story has got to be New York buyers coming to Connecticut,” notes Paul Breunich, president and CEO of William Pitt and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty, headquartered in Stamford. “They’re looking for more land, for lower density of population, for security. They’re flooding the market and demand is far exceeding supply.” Yet even homeowners already settled in Fairfield County are trading out, if not up, for more space and more opportunities to live out of doors for as long as possible.
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n Rowayton, a couple with young children hired RAC Architecture + Design to design a new shingle-style contemporary in the beach association area that would take advantage of the property’s natural resources and the neighborhood’s active lifestyle. “The clients really embraced the idea of entertaining outside,” says David LaPierre, a partner in the Westport firm. “They’re into the home as a sanctuary—they wanted to keep their kids close to them and have kids from the neighborhood come over and play.” The 6,200-square-foot house is all about the outdoors. At the back, an open porch with ample seating is warmed yearround by a fireplace and Infratech electric heaters embedded in the ceiling. Large sections of glass
a pool, hot tub, firepit and a full outdoor kitchen with grill, refrigerator, ice machine, sink and stainless-steel storage cabinets. The owners of a modern Tudor mansion in the Belle Haven section of Greenwich called James Doyle Design Associates to
in the interior dining room slide into pockets in the walls, and tall glass panels in the adjacent family room fold back, opening the interior to the exterior. There, steps from the house, are enough amenities to keep kids at home and guests angling for invitations:
create a series of exterior rooms for dining and entertaining. The property falls away dramatically from the back of the house, leaving relatively little useable space, but that didn’t limit the landscape architect. “You don’t need huge spaces to have well-designed, wellfurnished, intimate outdoor spaces,” James Doyle explains. After leveling the land with tiered steps, he created a long, narrow patio that’s still roomy enough for a dinner table, two seating areas, a reflecting pool with feeder stream and a firepit carved out of a single piece of bluestone. An outdoor living room in Rowayton with fireplace designed by RAC Architecture + Design is made for yearround comfort and entertaining.
THIS PAGE: WOODRUFF BROWN PHOTOGRAPHY; OPPOSITE PAGE: ALEGRA ANDERSON
EXTERIOR DESIGN
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GRILLING ALFRESCO
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rilling has evolved since our ancestors first threw a mastodon steak on the firepit some 800,000 years ago (give or take a few hundred thousand). Since then, the “kitchen” has moved from the home cave to the great outdoors. “Outdoor kitchens have always been popular,” says Dave Marsillio Sr. at Marsillios Appliances in Fairfield, “but now, with families being home much more due to Covid-19, they are looking to utilize more of their property.” Cooking outside can range from a basic grill or firepit to a covered patio, tiki bar or pool cabana. In these areas, customers are focusing on better equipment and higher-end units, just as they have inside the house.” (Last year, the company installed over 30 high-end units.) Outdoor kitchens have also been steadily moving away from the house, notably to pool houses and cabanas. There, they’re likely to be accessorized with fireplaces or firepits, and embedded lighting and electric heating elements in the ceilings and supporting beams. A popular
request for these structures this spring, according to contractors, is outdoor pizza ovens. “Architecturally and aesthetically, the pizza oven has become a focal point of outdoor living,” says Kevin Ambrosio of Ambrosio Landscape Solutions. “Restaurants have been installing brick pizza ovens and people want to recreate that at home. They’re also a reason for having friends over. Every week I’m meeting with someone who wants one.” In Redding, he designed a cabana with pizza oven over a massive stone fireplace—a destination and dining experience that draw family members as well as guests without ever leaving home. High-end outdoor kitchens— from brands like Viking, Lynx and Dynamic Cooking Systems—can run from $5,000 to $25,000 and above when adding stonework and what today are almost standard features: grills with smokers, heating trays and side burners; refrigerators, ice-makers and sinks; heaters and night lighting.
Outdoor pizza ovens like this one designed by Ambrosio Landscape Solutions are in higher demand than ever.
HOME IS WHERE THE HEARTH IS
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Firepits of all shapes and sizes, like this one designed by Robert Cardello, are a hit for those looking for some drama (and heat) in their outdoor spaces.
CONTRIBUTED
eat in any form can extend the outdoor living season by a month or more on either side of summer. Given the chill of a winter of uncertainty and anxiety, warmth of any kind is welcome this spring.
