Westport - May/June 2023

62 IT FEELS LIKE HOME Famed interior designer Elizabeth Bolognino transformed her Westport abode while working on an impressive portfolio of projects.

suzanne gannon

68 SHE SPARKLES

Entrepreneur Jennifer Fisher shares how she built her jewelry, home décor culinary and fragrance empire, and the mark she made on the Westport retail landscape.

emily liebert

74 LIVING THE GOOD LIFE Fairfield County is our playground. So we’ve combed our towns to bring you an insider’s guide to some of the more under-the-radar shops, activities, services and entertainment options you might be missing.

by eileen bartels

62

10 EDITOR’S LETTER

Meet the new Editor-in-Chief. by samantha

yanks

12 FOUNDER’S LETTER by donna

moffly

17 STATUS REPORT BUZZ

The new Clarendon Fine Art Gallery; The 50th anniversary of The Westport Fine Arts Festival; the doors are open at Penfield Collective.

SHOP

Shop for a cause with Brochu Walker and the Breast Cancer Alliance; and Amy Guzzi’s  Spring essentials!

DO

Celebrity trainer Eric Johnson expands his footprint to Westport; Learn the secrets of sun protection.

HOME

Find the art of summer; Embrace the natural look from raffia to rattan.

GO

Escape into the fairytale wonder of Wildflower Farms; Find your next beach read. EAT Al

Essentials;

Meal Delivery Services for Easy At-Home Dining

Westport feels related to how I grew up in the South. It’s slower, more genteel, more polite. The sense of tradition is familiar to me.

Elizabeth Bolognino

We act with honesty, fairness and respect at all times, no matter what.

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We are one team united in meeting the needs of our customers and each other.

We take complete responsibility for every aspect of our work.

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editorial editorial director

Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com

editor-in-chief: westport Samantha Yanks–samantha.yanks@moffly.com

style & community editor

Janel Alexander

books correspondent Emily Liebert

contributing editors

Megan Gagnon–editor, athome

Elizabeth Hole–editor, custom publishing

Julee Kaplan–editor, new canaan • darien

copy editors

Terry Christofferson, Lynne Piersall, David Podgurski, Scott Thomas, Isabella Critchell

contributing writers

Liz Barron, Tom Connor, Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Suzanne Gannon; Elizabeth Keyser, Jill Johnson Mann, Lauren Braun Costello, Samantha Critchell, Amy Guzzi, Emily Liebert, Erik Ofgang

editorial advisory board

G. Kenneth Bernhard, Bridgett Csapo-DiBonaventura, Nancy Conroy, Nancy Gault, Caren Hart Nelson, Jennifer O’Reilly

art

senior art director

Garvin Burke–garvin.burke@moffly.com

contributing art director

Venera Alexandrova–venera.alexandrova@moffly.com

production director

Tim Carr–tim.carr@moffly.com

assistant art director

Lisa Marie Servidio–lisa.servidio@moffly.com

senior photographer Bob Capazzo

digital media of digital content strategy

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digital marketing manager

Rachel MacDonald–rachel.macdonald@moffly.com

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editor’s letter

OUR CAPTIVATING COMMUNITY!

Hello Westport, Weston and Wilton! It brings me great joy to introduce myself as your new Editor-in-Chief. I couldn’t imagine a greater remit than to reflect on Moffly Media’s mission to ignite our community through conversation and creative collaboration. I have worn many hats in my career and all the roles I hold dear to me have storytelling at their core. From my days at Vogue and Oprah to years spent as Editorin-Chief of Hamptons and Gotham, through to launching my own agency where I am able to work with an incredible roster of brands, creating craveable content is at the heart of who I am.

Celebrating the vibrancy of our towns, honoring traditions and community pride and being a part of a wave of change are incredibly important to me.

I think of social media as a way to broaden our access to information. It is transforming the world globally and our towns locally and we want you to rely on us to stay informed about who and what to know and where to go daily in Westport, Weston and Wilton.

These pages will be filled with stories that need a deeper dive and can be read curled up fireside, lounging poolside or recharging at Compo Beach.

This issue celebrates high style and forward-thinking leadership, a celebration

anniversary of the Westport Fine Art Fair the centennial of the Fairfield County Hunt Club, ways to make your life luxuriously better from wellness gurus you need to know like Eric Johnson and Sarah Sadie Newett to at-home meal prep and delivery services new to our area.

Debut columnists include Samantha Critchell, Amy Guzzi and Lauren Braun Costello whose expertise in the Connecticut community, style and the culinary world are a welcome addition to our invaluable contributors Emily Liebert, who penned our cover story on Jennifer Fisher and is our go-to for Books coverage, Suzanne Gannon, whose profile of Elizabeth Bolognino takes us into the interior designers new Westport home, where she has recently planted roots, and gives us an exclusive look at a portfolio of Bolognino’s impressive projects; and Jill Johnson who herself celebrates her 20th year contributing to the magazine.

And so much more!

Westport, Weston and Wilton are home to a thriving community of artists and activists, creators, and creatives. I, for one, cannot wait to celebrate them!

A thousand thanks for welcoming us into your homes, inboxes and Instagram feeds.

1 With LTK’s Reesa Lake at an event we hosted along with The Connecticut Edit and panelists Vanessa Lewis, Chelsea Keyes McDuffie and Kat Ashmore at NÔMADE celebrating Connecticut’s leading creators.

2 Celebrating the opening of The Collective West with interior designer Elizabeth Bolognino.

3 Celebrating Lewis Liebert’s 50th birthday with Lewis and wife Emily, not only a dear friend but also Westport, Weston & Wilton’s Books Columnist and author of this issue’s cover feature on Jennifer Fisher.

founder’s page

MAY/JUNE 2023 / DONNA MOFFLY

OF HOUSES AND SPECIAL SPOTS

Everybody has one—a favorite place in the house. In the winter Jack’s was the bench in the living room by the fireplace, drink in hand, where he could sit for hours watching the flames dance. For you, it might be the cushy armchair in the den, the sunny window seat in the master bedroom or the old workbench in the basement with its lineup of hammers and pliers. A place where people won’t have to look too far to find you.

Mine is the little arched nook in our kitchen. It’s been there since World War II. When we bought our Riverside home in 1963, it was painted an obnoxious purply-blue. Now it’s yellow with green ivy paper on the back wall (still a bit obnoxious). Jack and I would remove the table and sit on the floor between the two benches with staple guns to replace their vinyl covers.

It seats four, but only if they are mini people. Some space is now taken up by a television set. My six-foot-five brother Mike said if he ever had to live in our house, the first thing he’d do would be to nuke the nook.

I’ll never nuke the nook. It holds too many memories.

This is where Jack used to perch our little red-headed son for haircuts. And where Jonathan’s three-year-old playgroup shelled peas—an early lesson in productivity and nutrition. If they rolled off the table onto the floor, who cared? We washed them off, cooked them up and ate them. It’s also where the kids learned how to play Go Fish.

Later, daughter Audrey and her high-school friends would wait until we’d left the house then settle into the nook for a game of quarters something about flipping a quarter into a glass filled with an inch of beer. If you’re unsuccessful, you have to drink the beer; if you’re successful, your friends have to drink it.

Still later, Audrey came home from college

for the weekend and surprised us with a candlelit gourmet dinner-for-two in the nook. She wanted to soften us up for the news that she had picked up a stray cat on the streets of Baltimore, and it was currently under wraps in her bedroom.

Our golden retriever Charlie used to take refuge under the benches in the nook when he was in trouble—with nose on paws and soulful eyes peering out at us.

This has always been a good place for serious conversation over a cup of tea—where I once gave a friend a heads-up about how her fiancé had abused his first wife. (She married him anyway, and he was wonderful to her.) And where another friend and I tried to figure out how to tell a neighbor that their teen was selling drugs at school, where he was known as “the chemist.” (He would shape up and became very successful in life.)

This is where houseguests enjoyed morning coffee, watching us flip pancakes. Where Jack and I would savor bowl of soup after a cocktail party. Where our young grandchildren headed first when they walked in the kitchen door. They’d squeeze into the nook to color Easter eggs or decorate Christmas cookies just like their parents used to do. Now they sit in the nook with their I-Pads making distorted faces at buddies miles away and doing high tech things grandparents don’t understand.

Today, this is where I sit to write thank-you notes, watch Law & Order and do my needlepoint while the pasta boils, let the cat out and eat breakfast with Morning Joe all within reach of the landline on the dishwasher.

Mine is an old-fashioned kitchen. No center island. No double-decker ovens. No fancy freezer. But it has The Nook, seeped in family history. Nope, it won’t be nuked on my watch.

Now if the dining room table could talk— but that’s another story.

“My six-foot-five brother Mike said if he ever had to live in our house, the first thing he’d do would be to nuke the nook.”

contributors

lauren braun costello

Lauren Braun Costello, a native New Yorker and now Westport local, is a classically trained chef, author, expert food stylist, and the force behind It’s Lauren, of Course! She has helped countless people become better cooks with her 100 days cooking live on Instagram. Lauren can be found in her sunny kitchen cooking, of course, or @itslaurenofcourse.

samantha critchell

Samantha Critchell grew up in Westport (go Class of ’89!) and now lives in Ridgefield with her family. After 17 years at the Associated Press as a writer and editor, she transitioned to roles leading content creation for fashion and lifestyle brands. On her best days, you’ll find her wearing ski boots or flip-flops–making her a forever New Englander.

amy guzzi

Amy Guzzi is the founder of the Stylist Effect. She lives in Weston with her husband and two children, Joey and Caroline. She started The Stylist Effect seven years ago after having her children and wanted to help women feel good about themselves through fashion.

jill johnson mann

As a writer for over 25 years, Johnson Mann has been published in the Washington Post, Glamour, numerous regional magazines, and here in Westport Magazine since 2003. She also wrote the book Cancer Looks Good on You, and helmed Tear Sheet, a modeling/ fashion magazine she founded at age 26. She recently penned the award-winning short film “Lux Freer,” which she produced through Westport’s Triple Threat Academy. She is the mom of four creative kids—three actors and an aspiring fashion designer

emily liebert

Emily Liebert is the USA Today bestselling author of seven novels and a New York Times bestselling celebrity ghostwriter. Her books are available worldwide. She’s been featured often in media via outlets such as NBC’s Today, The Rachael Ray Show, Anderson Cooper, InStyle Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Emily lives in Westport with her husband and their two sons.

Erik Ofgang is the co-author of “The Good Vices: From Beer to Sex, The Surprising Truth About What’s Actually Good For You,” and the former senior writer at Connecticut Magazine. He has written for the Washington Post, The Atlantic and is a Forbes.com contributor. He is an adjunct professor at WCSU’s creative and professional writing MFA program.

erik ofgang

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Downtown’s Glam New Gallery

CLARENDON FINE ART boasts contemporary classics, modern masterpieces and statement street art at ITS U.S. Flagship

by samantha yanks

That was the rallying cry from Westport Colonialists in 1777 when a fleet of British warships anchored off Compo Beach.

Today, local shoppers are more likely to exclaim “The British are here!” observing a more-welcome British invasion.

Westport is fast becoming a prized destination for British companies seeking to expand into the American market. And

why not? Our town’s longtime reputation as a haven for artists, actors, musicians and creative type and as a home to a native audience of lovers of culture and the arts, in general has made it a logical choice for U.K. enterprises.

On the heels of the London-based home furnishings company OKA opening downtown earlier this winter, Clarendon Fine Art, the British high-end gallery group,

above: The first North American flagship of Clarendon Fine Arts, the British high-end gallery group, which opened on Main Street in February.

opened its flagship U.S. gallery on February 10 at 22 Main Street. (Clarendon operates art galleries in London and dozens of other U.K. locations, as well as floating galleries onboard the royalty of British cruise ships: The Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Victoria, the Queen Mary II.)

“Westport has always been an arts town that has attracted art people, so there’s a real appreciation for the arts here,” says Eve Gianni, general manager of the Westport gallery, who comes to Clarendon from an interior design background and with previous gallery experience in the Hamptons. “I think people used to feel that they had to go to the City to find art. Now they can come here.”

The Westport gallery showcases a wide range of American and International artists, from blue-chip 20th century masters including Picasso, Miro, Chagall and Dali to contemporary artists such as Mr. Brainwash. It also exhibits the work emerging and midcareer artists, including established contemporary artists such as Fabian Perez and Sharie Valentine, across formspaintings, drawings, sculpture-and genres: landscape, wildlife life, and both figurative and abstract works.

Typically, Gianni and her two-woman staff walk through the gallery with prospective

Westport has always been an arts town that has attracted art people, so there’s a real appreciation for the arts here.

buyers, both those new to the art world and longtime art collectors, but they also make house calls to help determine which pieces will work in a prospective buyer’s home.

For first-time art buyers here, Gianni’s advice is simple: “Follow your heart. “

“A lot of people are overwhelmed by the amount of choices in the art world,” she adds. “So I think it’s really a matter of having a conversation to identify why customers are collecting-whether it’s because they want to fill their walls or because they’ve fallen in love with a piece.”

Simplifying and demystifying the art-buying process is central to founder and CEO Helen Swaby’s mission: “We create an inspirational journey through the art world for every individual, whether they are a seasoned art collector or are just starting out,” she says. “All our Art Advisors believe passionately in the joy of collecting, and we love nothing more than sharing that passion with others.”

Clarendon Fine Art Westport is open seven days a week. Its grand opening was celebrated at the end of April. For gallery hours and for more information, call 203.293.0976 or visit clarendonfineart.com.

left: Clarendon Fine Art showcases a wide range of American and International artists, including 20th century masters Picasso, Miro and Chagall. below: The gallery’s professional staff guides first-time and seasoned art collectors in appreciating the work of emerging plus established contemporary artists.

Eve Gianni, gallery manager

A Centennial Celebration!

The FAIRFIELD COUNTY HUNT CLUB jumps into its 100th year.

by sara robbin

Hold your horses! The Fairfield County Hunt Club (“FCHC”) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and spectators are invited to attend two exciting events in its honor.

In addition to its regularly scheduled June Horse Show on June 20 – 24, the FCHC will also be hosting the Ox Ridge June Horse Show from June 15 – 18,

which will showcase the hunter discipline of riding, based on style and accuracy. Both events feature children and adult riders of all ages and abilities. The events will be open to the public free of charge, although a few will be ticketed such as the club’s June 24 luncheon, which takes place during the national and international

derby competition. There will be daily sponsored charitable social events in partnership with the EQUUS Foundation and other animal (dog and cat) rescues, as well as a number of home, lifestyle, and equestrian vendors on hand.

“The June horse show is a special event for the horse community, as well as the

Westport and Fairfield community,” says Wynatte Chu, co-chairperson of the event and FCHC Board Member. “We encourage everyone to come and enjoy the horse show experience on our beautiful property.”

View the FCHC schedule for more details at huntclubonline.org.

left: Overlooking the show field and hospitality tent; lower left: Fairfield County Hunt Club rider, Emma Whidden and Zophie Cor, Overall Children’s Hunter Champion at the 2022 Fairfield June Show; right: Fairfield County Hunt Club rider, Margaret Huber and Danton du Houssolf competing in the Junior Equitation at the 2022 Fairfield June Show.

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GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY

THE 50TH ANNUAL WESTPORT FINE ARTS FESTIVAL IS A MUST-ATTEND EVENT FOR ART COLLECTORS.

by jill johnson mann

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Westport Fine Arts Festival, hosted by the Westport Downtown Association. Artistic Director Sue Brown Gordon promises, “We are pulling out all the stops!” The Memorial Day weekend event is not only for fine arts enthusiasts but also for the entire town to come out and make art, enjoy live performances, graze the food court and even make art history—a communal mural created during the weekend will live on for posterity

The festival features 140 juried artists from at least 30 states across the country—drawn here by the “educated patrons who really appreciate the art,” says Brown Gordon. “The festival has a national reputation. It’s really known as an artist’s art show in a town that was founded on the arts.” The festival even made the cover of The New Yorker, with an illustration by local artist Garrett Price in 1959. Abstract artist Linda Colletta, who opened her studio on Elm Street last year and first participated in the festival in 2014, says it was “an important pivot point in my career. I was a local artist and the community loved meeting me. To this day, I have people calling me after seeing my work there.”

The mixed media painter Dean Dimarzo, who won Best in Show last year, will be

back—likely in his favorite locale, in front of Anthropologie. Artwork in an array of media— painting, photography, sculpture, fiber, printmaking, mixed media, glass, ceramics, jewelry, wood, graphics, print making—will line Main and Elm streets and be available for purchase. This year’s artists also will compete for $5,000 in cash prizes.

The event is free to the public, and patrons will enjoy live music in three locations, an expansive food court, a dynamic children’s area with hands-on art activities for all ages in the Elm Street lot and a stage for community members to showcase all forms of performing arts. Expect School of Rock, Suzuki Music School, Triple Threat Academy and others to bring it in a way only Westport talent can! Suzuki is also bringing a piano kids can paint.

Not to be missed will be “The Hive,” an art installation in the form of a fantastical, largerthan-life pollinator garden, spearheaded by Norwalk Art Space resident artists Lily Morgan and Emily Teall to commemorate the fest’s Golden Anniversary. Westport Downtown Association Events Director Jill Dunn elaborates: “The Hive ties in the overlying theme of the 50th—celebrating the arts and community. Visitors can walk

through the honeycomb passages of The Hive, with its elaborate bees and flowers. It’s definitely Instagrammable—the place to snap family pics!” After the event, the 30’x 19’x 8’ installation will be disassembled and the pieces of it sold. “You can actually take home a piece of Westport art history,” says Dunn.

Kids, or anyone with a creative impulse, also can make Westport history. Miggs Burroughs and the Arts Collective of Westport have created a massive, jumbled-up paint-bynumbers mural that festival-goers can paint. “At the end, what the community collaboratively painted will be revealed,” says Dunn, “and this communal mural will be installed permanently somewhere in Westport.”

Art collectors from New England and the tri-state area travel in for the popular event and are sure to be wowed by more than the art this year. “It’s not your hometown little show anymore,” says Brown Gordon. “The festival has become a great way to get a ton of people to visit Westport and see what a wonderful town it is.”

Westport Fine Arts Festival, Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Westport. Admission is free.

For more info: Westport Fine Arts Festival

left: One of the most anticipated weekends Fairfield County is the Westport Fine Arts Festival. The 50th anniversary this year will be celebrated on Saturday, May 27, 10 AM – Sunday, May 28, 5 PM.

The Ultimate Edit

PENFIELD COLLECTIVE opens its doors in Sconset Square.

by erik ofgang

Vanessa Lewis was inspired to open the Penfield Collective after working as a merchant in the fashion industry for more than a decade and being unimpressed with many products she saw.

“I noticed that the market was saturated with just bad fits and fabrics and bad quality,” Lewis says. “So I really wanted to create a concept where Penfield Collective would tell its audience and its customers each season the must-have styles in each category.”

Penfield Collective opened its doors in Westport in March but previously operated out of Fairfield for about five years.

Beyond high-quality, curated selections, Penfield Collective is also known for its denim collection. “We very much curate the denim each season for exactly what the customer would want and need and their wardrobe,” Lewis says.

Lewis selects top items from sought-after labels that offer high-quality pieces produced in more sustainable ways such as Anine Bing, Suzie Kondi, Mother Denim, AGOLDE, 9Seed, Mikoh, Jennifer Fisher, Krewe and Janessa Leone.

“We love our labels,” Lewis says. In addition, Penfield Collective supports a variety of charities including Near & Far Aid, Norma Pfriem Breast Center, Breast Cancer Alliance, United Way, and Red Cross Disaster Relief.

The shop also recently started featuring jewelry from Stoned Jewelry Concierge, a personalized company owned by Westport friends Sandra Rose and Michelle Pollack.

“We really loved the store, it has a casual and unique vibe,” Rose says, with regard to partnering with Penfield Collective. “We’re super thankful to Vanessa and flattered that she and her team see something valuable in our collection, and agree with us that it’s a great partnership.”

penfield collective 15 Myrtle Ave. (#10 Sconset Square), Westport 203-292-8833, penfieldcollective.com

Hours: Mon.-Sat. 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Sun. noon-5:00 p.m.

left: Vanessa Lewis, Owner and Founder of Penfield Collective

SHOP FOR CHANGE

by samantha yanks

Conscious luxury clothing brand Brochu Walker creates evocative, everlasting designs that are as stylish as they are effortless. Less is always more, quality is never compromised; sustainability is always on their minds.

Best known for our exclusive, transeasonal knitwear and cashmere and their sought-after dress collection, Brochu Walker is a full lifestyle brand that also includes everything from wear-everywhere shirts to boots, fine jewelry and fragrance. Forever best-sellers include the Looker, pre-layered knits in an array of lightweight yarns and their Havana Dress, now available in multiple hues from hot pink to easy neutrals just in time for warmer temps in our coastal town.