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BACK TO THE GARDEN
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GARDEN BY NEIL LANDINO; FIREPIT BY DANIEL MILSTEIN PHOTOGRAPHY
little over a century ago, in the wake of World War I and in the midst of the Spanish flu, Americans planted war or victory Gardens for self-sufficiency but also out of patriotic duty. This season, landscape architects and professional gardeners report a resurgence of interest in suburban gardening and in simply getting back to nature. The benefits can be bountiful. “Spending time outdoors is a great way to take off stress,” says James Doyle of James Doyle Design Associates in Greenwich. “It’s nice for people to have their phones turned off and just relax.” Homeowners in Fairfield County are asking for pollinator plantings and pathways that attract butterflies, bees and songbirds as well as provide meditative spaces. They’re also interested in spending less time in the produce section of supermarkets and more time outside.
Outdoor fireplaces are bringing the warmth of the indoors to backyards, often in dramatic fashion. Overlooking Candlewood Lake in Danbury, Kevin Ambrosio of Ambrosio Landscape Solutions designed a spacious exterior family room—complete with grill, refrigerator, wide-screen television and comfortable seating—around a brick and stone fireplace, all set in a high stonewall with upper trellis. But firepits may be the hotter items on the backyard wish-list this season, and for a number of reasons: They’re relatively inexpensive; they can be sited anywhere on a property; with a few seats drawn up around them, they become instant and welcoming
James Doyle Design Associates often creates gardens like this one for clients looking to relax and de-stress.
“The benefits go beyond the taste of the vegetables you grow,” notes John Carlson of Homefront Farmers in Wilton. The company designs, builds and maintains organic vegetable gardens in Connecticut and New York. “It’s about the satisfaction of the experience.” The first step in planning a vegetable garden is determining
where on your property crops have the best chances of growing. “When you create a new garden you want to start with a lawn area or field in full sun,” says Jack Disbrow a formal gardener in Wilton who makes and maintains residential gardens. “You’ll need at least six hours, but since Connecticut tends to be damp and damp means mold, the more sun
gathering spots; and they extend outdoor living for all but the bitterest winter days and nights. Back in Rowayton, a 16-foot-long firepit across from the swimming pool’s transparent outer wall illuminates and warms the lineup of low, soft seating between it and the pool. In Darien, a heated bluestone path leads from the back of a 6,000-square-foot house to an outdoor spa so that family members and guests can walk barefoot even in winter. Beyond the spa is a large, circular, stonewalled room with firepit that is used year-round by a family that spends the coldest months playing hockey on a pond at the
bottom of the property. Molly O’Brien Watkins in the Darien office of William Pitt Sotheby International listed the property for a family that had the house built for outdoor entertaining. Polly Hickox of William Raveis Real Estate in Darien sold it to a New York family looking for…a yard. Custom-designed firepits, including masonry work, can cost $4,000 for wood-burning units and as much as $6,500 for gas-burning. Outdoor fireplaces cost considerably more, from $15,000, by Ambrosio’s estimate, to $25,000.
the better.” From there, it’s a matter of homeowners learning about their soil, when to plant which vegetables, and how best to feed, mulch and weed. Or, as with most other aspects of creating outdoor spaces, experts like John Carlson or Jack Disbrow are available to do the spadework, leaving us to harvest the fruits of their labor.
Molly O'Brien Watkins in the Darien real estate office of William Pitt Sotheby says that homes with outdoor entertaining spaces have major sales appeal,.
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Austin Ganim Landscape Design in Fairfield created a border wall and bed of perennials and annuals that bloom throughout the season to add interest around the pool and spa.