Their newly renovated location in Westport is housed in one of downtown Westport’s most historical buildings and is a chic destination for all things luxe.

On May 11, in partnership with Breast Cancer Alliance, Westport Magazine and The Connecticut Edit, Brochu Walker invites you to shop and explore its beautiful new collection from which 20% of the day’s proceeds will be donated to Breast Cancer Alliance, a national breast cancer charity whose mission is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure.

From five to seven that evening, you can RSVP info@breastcanceralliance.org for a VIP shopping and styling experience with Samantha Yanks, Editor-in-Chief of Westport Magazine and The Connecticut Edit along with Karen Colella, BCA board member and breast cancer survivor. Light bites and cocktails will be served.

right: The Havana Dress in Hot Pink; $328. Available at Brochu Walker, 139 Main St, Westport

BROCHU WALKER X BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE PARTNER ON CAUSE-CENTRIC SHOPPING TIMED TO THE RELEASE OF THEIR NEW SUMMER

SHOP FOR A CAUSE

BENEFITING

FRIDAY | MAY 12TH 10AM-5PM

SWOON & PENFIELD COLLECTIVE SCONSET SQUARE | WESTPORT

FEATURING

JOIN NO STONE UNTURNED FOR THEIR 2ND ANNUAL LUXURY SHOPPING EVENT FRIDAY, MAY 12TH FROM 10AM-5PM AT SWOON AND PENFIELD COLLECTIVE IN SCONSET SQUARE. ALL PARTICIPATING BRANDS ARE DONATING 15% OF SALES TO EVERY MOTHER COUNTS, WHICH TACKLES THE GLOBAL MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS. BUY YOUR TICKET TODAY AND COME SUPPORT MAKING CHILDBIRTH SAFE FOR EVERY WOMAN.

FOLLOW @NO.STONE.UNTURNED.CT TO LEARN MORE

SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS.

Grand Slam Style

LOCAL RESOURCES ADDING SOME FASHIONABLE UPDATES TO YOUR NEXT SET !

by janel alexander and isabella critchell

Step up your game! We found some of the very best brands in our own backyard that are tennis dresses that are equally effortless and chic. There’s a lot of high energy around this trend–and we love that so many options are served up in breathable fabrics with pockets! We found some of the best brands that can help spice up your court attire, including local finds like Top Banana and Courtgirl.

left: Michele Cosentino, Top Banana Founder and model in Birchy Tennis Dress $185; middle: Courtgirl Matchtime Tennis Towel in pink $30; right: Tennis Dress in Terrazzo $152; DuoKnit Y-Back Bralette in Cool Gray Neon Butterflies $77.00; Tennis Skirt in White Butterflies $102.00

1 // TOP BANANA

To be the Top Banana is to be the most important person in the room-also used to describe the headliner at a comedy show, generally the person leading the way and in charge. That is just how Michele Cosentino and her two children saw themselves, only in jest…using humor to navigate through hard times and still come out on top.

Michele felt anything but on top as a tennis player after moving from NYC to Westport CT. In fact, the first time she stepped on the court, she felt an air of tension signaling just how serious this sport was taken by it’s players. Instead, her selfdeprecating humor and sense of style helped her soften some of those edges and find a sense of community, joy and friendship with the women she was playing with. Combining her background spent in graphic design and her time at Parsons studying Fashion Design, Michele began going through vintage patterns in search of nostalgia for a simpler time.

Some tweaks to old tennis dress patterns (good-bye challenging back zippers, uncomfortable fabrics and sharply structured bras) and soon others were asking to share her creations. Covid hit and Michele and her kids worked on expanding her hobby into a brand, unsure of where it would lead them- but happy to explore the challenge as a family. Soon the banana became their symbol of the joy and humor which was what had what had gotten them through so many challenging experiences in their past.

Top Banana’s tennis essentials are created from recycled fabrics that include SPF, antibacterial and moisture wicking properties in small batches made in NY and CT. Unique styles for the tennis enthusiast that include vintage details like peter pan collars and patch pockets with the signature banana motif are just a few of the styles you will find yourself coveting for center court. You can find them on-line at hellotopbanana.com or at trunk shows around the country. Time to update your look for Match Point!

2 // COURTGIRL

Courtgirl might arguably be more focused on what happens OFF the court than ON…and we couldn’t be more excited about it! Courtgirl searched all over Westchester, The Hamptons and Newport, but they ultimately

chose Westport as the location for their first showroom recognizing it was a community with the perfect energy for their raquet enthusiast designer gifting line.

Marina Roshe-an avid club tennis, pickle and paddle playerinfuses her understanding of the modern player with the combination of playful comraderie. Courtgirl designs unique gifts, coffee and barware all for the love of raquet sports. Roshe, a former branding specialist for the likes of LACOSTE, Tory Burch and US OPEN wanted to focus more on the social-side of entertaining off the court.

Courtgirls socks, water bottles, towels and bags lend themselves perfectly to fundraiser giveaways or party swag for your next club or team event. Some of our favorite items are the ice breaker coasters (with quirky quotes like “Is it hot in here or is it your backhand?” and swizzle stick drink stirrers topped with score cards and tennis balls. They just released the exclusive Westport tote in honor of the amazing community of court girls. They wanted to celebrate the women “who play, entertain, give and enjoy beautifully designed products”.

Courtgirl is looking forward to

hosting events at the space such as US Open watch parties and pop ups. If you are looking for a designer line that fits into your sporty lifestyle, definitely check them out!

3 // TEREZ

Terez’s all new Tennis Collection is designed to be worn on or off the court with styles including tennis dresses, tennis skirts, and matching sports bras. Made in Terez’s signature buttery soft + body-loving TLC (aka tender, love and care) fabric, the collection features colorful and vibrant prints, including butterflies, two-tone gingham, classic black and white checks, ballerina pink, stripes, and more. This collection is perfectly tailored to fit your lifestyle whether you wear it to play tennis, pickleball, out to brunch or even to run errands!

above: Top Banana All Set Tennis Dress with Raquet Motif $165 www.hellotopbanana.com

above: Courtgirl Westport Tote $250 and Mental Game Navy with black brim hat $45

TLC Crop T op in Spring Green $75.00; Tennis Skirt in Lemon $102.00

above: Doubles Partner Pick-up Line Coasters $20

HER STYLE

WHETHER THE MOTHER IN YOUR LIFE IS COOL OR CLASSIC — WE’VE GOT HER COVERED

by janel alexander

Elle Tweed Blazer, $595,

ISABEL MARANT

Style Note

Leave the fullness of the blouse untucked, but ground it with a great blazer.

VICTORIA BECKHAM

Victoria HighRise Straight-Leg

Ankle Jeans; $590, Saks, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

Westport; lbgreen.com

LOEWE

Flow Rubber Silver Sneaker, $690, Greenwich & Westport; shop.mitchellstores.com

Tyron Embroidered Logo Baseball Cap, $225, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

SYDNEY EVAN

Small Pure Script

Mama Necklace, $510, Greenwich & Westport; shop mitchellstores.com

JENNI KAYNE

Chloe Black

Stripe Crewneck, $295, Greenwich & Westport; jennikayne.com

SISLEY

Nutritive Lip Balm, $95, Greenwich, Darien & Westport; bluemercury.com

TROVATA

Cate Blouse, $268, Old Greenwich & Westport; thefredshop.com

THE ROW Ava Leather Mary Jane ballet flats, $790; net-a-porter.com

Style Note

Throw this cute sweater over your shoulders to break up the floral print.

LA LIGNE

The Molly Jeans, $195, Greenwich; lalignenyc.com

JACQUEMUS

Le Petite Panier Soli Straw Beach Bag, $475, Saks, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

trending NOW!

This spring is all about going back to basics. The trend is to shop for your closet with less being more. Invest in the staples, the white jean, the classic buttondown, the striped cardigan, the comfy sneaker, with the statement piece being the bold bathing suit. We transition to summer with easy beach wear, flowy sarongs and romantic dresses.

Amy Guzzi Weston-Based Amy Guzzi from the Stylist Effect shares her must have closet staples for spring!

SOLEIL TOILE Eres Pirogue Bustier One-Piece swimsuit; $645. soleiltoile.com

THE FRED SHOP AG jeans white jeans; $198. thefredshop.com

BROCHU WALKER everyday buttondown; $188. brochuwalker.com

SHOP MONARCH Palais ovale coffee table; $4,700. shophorne.com

J. MCLAUGHLIN Baccara Leather Grasscloth Bucket Bag; $268. jmclaughlin.com

Cira Lilac Palm Halter Cut-Out Maxi Dress; $850. shop.mitchellstores.com

MADEWELL Veja Vegan Leather Urca Sneakers; $185. madewell.com

BROCHU WALKER The Eden Stripe Crew Looker; $378. brochuwalker.com

JL ROCKS ON!

THE WESTPORT JEWELRY MECCA DOUBLES

ITS FOOTPRINT by erik ofgang

After 25 years in Westport, the beloved fine jewelry store JL Rocks is growing from 100 square feet to 200 square feet. “We are excited for the opportunity to expand our small but mighty footprint,” says owner Jamie Camche, who has lived in town with her husband, Glenn, for more than 20 years.

Camche started JL Rocks more than a quarter of a century ago as a brand at Westport luxury home store Bungalow, in Sconset Square. But the brand’s success led Camche to open her own brick-and-mortar store while still maintaining a presence at Bungalow, which is ongoing to this day.

At the expanded Westport store and a second location in

Greenwich, JL Rocks’ specialty remains accessible luxury pieces at affordable prices. A new featured piece Camche is excited about is the Limitless Link Earring, made of 14-karat yellow and white gold. She is also looking forward to showing “customers more JL Rocks collections, specifically inhouse designers Devon Woodhill and 79 Layers, along with our proprietary JL Rocks’ designs.”

JL Rocks

292 Post Road East, Westport 203-454-4541

jlrocks.com

Hours: Tuesday through Friday, 10:30 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. Closed Sunday/Monday

14K emerald and diamond rondelle charm $1,400.00 on a 14K 30” link chain $600.00; 14K  yellow gold link chain $1,370.00 to wear on its own or hang with charms middle: Assorted 14K turquoise, enamel and gold charms with diamonds to be worn on our link or ball chains. right: The Limitless Link earring allows you to wear one link alone as a simple huggie, or add three more links for the ultimate ear game. Made of 14K yellow and white gold. Links are available in a variety of sizes and finishes meant to be worn together including: solid, florentine and pave diamond styles.

left: Jamie Camche, Founder and Owner of JL Rocks

do Start The Shift

With the SSN Method, Transformative Coach SARAH SADIE NEWETT Helps You Bend Beyond Belief from her serene studio in Westport.

by jill johnson mann

Sarah Sadie Newett, creator of the SSN Method, calls herself a badass body transformation coach, but the shifts she inspires in her clients run way deeper than a firm derriere.

An initial session with the dancer turned aerialist turned out-of-the-box trainer usually goes like this: “We spend time connecting about what they want to be experiencing and parallels between their body, their relationships and their wealth or career. They tell me their story and where they are looking to create change. Then we shift into movement.”

That movement is a customized blend of yoga, pilates, dance and acrobatics, derived from Newett’s background: child tree climber in rural Maine, teen and professional dancer/

choreographer, Emerson College theater/dance major, aerialist with celebrities like Lady Gaga and L’il Kim and certified yoga/pilates/barre instructor. Add a battle with alcoholism in her twenties and a shattered wrist from an aerial apparatus malfunction at a performance, and the result is a human being uniquely in touch with what clients need to change in their bodies and lives.

“At its core, the SSN Method helps women feel powerful, free and alive,” says Newett. “That’s what most women are searching for, just as I was.”

Newett has an expansive library of classes that simply involve a roller and band or chair and towel for virtual students. She quips, “I’m the Dr. Seuss of body transformation: I can do

CLAIM YOUR CONFIDENCE

Brave steps toward self-love

Favorite acro trick I love hanging upside down.

Most rejuvenating exercise Puppy pose.

Best strength builder Pull-up.

Favorite motivating phrase You can do more than you know.

Guilty pleasure? I love sugar and reality TV.

it on a chair, over there, from anywhere!” There is no shame if a client only has time for a “Feel Good in 5” five-minute class. Newett lends customized support with calls or Facebook chats. “I’m also developing community-based classes,” she says.

Newett’s stunning studio in Westport features an aerial setup, and she also helps clients purchase the equipment they need to install their own. “I have an autistic client,” she says. “They respond very well to aerial work. I also love working with pre-natal and post-natal women.”

Raves one fan, “It is more than just physical activity. It gave me a connection to myself that I had been searching for feverishly.”

We are a 13,000 square foot gallery with more than 3 dozen dealers featuring a wide range of styles from antiquities to mid-century modern, with everything from jewelry and vintage clothing to furniture and art.

Open 7 days a week 10:30-5:30 daily

39 Knight Street Norwalk CT 06851 (203) 826-8575

fair eldantiqueanddesign.com

Instagram: @fcantiquedesign

Spa & Savor

Power Moves

Celebrity trainer ERIC JOHNSON’s roster of A-list clients keeps growing, as do his devotees in Westport.

by jill johnson mann

How did you get into personal training?

My first exposure to training was making the weight limit to play youth football. At eight years old, I was running hills with a garbage bag on and sucking and spitting lollipops. It was so unhealthy! Our basement playroom transformed into my brother Ryan’s and my first gym. Now we design and manage gyms throughout the East Coast. I studied exercise science at Sacred Heart and interned with Quinnipiac’s athletic teams before landing in New York--and now Westport!.

What is the age range of your clients?

Besides my threeyear-old son who is already doing pull-ups, I typically work with clientele from 25 to 65 years old.

Where do you do your sessions?

In a private facility or in-home.

What is your approach?

The overall goal is functional aesthetics. You could call it "show-and-go." I want my clients to feel great, move well and look awesome. I’m basically trying to make real life superheroes.

How did you reach the level that stars like Scarlett Johansson, Andrew Garfield and Jonathan Groff come to you?

Right place right time. It’s a combination of direct referrals and movie studios coming to me. Cultivating my craft and caring more than anyone else definitely helped.

Session cost?

I’ve been hosting pop-up workouts for $40/class. They sell out every weekend. I offer a variety of training options (semi-private, private, consulting), so price is dependent on level of service.

In-person training in CT. + NYC  eric@homagefitness.com or DM on IG @ericmjohnson

Eric’s 5 Tips to Optimal Training

Get a movement assessment, then address your weakest link.

Remember you can only adapt to what you can recover from.

Muscle is underrated for metabolic flexibility.

Set performance goals to switch your emphasis to the process vs. end goal.

Stay athletic and prime your nervous system by starting each session with a jump, throw, carry and dynamic mobility.

MEET YOUR HEROES!

GRAB-AND-GO SUNSCREEN FOR KIDS

Put Kidstick SPF 40 in your child’s pocket or backpack, and her skin will be protected for hours at the beach, sailing school, summer camp or anywhere in the great outdoors! MDSolarSciences’

Kidsticks are unscented, waterresistant and gentle on children’s skin while providing powerful, broad-spectrum protection. This sunscreen goes on quickly and smoothly. All MDSolarSciences sunscreen products are formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, the only active sunscreen ingredients considered safe by the FDA. Last summer, the company donated its SPFs to campers at Camp Mahackeno. But for everyday protection, visit MDSolarSciences. com for more info.

For the coastal town of Westport, the effects of summer's powerful rays during activities in and around Compo Beach are with the arrival of the months when we're swimming and sweating most!

Warmer temperatures have arrived, and with an increase of time spent outdoors in the heat, practicing safe sun application (and reapplication!) is key.

Equally important to a community driven by a passion for nature and sustainability combined with luxury is clean skin care. Connecticut-based MDSolarSciences' all natural, derm-developed skin and suncare protects, nourishes and restores skin for both adults and children.

“It’s a much different environment that our children are being exposed to,“ says the Westport mother of three and

CEO of MDSolarSciences, a local sunscreen and skin care company for children and adults.“

Given that the sun damage dermatologists see in adults frequently begins in childhood, it’s important that SPF be applied everyday, says Plato. And since chemical-based sunscreens are absorbed into the skin with potentially adverse effects, MDSolarSciences’ range of products are mineralbased, fragrance-free, sustainably packaged and include the only dermatologist-developed SPF for kids in the U.S. (see sidebar).

This summer, Plato and her team will be rolling out SPF programs across the town and outdoor venues for first responders, lifeguards at the beaches and staff at the Longshore Sailing School.

SUNSCREEN APPLICATION EDUCATION MAKES ON-THE-GO APPLICATION A BREEZE—SUSTAINABLE SKIN-CARE BRAND MDSOLARSCIENCES IS ROLLING OUT PROGRAMS ACROSS TOWN! by samantha yanks

right: After a rebrand, MD Solar Sciences' lineup has a fresh new look for kids and adults.

ALL AGLOW

the tri-state area and beyond to other markets. We are planning three new store openings in the next six months!

SY: where and how many locations do you have?

RL: Glowbar currently has six locations, five of them being in New York and one of them is in Connecticut, right here in Westport!

SY: Where do you love to spend time when you are in Westport?

RL: My favorite restaurant is Bartaco. I am always impressed with service-based businesses that pride themselves on hospitality and really walk the walk. I’ve been to two of their locations and the service and quality are A++. It’s delicious and friendly and delivers on its promise; something we aim to do at Glowbar too!

SY: What are you seeing as the greatest needs and requests from your clients?

Their singular mission is to help people feel confident in their skin. “Our facials are meant to make you feel good from the inside out because when you feel good, you do good and we want to have the experience at Glowbar be lasting throughout your day. I always say that if you feel good, you’re more patient with your partner or children, nicer to the barista when getting coffee and more likely to smile at a stranger. That’s what we hope Glowbar does for our clients”, shares Liverman.

RL: Most of our clients express that they have sensitive skin. I’ve been saying this for almost a decade now, but most consumers are doing too much at home and their skin is not sensitive, it is sensitized by all of the peels, exfoliants, and toners that they are playing with at home. This further emphasizes the need for Glowbar in all clients’ lives; a professional esthetician can guide you on your routine at home so your skin can glow 365 days a year!

SY: What are you looking forward to in 2023?

Meet Rachel Liverman, CEO and Founder of Glowbar, whose Connecticut flagship in Westport is the go-to for fast-facials and a remarkable edit of skincare products. The third-generation esthetician – her grandmother founded the first fully-accredited esthetics institute in the U.S. – saw a white space in the professional skincare industry. Glowbar is making skincare available to everyone by offering facials that can be applied to any lifestyle or budget. Their expert, no-fluff facials help consumers reach their skincare goals without the pain points of time or expense. It is an inclusive, affordable, time-sensitive facial that has lasting effects.

Samantha Yanks: How would you describe the service offered and what are the most popular?

Rachel Liverman: Glowbar offers customized 30-minute, $65, clinical-grade facials that have made them a breakout success. We reinvented the facial experience, with our quick but effective approach to facials.“Their experience includes an esthetician-led survey to better understand clients’ needs and to determine a treatment plan which can include dermaplaning, chemical peels, extractions, LED, microcurrent treatments.”

SY: Can you let us in into what you are working on now?

RL: We are focusing on expanding Glowbar’s studio count and growing our footprint both in

RL: I’m looking forward to growing our team and becoming a part of new communities. My favorite thing about Glowbar is the people and culture, and it gets me so excited to add to our leadership team and to expand into new markets!

glowbar

33 Elm Street, Westport 917-261-4300

RACHEL LIVERMAN'S CONNECTICUT GLOWBAR FLAGSHIP TURNS TWO! by samantha yanks

above: Glowbar's CEO and Founder Rachel Liverman has transformed the efficient, no-fluff facial space.

above: Glowbar has an edited lineup of products fit for their at-home regimen recommendations.

Super Natural

Escape to WILDFLOWER FARMS, where upstate ease blends

with luxury accommodations

by megan gagnon

The Hudson Valley has exploded with hospitality options over the last few years, beckoning city (and suburb) dwellers to discover a quieter, slower pace, complete with bucolic landscapes, picturesque mountain ranges, and lakes and streams that weave along wooded trails. The

latest addition—and perhaps the most-anticipated—is Wildflower Farms, a country-chic retreat with Auberge Resorts Collection amenities on 140 secluded acres in Gardiner, New York.

Owners Kristin and Phillip Rapoport know all too well about the necessity of the weekend reset. After many trips from NYC to Gardiner—where they’d initially visited for rock-climbing excursions—the couple bought a home in the area. Years later, they acquired the land that would become Wildflower Farms, a site that was once a tree nursery, set against the background of Shawangunk Ridge (“the Gunks,” as it’s known locally). They enlisted the help of business partner Zachary Kleinhandler, and now—as managing directors for the resort—the Rapoports invite

guests to fall in love with the region, too.