T
he hottest commodities this season are swimming pools and spas. Both are typically in demand this time of year, contractors say, but what has changed this spring is the number of people demanding them. “We’re usually booked two to four months in advance, but as of the end of last September we are booked out a year, and that has never ever happened before in the pool industry,” says Tim Meehan at Meehan & Ramos Pools in Stratford. “And that’s happening because four walls are four walls, no matter if they’re in a 10,000-square-foot house or 2,000-square-foot house. People have to get outside and there’s no greater outside experience than a swimming pool.” Cool pool and spa features this
season include seamless edges, automatic covers, smart lighting and remote controls, outbuildings like pool houses and pergolas, and small dipping pools—“cocktail pools” or “spools,” as they’re being called. On the Rowayton Beach Association site, the rear of the property slopes precipitously down to the beach. To provide useable family space, LaPierre and firm founder Robert Cardello created two flat tiers for entertaining, exercising and relaxing. On the lower level, the pool’s outer wall is laminated glass, visually expanding the enclosure while allowing swimmers both to be seen and to see the waters of Long Island Sound in the distance. Hardscapes such as swimming
pools are softened by landscaping that can also provide privacy, shade, color and beauty. For a Meehan & Ramos pool and built-in spa in Westport, Eva Chiamulera, the senior landscape architect at Austin Ganim Landscape Design in Fairfield, designed a border wall and bed of perennials and annuals that blossom and bloom throughout the extended season. The natural backdrop Emerald Green arborvitae provides privacy and a sense of safe-distancing, as does the pool house far from the main house and other outdoor rooms. No matter where or how it flows, water also softens suburban property and draws family members and friends. “In these troubled times, water is a very calming and soothing
element in the landscape,” says James Doyle. Pools and spas, he adds, “are a great way to get teenagers to come home because that’s where they’re going to hang.” Water runs through much of the firm’s work. For a modern house in the Belle Haven section of Greenwich, a spine of black zone carries a narrow stream from the front courtyard, through the house, out a spout at rear and into a trough running alongside the pool. A high-end pool—when it can be installed, that is—can run anywhere from $100,000 to more than $500,000 depending on site-work, size, materials and features. These days, however, the benefits seem to outweigh the cost. What’s more, given the high demand, any expenditures are likely to be recouped when the house sells.
CONTRIBUTED
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
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HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
TOP PHOTO BY ALLEGRA ANDERSON; CONTRIBUTED
W
ith team sports and youth recreation schedules scaled back for the spring season, Fairfield County residents are hiring landscape architects and contractors to create playing fields and a range of semi-professional-looking courts, rinks and cages. “Sport courts are really popular right now,” Kevin Ambrosio says. “Parents want to give their kids the opportunity to succeed in sports. They’re gathering friends and hiring coaches to come to their house, so they need a basketball court or a hockey rink or a batting cage.” (To give themselves the opportunity to succeed in golf meanwhile, parents are opting for chipping and putting greens.) Often, these spaces require a fair amount of perfectly flat ground, which in turn requires substantial clearing and grading. In Westport, Ambrosio’s crew installed a batting cage 12 feet high, 14 feet wide and 60 feet long, floored with AstroTurf and completely enclosed in strong netting. In Greenwich, they constructed a half-sized basketball court with the Michael Jordan logo and two layers of coated asphalt. Batting cages at this level can cost upwards of $20,000, high-end basketball courts from $20,000 to $60,000. Ambrosio’s company designs, builds, gets necessary permits and maintains projects for clients. Yet for plain, old-fashioned child’s play— aimlessly kicking a ball, flying a kite, hitting something with a stick, lying on a blanket looking at the clouds—leveled sections of a yard frequently suffice. “The big, open lawn is a request we’re seeing more and more of because people want flat play spaces for their children,” says James Doyle. For the Greenwich home with dramatically sloping backyard, his firm graded and seeded a large expanse of the property. Three sets of handsome stone steps, softened in between by banks of wild grasses, serve as a natural-looking transition from the upper terraces to tennis courts below. The cumulative effect of all these elements and features is to extend the seasons well beyond the time to come inside for the winter. With heated porches and paths, remotecontrol spas, and fireplaces and firepits, we may not need to go indoors again until the swimming pool freezes over—and maybe not even then.
above: James Doyle says he has received more requests for large, open lawn spaces to allow for more play space for clients' children. below: Ambrosio installed this completely enclosed batting cage in Westport.
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BOTTEGA VENETA
HOBBS
Trench coat; $3,850. bottegaveneta.com
Saskia trench coat; $400. Greenwich; hobbs.com
PRO TIP es in your closet ost important piec m e th of of e on is hide a magnitude “A great coat good to great, or m fro is ok Th . lo y g) an do e and can take op kids or walk th t in your pj’s to dr bined with m co — ics sins (slipping ou ss ed in the cla ot ro e lf ar s he nc ms and plaids. Ca season’s tre ils like leather tri ta de e. d rit an vo es fa r ap ne a desig oversized sh l khaki colors are na tio s di sic tra d ba an ay l ur everyd lengths prevai ent to elevate yo em el .” g in rd ha ish o fin to ct you tried It’s the perfe thout looking like wi l al — er th ge to and pull it all .COM DE –JANEL ALEXAN
FRAME
R, PERSONAL ST
YLIST, BUILDBYJ
MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION
ANEL
Astor jacket; $528. Greenwich, frame-store.com
1. ALTUZARRA
Ambretta cotton-blend trench coat; $2,295. altuzarra.com
TOP SPOTS Shop outerwear at some of our local favorites: Aritzia, Greenwich Club Monaco, Greenwich Darien Sport Shop, Darien Mitchells, Westport Ralph Lauren, New Canaan Richards, Greenwich Theory, Greenwich & Westport
2. ACNE STUDIOS
Chino cape-back cotton-blend trench coat; $800. acnestudios.com
3. BURBERRY 1
2
3
Stripe detail cotton gabardine trench coat; $2,750. us.burberry.com
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IRO
Limest belted paperbag leather pants; $1,355. intermixonline.com
MOUSSY
SPLENDID
Maywood tapered jean; $350. West, Westport; west2westport.com
Camo Ryland paperbag pant; $178. Westport; splendid.com
AVEC LES FILLES
Dover utility pants; $148. anthropologie.com
DESTINATION: DENIM Every jean queen should be in-the-know
Sorry, skinny jeans. We’re swapping out snug styles for relaxed fits with utility details, paperbag-waists and lived-in washes.