Stroll the orchards, get your hands dirty with a tour of the namesake farm, and take

advantage of seasonal activities, including those happening at Maplehouse, an interactive education center where visiting chefs test new recipes and

left: Enjoy live music and local beverages in The Green Room. middle: The best seats at Wildflower Farms are outside, among the 360-degree Hudson Valley views right: Black angus tartare—topped with fresh yolk and served with burnt sourdough—from Clay’s creative menu.

local artisans host pottery and baking workshops. Don’t forget to schedule a treatment at Thistle—the gorgeous spa dedicated to wellness and therapeutic bodywork—after a day’s hike or foraging mission.

A trip back to your cabin— one of 65 on the property— reveals minimalist architecture and décor inspired by the surrounding land. Design firm Ward + Gray pulled together warm wood, rich leather, handmade accents,

and textiles in shades that coordinate with the changing leaves.

And those eggs you collected earlier while visiting the chicken coop? They can be prepared for you at the resort’s restaurant, Clay, ensuring a true farm-totable experience. Chef Rob Lawson utilizes local ingredients (many grown or raised on-site) for his New American menu. Pairing a Berkshire pork chop or dry-aged porterhouse with wine from one of the carefully selected New York vintners will only make your meal more memorable.

The best place to end your day (or start your morning) is sitting around the giant fire pit on The Great Porch, an open-air anchor and gathering spot at the center of the property’s entrance. Grab a cozy chair and a craft cocktail, and take in the sweeping views of Hudson Valley’s natural beauty.

Wildflower Farms

2702 Main Street Gardiner, NY 12525 aubergeresorts.com/ wildflower-farms

GET A ROOM

GARDEN VARIETY

There are multiple places to unwind in the Meadow Cottage, including at the built-in window seat, in front of the gas fireplace, or in the freestanding soaking bathtub.

SUITE LIFE

With 1,150 square feet inside and additional outdoor space, there is plenty of room to spread out in the Ridge Suite. Bring the whole family, knowing you can indulge in the private cedar hot tub, when necessary.

OUTSIDE, IN

The Bower Cabins offer a chance to take in the canopy of surrounding trees from your personal terrace.

above: Sample the seasonal culinary selection in Clay’s elevated rustic dining room.

above: Get back to nature among the fields of namesake wildflowers.

With floor-to-ceiling windows in each cabin, you’ll always have the best view.

left: Take advantage of the outdoor shower in the Ridge Suite. top, right: The saltwater pool at Thistle sits at the heart of the spa. bottom, right: Cottages were designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape.

THE DEALMAKER

BY MAURICIO UMANSKY

You probably know him as Kyle Richard’s husband on The Real HousewivesofBeverly Hills or as the star of his new Netflix series BuyingBeverlyHills, but Mauricio Umansky’s greatest professional achievement is building his internationally renowned real estate brand, The Agency. From the challenges of his childhood to outgrowing his father’s textile business and leaving his brother-in-law Rick Hilton’s company, while also raising a family and maintaining a strong marriage for over twentyseven years, Mauricio shares plenty of advice and lessons for aspiring entrepreneurs and selfstarters on how to find success at work and at home. His journey has been anything but boring. So, get ready to join his exclusive and exciting world.

Book No Further

Spring into summer with these FIVE FASCINATING READS , including career and life strategies from a powerhouse CEO-meets-reality-TV-star, a novel inspired by the legendary actress Audrey Hepburn, two electrifying thrillers, and nostalgic fiction about former college sweethearts.

by emily liebert

THE AUDREY HEPBURN ESTATE

BY BRENDA JANOWITZ

The majestic Long Island estate where Emma Jansen grew up is going to be demolished. Well, she didn’t exactly live there. Her mother and father worked for the owners and they occupied the space over the garage, in the same way Audrey Hepburn’s character did in the film Sabrina. Still, Emma experienced a lot of firsts at the estate. Thus, she’s compelled to return, though she only felt truly accepted by the family’s grandson, Henry and by their driver’s son, Leo. As plans for the property unfold, Emma, Henry, and Leo come together after ten years and Emma is caught between two worlds and two loves. When a shocking secret about her own family is revealed, she’ll need to figure out what kind of life she currently desires and whom she wants to spend it with.

THE

SOULMATE

BY SALLY HEPWORTH

The NewYorkTimes bestselling author Sally Hepworth has done it again with this gripping and addictive novel about complex relationships, family, infidelity, mental illness and deceitfulness that nudges us to the breaking point. Gabe and Pippa live in a beautiful cottage in a quiet coastal town set on a dangerous cliff—a spot where people attempt to end their lives (and often succeed). Unless Gabe intervenes. Remarkably, he’s managed to, quite literally, talk several jumpers off the edge. Until one day when his valiant plan fails and a woman falls to her death…leaving a number of unanswered questions. As Pippa begins to unravel the truth, the perfect facade of her marriage becomes fractured and she’s forced to ask herself if Gabe is really her soulmate after all.

THE REWIND

BY ALLISON WINN SCOTCH

What happens when two former college sweethearts—who broke up before graduation and vowed to never speak to each other again— wake up a decade later in the same bed with wedding bands on their fingers and no idea how they got there? That’s the predicament Frankie and Ezra find themselves in on New Year’s Eve 1999, while back on their snowy, picturesque New England campus together for the wedding of mutual friends. Frankie has a successful career as a music manager and Ezra is ready to propose to his girlfriend. Everything should have gone smoothly, if they’d only been able to avoid each other. But now, with Ezra’s grandmother’s diamond on Frankie’s finger, they have to put aside old grievances and deal with their dilemma.

THE HOUSE GUEST

BY HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN

In this fiendish thriller from USAToday bestselling author Hank Phillippi Ryan, the question is, which character is the cat, and which is the mouse? When Alyssa Macallan is dumped by her rich and powerful husband, and a toxic divorce is inevitable, she’s horrified by what’s in store for her. Will she be left alone and broke as a result of his manipulative behavior? What she needs is a good friend. Someone who can support her through the tumultuous times to come. That’s when Bree Lorrance enters the picture. Bree is running from a dangerous relationship of her own and Alyssa offers up her guest house as a safe haven. Very quickly, the two become trusted confidantes. When Bree makes a surprising, but tempting offer, Alyssa wonders if they can help solve each other’s problems.

emily liebert

Emily Liebert is the USAToday bestselling author of seven novels and a NewYorkTimes bestselling celebrity ghostwriter. Her books are available worldwide.

LEVITTPAVILION.COM

Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers

Samara Joy

Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole

Alisa Amador

Michael Franti & Spearhead

top left: Numinous No. 2, an oil painting by abstract, Connecticut-based artist Julia Contacessi. top right: Adrift II, a textured abstract painting by upstate New York artist Teodora Guererra. bottom right: As Luck Would Have It, an abstracted figural oil painting on canvas by Massachusetts artist Michele Poirier-Mozzone.  bottom left: An original coastal oil painting by Long Island painter Daniel Pollera (1953-2022), titled Just the Two of Us.

Summer Vibes

SORELLE GALLERY's Feature Wall Showcases Rotating Artists Throughout the Summer.

When people walk into Sorelle Gallery on Church Lane in Westport, they shouldn’t feel intimated, even if they’ve never purchased art before, says Christine Jaworski, the gallery’s manager. “Art can be a little bit of a difficult thing to navigate,” she adds. “We’re always trying to provide context and education and help people feel comfortable making that jump into investing in artwork and building a collection.”

To that end, Sorelle offers prints in addition

by erik ofgang

to originals and helps customers get a sense of how a piece will look in their home by digitally imposing it into pictures or by letting them take a piece out on approval for three business days.

Owned by Sandra Pelletier, the gallery was originally founded in Saratoga Springs in 2008 and opened in New Canaan in 2014 before moving to Westport in 2020. “The vast majority of our artwork is by contemporary artists, which just means that they’re alive,” Jaworski says. “As far as style we offer as much variety as we can.”

Starting on the first Friday of the month, the gallery will be featuring two to three artists. Teodora Guererra and Julia Contacessi are featured May 5-27 and Michele Poirier-Mozzone and Daniel Pollera June 2-24.

Sorelle Gallery Fine Art

19 Church Lane, Westport 203-920-1900, sorellegallery.com/ Tuesday to Saturday 10:30 a.m., 6 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday

woven waves

on traditional wicker craftsmanship, these fun scalloped-edge pieces make a beautiful addition to any space.”

—melissa hawks, owner, the well appointed house, llc

1 COOPER CLASSICS Auden wall mirror; $498. Found, New Canaan; foundand design.com

2 THE WELL APPOINTED HOUSE Scalloped round wicker coffee table; $1,781. Greenwich; wellappointed house.com

3 REGINA ANDREW Summer outdoor pendant; $525. Chloe Winston Lighting Design, Norwalk; chloewinston lighting.com

4 OKA Talasa rattan tray; $130. Westport; oka.com

5 GUBI Basket chair by Joe Colombo; $3,999. West Out East, Westport; westouteast.com

6 BLOOMINGVILLE Wavy rattan bowls; $90 for set of three. burkedecor.com

7 AMANDA LINDROTH Wavy wicker orchid baskets; $45 for set of three. amandalindroth .com

by megan gagnon

AL FRESCO! WESTPORT.

by sam critchell

The marriage of fresh air and fresh flavors is the rejuvenation we all need as we come out of our winter hibernation. Lunches become a little longer, maybe the laughs are louder at dinner. #Westport seemingly has more outdoor dining options than ever and just as you were sprucing up your own patios and decks over the past few years, our local restaurants did, too.

“When dining outside, we love feeling physically comfortable, immersed in atmosphere and connected to our surroundings in a fun way,” says Patrick Jean, co-owner of Nomade on Main Street. “When elements are involved you never get the same exact experience twice! It really is about triggering the senses through local and organic connection.”

Come join us at some of the best tables in town for the patio-dining season.

FEW THINGS SUM UP SUMMERTIME MORE THAN DINING EN PLAIN AIR. OUR PICK OF WESTPORT'S TOP 10 MOST COVETED SPOTS TO SECURE A SEAT.

Left: Dining Al fresco is a worthwhile treat at The Whelk on the Saugatuck; Right: Octopus and a refreshing summertime cocktail at Casa Me

above: Filetto de Branzino

below: Celebrating the simplicity of authentic Italian cooking and bar

Casa Me

Casa Me's mission is to immediately transport diners to the Italian holiday they’ve dreamed of. The address reads Sconset Square, but the flavors are from another world: arancini with a bit of heat from spicy sausage, homemade pastas (Spaghetti Frutti di Mare to keep the vacation fantasy alive!) and patatine–French fries with truffle oil and Parmesan.