PERFECT FIT A variety of lengths, rises and extended and petite sizes are available at: 7 For All Mankind, Westport FRAME, Greenwich Veronica Beard, Greenwich
PRO TIP
WELL-STOCKED e chy khakis are th “I would say slou are ey Th . r spring 2021 biggest trend fo at th r e loungewea a step up from th ther ost of 2020. Whe m people wore for or ed o, high-waist drawstring, carg to dress the perfect way ’re ey th d, ze si over world.” back to the real ng ni tio si an tr le whi T, RSONAL STYLIS –AMY GUZZI, PE OM .C EFFECT THESTYLISTwestportmag.com
Discover your new favorite pair at: “B” Chic, Wilton Havana Jeans, Stamford Penfield Collective, Fairfield
TRADE UP Madewell and Rag & Bone offer discounts on new denim purchases when you bring in any older pair to donate (any brand).
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS; GUZZI BY JULIA D’AGASTINO
ALEX MILL
Expedition beltedwashed slim leg pants: $125. alexmill.com
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BOTTOM LINES
OSCAR DE LA RENTA
Floral high-waisted pants; $1,390. oscardelarenta.com
7 FOR ALL MANKIND
Trapunto belted wide-leg pant; $248. Westport; 7forallmankind.com
CAROLINA HERRERA
Silk Georgette wide-leg pants; $1,990. Mitchells, Westport; mitchellstores.com
VINCE
High-waist casual pant; $295. Greenwich, Westport; vince.com
When the occasion calls from something dressier, opt for trousers in super wide cuts. The silhouette elevates any look, whether you’re opting for subtle solids or hoping to stand out with statement-making prints.
STINE GOYA
Chet showpiece pants; $620. us.stinegoya.com
DIOR
Walk’N’Dior sneakers; $990. dior.com
SNEAK PEEK You can keep it casual but still look polished by sporting some smart sneakers. There’s truly a style for everyone, from options in neutral canvas and leather to bolder choices with pops of color and floral prints.
SUPERGA
The jute platform sneaker; $85. Shoes ‘N’ More, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport; shoesnmore.com
HENRY’S
Women’s Lewis lace up; $285. Greenwich; henrysleather.com
TRETORN
Callie sneaker; $95. The Perfect Provenance Greenwich; theperfect provenance.com
CHLOÉ
Franckie smooth calfskin sneaker; $525. Richards, Greenwich; mitchellstores.com
J.CREW
Saturday sneakers with Liberty® print detail; $118. Greenwich, New Canaan, Westport; jcrew.com
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ILA
Rose cut oval pendant; $1,640. Henry C. Reid, Fairfield; hcreidjewelers.com
1
2
1. JL ROCKS
Droplet necklace; $450. Westport; jlrocks.com
2. MONICA RICH KOSANN
LOEWE
Sun, moon & stars charm necklace; $3,900. Betteridge, Greenwich; betteridge.com
Flared stripedpoplin shirt; $1,150. matches fashion.com
BALLY
3. GUCCI
Ouroboros 70 cm snake pendant; $1,450. Manfredi Jewels, Greenwich, New Canaan; manfredijewels.com
3
1. COS
Silk oversized shirt; $135. Greenwich; cosstores.com
2. JOIE
3. ZARA
Naro Shirt; $138. Greenwich; joie.com
Oversized shirt; $39.90. Greenwich; zara.com
4. CITIZENS OF HUMANITY
Kayla shirt; $288. Darien Sport Shop; dariensport.com
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS
The best way to accessorize your perfectly imperfect oversized button-down? Strings of delicate necklaces, of course. Mix metals, add varying lengths, and don’t be shy about showing a little sparkle.