The space is designed as an “outdoor square,” says Pina Ferlisi, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Mario Fontana.

“Surrounded by European cafe tables, umbrellas, herb gardens, music and candles in a ‘dolce far niente’ way, we hope to transport our guests to a moment where they can lose track of time and place and dream about the sweetness of doing nothing on a warm summer’s day."

The Whelk 06

The Whelk also boasts a waterfront view, this time of the Saugatuck River. When the sun streams onto the patio, every bite of seafood stew or saltand-pepper squid from James Beard Award-nominated chef and owner Bill Taibe is that much more special. Like many of our outdoor treasures, the menu features as many sustainable and locallysourced ingredients as it can.

left and right: Both the globally-inspired cuisine and and the décor is inspired by some of the world's most cherished cultures from natural destinations like North Africa and Santorini.

NÔ MADE 02

Culinary exploration continues at Nomade, the former Tavern on Main space that simultaneously modernized its look and feel with custom-made touches while warming up its welcome. Inspired by a true melting pot of favorite places, the menu reflects flavors from North Africa, Spain, France, Greece and other Mediterranean locales–and

The Boathouse Restaurant at Saugatuck Rowing Club

A stone’s throw away sits The Boathouse Restaurant at Saugatuck Rowing Club, where longtime favorites (think crab cakes and lobster rolls!) are as fresh as the catch of the day. Diners are reminded here that Westport is a coastal community and can hold its own in the company of New England’s best waterfront towns. And the setting is picture perfect: there’s officially a reason to share a staycation photo on social.

the space, with its indoor-turnsoutdoor terrance, aims to enhance the overall sensory experience.

“You hear the singing of birds, a spring rain shower or the sounds of a summer breeze as you enjoy the terrace. It always brings a smile to everyone when they see it for the first time. Add our music from Ibiza, cuisine from around the world and handcrafted artisanal creations from Morocco and beyond and you've got something to keep you coming back again and again for a completely new experience,” Jean says.

Don Memo 08

Don Memo has a unique window into all of Westport from its front-lawn tables in the heart of town. Another Taibe creation with his right hand, Chef Anthony Kostelis, this home–and it really does mimic the friendly, convivial experience of gathering at the home of someone you know–for creative Mexican food is inspired by travels around Mexico. Dishes such as tuna crudo and countless variations of tacos and tamales filled with fresh ingredients come alive with vibrancy and sometimes a dash of heat.

above: Poblano and potato taquitos, pepper jack, mint, cilantro, nuac cham; Margarita season has arrived

culture.

above: Poached sardines with Meyer lemon and aioli

above: A world-class rowing and fitness with the best waterfront dining Westport on the Saugatuck

Terrain 03

Terrain, meanwhile, blurs the line between an outdoor oasis and a dining space. Borrowing from its greenhouse-like house-and-garden retail space, the restaurant reflects an appreciation for nature, forging partnerships with several local growers. Its dishes are seasonally inspired and carefully curated with products from Gilbertie’s Farm, Holbrook Farm and Arethusa Dairy Farm, among others.

One of the best spots to enjoy Westport’s waterfront–and that’s why we love it, right?–is La Plage on the ground of Longshore Club Park. This newest incarnation of a local legendary spot creates a perfect-but-not-precious vibe. Enjoy locally harvested seafood, including oysters, along with fresh produce and sustainable meats, in a space that turns any meal into a full-on beach day.

LaPlage 04

One of the best spots to enjoy Westport’s waterfront–and that’s why we love it, right?–is La Plage on the ground of Longshore Club Park. This newest incarnation of a local legendary spot creates a perfect-but-not-precious vibe. Enjoy locally harvested seafood, including oysters, along with fresh produce and sustainable meats, in a space that turns any meal into a full-on beach day.

Oko 10

The Cottage 05

The Cottage, though, is appointment dining. It’s everything you want for a thoughtful, creative experience that you know has the best interest of area artisan farmers and growers at heart. The tables that spill out onto its patio carry through the cozy intimate feel and gracious hospitality of the restaurant that boasts hand-cut pastas and outstanding seafood.

bartaco

09

A festive spirit comes alive at Bartaco, a friendly, casual neighborhood spot that just happens to have a panoramic view of the river AND downtown. If the tacos–and the signature margarita–didn’t have as many fans as they do, one could imagine spending the day here, dreaming of wanderlust adventures with a side of guacamole.

The last but definitely not least is our very own Oko, the best worst-kept secret Westport has to offer. Also from Brian Lewis of The Cottage, diners enjoy an innovative take on traditional Japanese recipes from this outdoor hideaway behind the historic Vigilant Hose Company Firehouse. The fresh and truly fabulous sushi–and let’s do justice for the sashimi and OKOnomiyaki (suckling pork belly with egg, mayu mayo, nori and scallion)fills the craving for light and bright on a summer’s night.

above:

below:

above: This beachy spot with a bar and patio serves unique street tacos and specialty cocktails while overlooking the waterfront.

Using ingredients from local farms and waters and the Tsukiji fish market in Japan;

The restaurant features an open design flowing from the kitchen through the bar and into the dining room.

above: The indoor, outdoor flow at Chef Brian Lewis' restaurant perfectly accompanies the seasonal New American plates and signature cocktails. PHOTOGRAPHS: BARTACO BY MANNY VARGAS ;LA PLAGE BY GARVIN BURKE; ALL THE REST CONTRIBUTED

Lauren Braun Costello

is a native New Yorker and now Westport local who is a classically trained chef, author, expert food stylist, and the force behind It’s Lauren, of Course! She has helped countless people become better cooks with her 100 days of cooking live on Instagram. Lauren can be found in her sunny kitchen cooking, of course or @itslaurenofcourse

BEACH BITES

SHOP LOCALLY AND CREATE BOLD FLAVORS FOR ON THE GO.

he warm weather and lingering daylight are here at long last, nature’s cues to begin feasting al fresco. Putting together the perfect picnic is effortless when you know what to make and how to pack it like a pro. Our local area has countless places to picnic in style, and there are just as many options to source delicious ingredients. Whether you are gathering at Compo Beach, hiking in Devil’s Den, or boating on the Sound, a well-planned picnic is as essential as sunscreen. The following tips and recipes are sure to make your first picnic of the season a success.

left: Sustainable paper products are ideal for picnics.

Smokey Chicken Sandwiches

Made with only four ingredients but full of complex and alluring flavors, this sandwich comes together in minutes. Serve this sandwich and you’ll look like a culinary genius thanks to an assist from macha salsa, a Mexican-style chili crunch from Alma Mexican Foods. Replace the chicken with grilled vegetables for a meatless meal.

1 three-grain batard or other large crusty loaf

6 pieces thinly sliced grilled chicken 1 pound fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced ¼ cup macha salsa with cherries

MAY 11!

The Westport Farmers' Market opens for the season. Every Thursday 10 am -2pm

Local Ingredient Superstars

KALE

Slice the bread lengthwise into two long halves. Spread each half with a thin coating of macha salsa. Layer the bottom half with sliced mozzarella.

Then top with grilled chicken and remaining bread. Slice crosswise into six portions. Serve immediately or wrap in paper for a picnic.

PRO TIP: Store leftover sandwiches in the refrigerator; warm in the oven wrapped loosely in foil.

left: Support the WFM with a tote purchase. $40 at the market or westportfarmers market.com.

How to Pack a Moveable Feast

Stress-Free Food

Plan a menu that is as easy to prepare as it is to eat. Think sandwiches, salads, whole and cut fruit, cheese, charcuterie, nuts, crudités, dips. Dishes that are best prepared in advanced and can be assembled easily before packing are ideal. Foods that leave fingers and faces free from being sticky should top the list.

Waste Not

Avoid things like bone-in meats and whole foods with pits, cobs, and cores. Buffalo chicken salad or sandwiches are better choices than wings. The less there is to throw away or compost the better. No one wants to lug home a bunch of trash at the end of a meal on the go.

Pack Like a Pro

Never suffocate your sandwiches by putting them in direct contact

with plastic wrap and foil. Let your sandwiches breathe by packing them in paper. Lunchskins are planet-friendly wrappers that prevent sandwiches from becoming soggy or chewy. These self-sealing paper bags, sold at many local grocery stores, come in two sizes and several fun colors and patterns. Brown paper cartons are an excellent alternative to glass or plastic containers for salads found in the prepared foods

This healthy and nutritious green found at the Westport Farmer’s Market is perfect for a picnic. The texture and flavor improve as the greens sit in the dressing.

above: Guilt-free disposable cutlery.

section at Whole Foods.

Fancy But Functional

Select cutlery, plates, and napkins that are stylish and sustainable. Elevate your picnic experience with lightweight and eco-friendly alternatives to plastic like biodegradable wooden cutlery and compostable palm leaf plates. Clothlike paper napkins with clever pockets help to keep things organized and elegant.

Get Carried Away

While a wicker picnic basket is the iconic carrier, there are many more practical, lightweight, thermal options that look chic, keep foods cool, and are a breeze to clean.

Westport boutique

She-la-la has many options in a plethora of colors that can be monogrammed.

for more recipes go to westportmag.com

FRESH MOZZARELLA

You can get this cheese anywhere, but Stew Leonard’s makes theirs daily in-house and it’s the best.

THREE-GRAIN BATARD

A classic choice from artisan micro-bakery Wave Hill Breads that is ideal for making sandwiches hours before they are eaten thanks to a tender crumb and crusty exterior.

SALSA MACHA WITH CHERRIES

This seasonal Mexicanstyle chili crunch from Alma Mexican Foods is a magical condiment, a smokey and spicy flavor explosion that will take any dish to new heights.

MUST-TASTE MEAL SERVICES

ENJOYING QUALITY TIME AT THE DINNER TABLE IS VITAL BUT STRESSING OVER THE STOVE ISN'T. THESE COMPANIES HAVE YOUR BACK —AND YOUR FAMILY'S HEALTH TOO.

by jill johnson mann

Feast and Fettle

Feast, don’t fret, with Feast and Fettle’s meals prepared by professional chefs, using handpicked ingredients from local suppliers, and delivered to your home weekly. Each week features at least eight entrees and ten side dishes to choose from, including vegan options. The order deadline is Thursday at noon for the subsequent week. Orders are handpacked and chilled one day prior to delivery— fresh, never frozen.

Deliveries, in insulated bags, are made Sunday through Thursday.

Meals come with reheating instructions and are ready to enjoy in under ten minutes. No commitment—skip weeks as you like.

feastandfettle.com

Insta: @feastandfettle

Kinney Lane Foods

Chef Rachael Mahoney prides herself on her small women-run company focused on creating nutritious meals, delivered to customers’ homes. The menu, with seasonal ingredients largely locally sourced and organic, is designed with healthy eating in mind and preserving foods in their whole form. Meals are made daily in Kinney Lane’s New Canaan kitchen by a team of chefs. Many meals are free of gluten, dairy and refined sugars, and organic meat comes fresh from local farms. The order deadline is Friday afternoon for the following week.

Deliveries: Mon and Wed.

kinneylane.com

Insta: @kinneylanefoods

Mindfull Plate

Chef Laura James says food is her love language, and she’s ready to speak it fluently in your kitchen with her in-home meal prep concierge service. Enjoy a 15-minute free consultation call, and then James will propose a menu, do the grocery shopping, cook in your kitchen and leave you with six dishes to last three to four days. She uses locally sourced, organic ingredients as much as possible, with Double L Market and Superior Seafood in Stiles Market being two of her favorite Westport shops. Cost: $250 + groceries. mindfullplate.com

Insta: @mindfull_plate

Stocked By Three Owls

Stocked is an a la carte prepared foods marketplace that delivers to your door. No subscription, set meals, or plans—simply healthful, organic menus that change every week, with choices to mix and match: salads, grains, proteins, and more to incorporate as you like into your culinary routine. Stocked promises something for every age, diet and lifestyle. You select your delivery day (Mon, Wed or Thurs) and stock up for the week or choose a package, like the 3-day Fridge Stock. stockedbythreeowls.com

Insta: @stockedbythreeowls

WECO Hospitality

WECO’s chefs prepare family-style meals using ingredients from their partner farms and handdeliver them to your door in time for dinner—or you can pick up from their location near the Westport Train Station. All you do is heat, plate and call your crew to the table. No subscription fee or minimum order required. Just pay for the meals you order. Delivery is $6, for the bliss of doorbell to dinner in 10 minutes. WECO uses a trust-based payment model, billing for ingredients only; customers add what they like for labor, overhead and "love."

wecohospitality.com

Insta: @wecohospitality

above: WECO's Pulled-Pork Superbowl Sliders

above: Feast & Fettle’s Caprese Baked Chicken Breast, Roasted Yellow Potatoes with Chourico and Classic Caesar Salad

above: Kinney Lane's Lentil Dal above: Mindfull Plate's Gluten-Free Lasagna with Spinach

above: Stocked's Crudite, Citrus Salmon, Turkey Bolognese over Cavatappi, Chickpea Vegetable Salad and Maple Overnight Oats

money matters

BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

SECOND HOME SMARTS

Coldwell Banker Realty Westport, can help you figure out the answer. Or at least ask yourself the right questions. Often, deciding whether to buy or to rent a vacation home comes down to dollars and sense, versus dollars and cents.

connection there or some other emotional draw.

Temperatures are heating up. Is your desire to get out of town climbing as well?

If so, where to this year? A new locale you haven’t explored before, or the same summer spot your family or friends flock to each year? If it’s the latter, someone in your group will no doubt make that annual pronouncement: “Wouldn’t it be great to buy a place here?” Would it?

Julie Walsh, a Realtor with

“Is it worth it financially to buy a vacation home? People say, ‘It’s OK, because I can always sell it,’ but markets change all the time when it comes to buying and selling a home. Instead, you have to ask yourself, ‘Why do I like coming there? Why am I renting? Why do I want to buy?’” That bit of soul searching can help clarify you decide, Walsh says.

If your summer plans are the same this year—to return to the same spot as last year and years past with your children or your partner—then buying a place there might seem like the right answer, especially if you can just jump in the car and be there in a couple of hours. You know and like the area, perhaps you have a family

SUMMER SWAP

To make sure you should buy, “you have to try living there,” Walsh says. Rent for a long term, she says, and do some fact-finding while you’re there. “You have to ask every question. Ask the building inspectors, is any new construction going on? If you’re near the water, when was the last disaster? What does it cost to insure? What about hurricanes? What were the snow levels?” Even if you can’t stay there due to work or school, you’ll realize how often you and your loved ones want to dash off there, versus somewhere else. And think long-term. Will the house be as attractive as you, your partner and your children age?

Walsh, a native of Australia who lives in Westport, speaks from experience. Here in the United States, her family returned to their happy places—Lake Placid and the Virgin Islands—with regularity. Then their son discovered Jackson

Hole, a destination the whole family now loves. Instead of buying a place there to ski, Walsh’s son rents a big house for a month and everybody chips in. That gets him an extended stay in a beautiful place without having to be a homeowner. “People in his age group would rather be able to do an Airbnb and still have money in their pocket,” Walsh said.

If you do decide to buy, do the math. Thanks to inflation, the 20year fixed mortgage rate doubled in 2022 and has zigged and zagged this year. Tack on a half to one percent more for a mortgage for a vacation home. Plus, you’ll need at least a 10 percent downpayment to qualify, as loans for a second home are riskier than for a main residence. Paying the mortgage, utilities, taxes, insurance, repairs, maintenance and the like happens year-round, whether you occupy the home or not. And don’t forget to add in the cost of those fun vacationy things that appealed to you in the first place.

Get this, lower Fairfield County homeowners: We’re living in a summer hot spot! The very homes that we’re escaping fetch handsome rental fees from out-of-towners, Walsh says. “Because of the nature of Fairfield County, you’ve got everything here at your doorstep.” This includes myriad recreational options on the shoreline and in the woods, summer camps for kids, music venues in cities and towns, and New York City but a train ride away. As eager as we might be to explore someplace new, someone is just as eager to come here. Many New Yorkers don’t blink at paying $25,000 to $30,000 a month in the summertime for a down-County home with a pool, Walsh reports. And travelers from abroad might happily trade a month in their home in Tuscany or the south of France for a month in yours.

Julie Walsh

PLACES

9 NÔMADE Westport tablescape 10 Maggie Brady, Margaux Caniato 11 Jane Burke, Joyce Santos, Molly Ford 12 Samantha Yanks, Jeff Goldstein 13 Jenna Crandall, Lauren Vreeland 14 Samantha Yanks, , Mary Stuart, Reesa Lake 15 A bottle of Vergelegen G.V.B. Red wine 16 Samantha Yanks, Reesa Lake 17 Chynna Toliver, Lee Litumbe, Jenna Crandall 18 Emily Liebert, Jeff Goldstein, Samantha Goldstein 19 Lauren Vreeland

20 Reesa Lake, Samantha Yanks, Eleanor Banko, Amy Guzz, Kat Ashmore, Jenn Falik 21 Chelsea Keyes McDuffie, 22 Jeff Goldstein, Reesa Lake 23 Jenn Falik, Jenna Crandall 24 Danielle McGrory, Alexandra Willinger Cohen, Kate Sloan 25 Kat Ashmore, Reesa Lake, Samantha Yanks, Eleanor Banco 26 Jody Forma Peters, Jennifer Adell, Vanessa Forma Lewis 27 Reesa Lake, Samantha Yanks 28 Shannon Doherty 29 Eugene Havemann, Travis Max Murphy from Vergelegen Wine 30 Reesa Lake, Patrick Jean, Samantha Yanks 31 NÔMADE Westport Mango Shrimp Shooters appetizers 32 Leigh Hansen, Dianae Morrisey, Samantha Yanks, Alston Calabrese

Westy Mover Concierge

For over thirty years, Westy Mover Concierge has recommended select movers to thousands of customers in order to make experience pleasant and at reasonable cost. Westy does not charge movers for the service, but insists that they satisfy our customers.

PRESENTED BY

Day & Boarding School Fair

Wednesday, May 10 5:30–7:30 p.m.

New Canaan Country School 635 Frogtown Rd, New Canaan, CT

For a list of schools attending and to register for this free event, please visit: schoolstoknow.com

Presented in partnership with:

Monday, June 26th, 2023

Shorehaven Golf Club, 14 Canfield Ave, Norwalk

For sponsorship opportunities: Nikki LaFaye at nikki@carvercenterct.org or (203) 945-9665

Your generosity closes opportunity gaps for 2,500+ children attending 22 schools in Norwalk and Bridgeport

carvernorwalk.org

Oh What a Night!

Autostrada Westport was rockin’ on Saturday, February 11, as 100+ guests danced the night away at the boutique automotive club and showroom to celebrate Lewis Liebert’s 50th birthday. Of course, we were on the scene to scoop all of the exclusive details.

Hosts: Lewis Liebert, CEO of Performance Flight and Custom Jet Charters and his wife, Emily Liebert, bestselling author and Westport, Weston & Wilton Magazine Books Correspondent. Menu: Party revelers dined on a selection of hors d’oeuvres and roaming stations catered by ONTHEMARC Events, including Ahi Tuna Tostadas, Peking Duck Pancakes, Fried Oyster Bahn-Mi, Mexican Short Rib Tacos, Salmon Sliders, Warm Chocolate Cookies and Red Velvet Whoopie Pies. Music: Soulsystem Orchestras 12-piece band brought down the house with top hits from the past three decades. Cake: Confections by Crystal designed a replica of Liebert’s Porsche 911 race car with dark chocolate cake and Madagascar vanilla Buttercream. Cocktails: The Cup Bearer elevated the occasion with cutting edge mixology to create a unique and memorable beverage experience. Snapshots: Photographer Kyle Norton captured all of the fabulous moments. Special Touch: Ice Matters™ carved an ice luge of Liebert’s Porsche 911 race car for guests to enjoy shots of their favorite spirits. Pièce de Résistance: Adam Goldberg treated the crowd to 10 dozen late night pizza bagels from PopUpBagels. W

LEWIS LIEBERT’S 50TH / Autostrada Westport

1 Birthday boy, Lewis Liebert, with wife Emily Liebert 2 Jamie Lissette and Jason Epstein 3 Guests hit the dance floor 4 Cake by Confections by Crystal 5 Lisa Levi, Lorian Perkins, Anne Greenberg and Anne Epstein 6 Jonathan Farber and Jen Senn 7 Lauren Braun Costello and Sean Costello 8 Ice luge designed by Ice Matters™ 9 Liebert, with sons Hugo and Jaxsyn 10 Emily Liebert, Andi Sklar and Cynthia Vengrow 11 Liebert and the ladies: Ali Dorfman, Heather Bauer, Jen Goldberg, Anne Greenberg, Jen Terra Halberg and Jen Senn

by suzanne gannon portrait by andrea carson

IT FEELS LIKE HOME

World renonwned interior designer elizabeth bolognino plants firm roots in Westport

this photo: Bolognino moved into this 2003 center-hall Colonial in central Westport with her husband, Justin, and three children after selling her home in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn in 2021. She likens the Westport sensibility to that of Fairhope, Alabama where she spent her summers growing up.