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2
1
3
4
1. SHONA JOY
Chloe chevron balloon midi dress; $360. shonajoy.com
2. MAJE
Botanical print dress; $445. Nordstrom, The SoNo Collection; nordstrom.com
3.BROCK COLLECTION
Salvina floral midi dress; $1,875. Barneys at Saks, Greenwich; saks.com
4. ULLA JOHNSON
Selea puff sleeve midi dress; $395. ullajohnson.com
ALESSANDRA RICH
SLIDE & CHIC
Slip your feet into something fabulous ROAM
TIBI
The puffy sandal in sky blue; $137. Fred, Old Greenwich; thefredshop.com
Beryen sandal; $265. tibi.com
ANDREW MITCHELL BY THOMAS MCGOVERN
PRO TIP look the easiest way to “Day dresses are a s it’ r he et ring—wh super chic this sp ing nn ru r fo rs with sneake cotton sundress for ps m pu th wi shirtdress isp cr a or s nd ra er d done’ e perfect ‘one an the office—it’s th ial.” wardrobe essent
No 21
Chunky chainembellished slide sandals; $840. numeroventuno.com
R, CO-OWNER, CHELL-NAMDA –ANDREW MIT DS AR CH RI , MITCHELLS
AQUATALIA
Ivie sandal; $295. aquatalia.com
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TOD’S
GUERLAIN
Météorites Highlighting Powder Pearls; $64. Sephora, Greenwich; sephora.com
SLEEPER
Atlanta balloon sleeve linen dress; $320. modaoperandi.com
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
Zefira colorblock sandals; $895. christianlouboutin.com
PA S T E L P E R F E CT
RAY BAN
RB3138; $154. Sunglass Hut, Stamford Town Center; sunglasshut.com
JIL SANDER
Double-breasted leather coat with belt bag; $8,590. jilsander.com
“The chicest way to wear pa stel clothing is to add black and white accessories to the outfit—th ink powder blue b louse and trou sers + white booties + black hoop earrings. The contrast between soft co lor and the two extrem es of no color cr eate both balance and tension fo r the ultimate cool -girl look.”
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS
PRO TIP
MICHAEL STARS
Shorty cropped cardigan; $168. michaelstars.com
–MARIA TU westportmag.com
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2/11/21 8:53 AM
Sprinkle some soft-palette pieces into your wardrobe rotation. Shades of mint green, cotton candy pink, sky blue, sunny yellow and freshly-picked lavender will take you all the way from the start of spring through the end of summer. ZIMMERMANN
The lovestruck peplum bodice; $595. zimmermannwear.com
VERONICA BEARD
Ginta sateen-twill pant; $425. Greenwich; veronicabeard.com
STUART WEITZMAN
The Marguerita wedge; $295. Greenwich; stuartweitzman.com
TORY BURCH
Tory Sneaker, $228. Greenwich; toryburch.com
PROENZA SCHOULER
CARRY ON
CULT GAIA
Roksana large tote; $488. cultgaia.com
The latest arm candy to coordinate with your sorbet finds
GUCCI
BOTTEGA VENETA
Horsebit 1955 mini top handle bag; $1,980. gucci.com
The shell small bag; $2,450. bottegaveneta.com
MANSUR GAVRIEL
Mini pleated bucket bag; $695. mansurgavriel.com
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Can you imagine climbing 200 flights of stairs every day to get to school? In the rural community of Marre à Coiffe, Haiti, students and families climb the equivalent of 200 flights of stairs from the bottom of the mountain to access clean water, healthcare, and an education. This April, we’re challenging YOU to virtually hike Marre à Coiffe in solidarity while raising funds to support education and public health initiatives across Hope for Haiti's 24 partner communities.
REGISTER NOW: WWW.GIVE.HOPEFORHAITI.COM/HIKE
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advertisers index ART & ANTIQUES Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture...........................................................10
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Spring Luncheon ������������������������������������������������� 79 FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Winvian............................................................................................. 14
BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT California Closets.............................................................................. 9 Robert A. Cardello Architects.................................................. Cover 3 Smallbone Kitchens.......................................................................2, 3
HEALTH & BEAUTY Greenbook TMS NeuroHealth......................................................... 39 Hospital for Special Surgery............................................................ 11 LCB Senior Living, LLC.......................................................................5
BUSINESS & FINANCE Castle Connolly................................................................................ 51 Cummings & Lockwood – Greenwich............................................... 8 Broder & Orland LLC ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 44 Pullman & Comley ���������������������������������������������������������������������������47 UBS—Shantz Mantione Group (Stamford) ������������������������������������ 31
JEWELRY Henry C. Reid & Sons ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 13 Lux Bond & Green ��������������������������������������������������������������� Cover 2, 1 LANDSCAPING, NURSERY & FLORISTS Homefront Farmers ���������������������������������������������������������������������������7
EDUCATION & CHILDREN Brown University............................................................................. 53 Columbia University........................................................................ 53 Greens Farms Academy.................................................................. 39
NONPROFIT Breast Cancer Alliance. ������������������������������������������������������������������ 43 PHOTOGRAPHY Bob Capazzo Photography �������������������������������������������������������������� 8
EVENTS A-List Awards................................................................................... 61 Alzheimer’s Association of CT Celebrating Hope ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 54 Best of the Gold Coast 2021........................................................... 40 Center for Family Justice Gala.........................................................78 Hope for Haiti...................................................................................78
REAL ESTATE Willliam Raveis-Shelton HQ.................................................... Cover 4 MISCELLANEOUS Westy Self Storage.......................................................................... 43
Virtual Spring Luncheon Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at 12:30 p.m. featured speaker
Glennon Doyle Author of The New York Times best-selling books Untamed and Love Warrior!
Acclaimed writer, activist, and thought leader.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Visit ppsne.org/Luncheon
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postscript
MAR/APR 2021 / DONNA MOFFLY
OF DREAMS & HOUSES
O
ur annual real estate issue always reminds me of houses, of course, especially now with all those refugees from New York hustling northeast to our countryside. Growing up in an apartment, I dreamed of living in a house like my friends did. My father promised we would when the war was over. So in 1945 when we threw open the windows facing Shaker Boulevard and banged on pots and pans to celebrate victory, all I could think about was my house. But it was not to be until I was married. That’s why I’m still smitten with Joyce Kilmer’s vintage poem “The House with Nobody in It”. I wanted to live in that house and make it happy. Whenever I walk to Suffern along the Erie track I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black. I suppose I’ve passed it a hundred times, but I always stop for a minute And look at the house, the tragic house, the house with nobody in it.
I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things; That they hold the talk of spirits, their mirth and sorrowings. I know this house isn’t haunted, and I wish it were, I do; For it wouldn’t be so lonely if it had a ghost or two.
This house on the road to Suffern needs a dozen panes of glass, And somebody ought to weed the walk and take a scythe to the grass. It needs new paint and shingles, and the vines should be trimmed and tied; But what it needs the most of all is some people living inside.
Now, a new house standing empty, with staring window and door, Looks idle, perhaps, and foolish, like a hat on its block in the store. But there’s nothing mournful about it; it cannot be sad and lone For the lack of something within it that it has never known.
But a house that has done what a house should do, a house that has sheltered life, That has put its loving wooden arms around a man and his wife, A house that has echoed a baby’s laugh and held up his stumbling feet, Is the saddest sight when it’s left alone, that ever your eyes could meet.
So whenever I go to Suffern along the Erie traces I never go by the empty house without stopping and looking back, Yet it hurts me to look at the crumbling roof and the shutters fallen apart, For I can’t help thinking the poor old house is a house with a broken heart.
Alfred Joyce Kilmer was born in 1886 in Brunswick, New Jersey, son of the doctor who invented Johnson’s baby powder. He married, had five children and became a prolific poet, the much parodied poem “Trees” adding to his immense popularity. But his fame would be short lived. During World War I, Sgt. Kilmer was felled by a sniper’s bullet during the second Battle of the Marne in France, where he was buried and posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre. He was thirty-one years old.
VENTURE PHOTOGRAPHY, GREENWICH, CT
“I wanted to live in that house and make it happy.”
If I had a lot of money and all my debts were paid I’d put a gang of men to work with brush and saw and spade. I’d buy that place and fix it up the way it used to be And I’d find some people who wanted a home and give it to them free.
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Welcome to marketing in minutes. RAMP (Raveis Automated Marketing Program) is next-generation technology that reduces time to market, maximizes marketing firepower, and provides the homeowner with a complete analytics suite. With the push of a button, we can post a seller's listing to all major real estate websites and social media platforms to expedite its reach. RAMP tracks the property’s performance — every impression, click-through and lead — and sends a fully transparent real-time report directly to the homeowner. RAMP Marketing Services: · · · · · · · · ·
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203.227.4343 | 47 RIVERSIDE AVE | WESTPORT | CT 06880
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