IInterior designer Elizabeth Bolognino talks a lot about story. Fed by a natural spring of historical references, academic constructs, and three-dimensional ideas that manifest in her many installations, she looks for the story of a place, the story of its inhabitants, the story of that very particular piece of furniture fashioned before your grandmother was born.

Once she finds a thread, she builds the narrative around it and finishes with a flourish. A classic New York six worthy of a high-octane re-do gets a tuftedvelvet sofa the inky hue of an anti-oxidant-rich shot of POM Wonderful! A behemoth apartment on Tribeca’s riverfront lands, as a backsplash, a veined slab of marble winking with mineral deposits. Luxurious penthouses in a new development on Toronto’s Richmond Hill get shiny fixtures and finishes befitting Double-Oh-Seven himself.

The designer, a Georgia peach who, after a decade and a half in New York arrived in Westport in 2021 under the cover of the pandemic, is imaginative and shrewd. With 13 years under her belt at the helm of Elizabeth Bolognino Interiors—and with offices in New York City and South Florida as well as a home studio in Westport—she remains a creative whose hands touch every one of her projects.

At Westport HQ on a recent afternoon, Bolognino’s housemates are accounted for. Husband, Justin, founder and CEO of the pioneering immersive-experience laboratory, Meta, is exuberantly glued to the golf on the flat screen, seven iron in hand; Frankie, seven, is marveling at the resident tooth fairy’s generosity during her recent streak of lost teeth; three-year-old son, Just, provides play-by-play on the winter strawberries he’s consuming; Billie Holiday, the yellow lab, lobbies for affection and foodstuffs from siblings and strangers alike; and Chloe, 12, discusses her aspirations as a student of acting while slurping

a bubble tea. The proximity of both the Country Playhouse and the Staples Players is a bonus.

The Bologninos—technically the Bolognini—bought the six-bedroom, fiveand-a-half bath, center-hall Colonial in central Westport after selling their apartment in Brooklyn’s Ditmas Park in what amounted to an even swap on the balance sheet. Situated on an acre about a mile from Staples High School, the house is tucked behind a hedged berm that more or less conceals the magic that is planned—or not.

For now, the 20-year-old floor plan is holding up as is, without significant changes. After all, there is an interiors empire to run, a line of furniture to produce, and a midcentury design show to host. (Bolognino’s concept is currently being shopped to streamers.)

Over a snack tray on a walnut dining-room table she designed, Bolognino is thinking out loud about art for a large wall covered in impressionistic dogwood blossoms seemingly afloat in a trickling stream, a nod to the tree

popular in Atlanta, her hometown. The art she hangs on it, she says, should reflect her husband’s Italian heritage.

Growing up, Bolognino spent her summers on the Gulf Coast in Fairhope, Alabama, overlooking picturesque Mobile Bay and soaking in the artistic milieu of her maternal grandparents, a painter and a woodcarver. Now a resident of New England, she delights in living close to Long Island Sound, where she goes to the beach, coached by local master gardener Alice Ely, and serving as an alternate on Westport’s Historic District Commission.

“Westport feels related to how I grew up in the South,” she says. “It’s slower, more genteel, more polite. The sense of tradition is familiar to me.”

At the University of Georgia, Bolognino studied graphic design and computer science and earned her B.S. before pursuing her M.S. at Pratt. At Pratt she negotiated an internship with noted interiors firm Yabu Pushelberg. In her third year, she was hired by YP; her job served as her senior thesis.

“YP’s standards were the best training I could get,” she says.

At Ralph Lauren, where she spent three years designing the company’s flagship stores on Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Avenue and in Seoul, Bolognino added texture and patina to her repertoire, finding, fixing—and often re-purposing—one-of-a-kind objects she acquired at Paris flea markets or in Lauren’s sprawling warehouse in Queens. Negotiations with artisans who could cane chairs or repair furs were legion, she recalls.

“I learned how to make movies in my mind and then how to create the stores around that.”

Now, under her own marquee, Bolognino has married the two sensibilities that have most profoundly influenced her point of view:  the inspiration of objects and details steeped in history and the concentrated energy of symmetry and pared-down forms.

She calls her concept “layered minimalism” and she’s trademarked it. “It’s a method, not a style,” she says, explaining that in approaching a project she applies the appropriate proportions of traditional and modern elements and references, and is always careful not to strip a house of its soul by gutting it. Like a modern storyteller putting a fresh spin on old material, she respects provenance, whether in a structure

above: The library epitomizes Bolognino’s club-room concept, which facilitates conversation. Paneling is stained the color of oxblood with a high gloss. right: The lobby derives its grandeur from its BeauxArts arched windows and centers on an Empire-style table from John Boone. Other features include a Steinway grand piano and a chandelier by Ralph Lauren. below: The apartment interior (below) represents Bolognino’s Contemporary concept in a standard unit with barrel chairs and a carpet by Eskayel in a custom colorway.

above: A room without windows, this Williamsburg library is a contemporary refuge that nods to earlier times. Illuminated shelving flanks a Murphy bed tucked behind a 1969 Reg Lancaster portrait of Francoise Hardy on a Honda motorcycle. The custom cabinetry features a polished-brass detail and the chairs are by Ralph Lauren Home. right: In this Amagansett home by Bates Masi Architects, Bolognino favored natural materials that echo the surrounding habitat. The dining table and chairs recall the materials and shapes of windsurfing, the owner’s hobby. Bar stools are by Mark Albrecht Studio.

left: c) Inspired by the interests of her clients—traveling, writing, collecting—Bolognino endeavored, in this prewar classic six off Park Avenue, to pay homage to a more glamorous era with a mix of modern and traditional elements both found and acquired. A sofa by William “Billy” Haines, once the “it” interior designer to Hollywood’s stars, sits beneath a monumental image from Shirin Neshat’s ‘Soliloquy’ series, which Bolognino says is the kind of piece that can tell us about those who inhabit the space.

or in a piece of art.

Bolognino appreciates how the zeitgeist of a particular period influences how things look— interiors, fashion, architecture, consumable goods.

“It’s all driven by socioeconomics,” she says. Her examples are numerous: Largescale manufacturing spawned the streamlined silhouettes of Art Deco. Biomorphism arose from a post-war freedom of thought.  The 2008 financial collapse brought austere Prohibition-era finishings. Covid’s dark ages prompted a yearning for comfort and light.

Bolognino’s luxuriant auburn hair and supple skin—she will soon be 43—lend her a equanimity that belies the stress that is inevitable when an immense cocktail table fails to arrive in time for an increasingly impatient client’s holiday party, say, or a contractor gets the counter height wrong when cutting custom cabinetry.

Referrals are the engine of Bolognino’s business, and a client relationship that endures through consecutive projects is ideal. To date, she’s been hired by musicians, record executives, magazine publishers, and creatures of fashion. She handles the flow with the help of

four employees and three consultants. Bolognino’s business is three-fold:  residential interiors, commercial commissions, and a customizable furniture line, each piece reflecting the ethos of a distinct period—or an original idea of her own. Her Collectors Fireplace embodies the latter. An all-in-one

marble and oak fireplace surround and shelving, the item addresses the persistent scourge of modern decor by hiding a television that pops out in the evening.

Apart from producing new furniture and outfitting colossal cedar-shaked cottages in Bridgehampton and embellishing skyscraper aeries on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, Bolognino’s current mega-project is the Watford, the gated Toronto community where the aforementioned penthouses are located. Its raison d’etre?  Nearby, “Deadpool” creator, actor, and investor Ryan Reynolds is backing a 1.2 million-square-foot movie studio, which will be Canada’s largest film-making hub to date.

In an exclusive partnership with the developer and her old pal Ralph Lauren (Home), which will provide all materials, Bolognino is decking out the penthouses with three distinct themes from which owners can choose—Traditional, Contemporary, and Moderne, the latter inspired by James Bond’s interior environs. Bolognino has blockbuster clients in mind. Indeed, soon she may take her storytelling all the way to Hollywood.

above: Bolognino spends many weekends in the Catskills where her property includes an original farmhouse and a contemporary barn that houses her husband’s music studio. In this room with a view, the mix of pieces is of Bolognino’s choosing: a string-tufted ottoman, an Empire-style table with which she says she is obsessed, and a mid-century rocker. left: A La Cornue range and hood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Westport feels related to how I grew up in the South. It’s slower, more genteel, more polite. The sense of tradition is familiar to me.

this photo: Double Natasha Lilly Huggies ,$395; Triple Lilly Huggie Hoops , $450; Ear Cuff Trio, $195; Micro Samira Ear Cuff, $125

Sparkles She

by emily liebert

photography by liz von hoene

hair by tommy buckett

makeup by elena miglino

styling by austen turner

W

hen asked what’s next for her, Jennifer Fisher’s answer is simple: “World domination.” As a powerhouse businesswoman who defines modern luxury, Jennifer has, not only, created wildly successful jewelry collections, she’s also grown her eponymous brand to encompass furniture, fashion, a recipe blog, and a line of salts that graces kitchens nationwide. In other words, her objective is hardly idealistic—global ascendency is well within her reach. Lucky for us, that includes Westport. Her jewelry can be found, locally, at Penfield Collective, now in Sconset Square, as can her salt (her fragrance will be there soon). “It’s such an honor to carry Jennifer Fisher at Penfield Collective,” says founder and owner, Vanessa Lewis. “I’ve been wearing her pieces for years, and I cook religiously with her salts. The moment you put on her jewelry, you feel like the most beautiful and fiercest version of yourself. I wear her Gothic Letter M necklace and hoops every day.”

Jennifer’s salts are also available in town at The Granola Bar, Old Mill Grocery & Deli, and Bungalow. TGB Hospitality Group co-founder and co-CEO, Julie Mountain, shares, “I started to use the Jennifer Fisher salts at home in my own cooking and loved them. I felt our customers aligned with her customers and audience. My partner, Dana Noorily, has been a huge fan of Jennifer Fisher for years, and we just felt like it was a perfect fit.”

We couldn’t agree more. That’s why we sat down with Jennifer to chat about how she got her start, what she’s up to now, and what she does in her spare time.

What prompted you to design a jewelry line?

JF: Prior to becoming a jewelry designer— which was a happy accident—I was a wardrobe stylist in Los Angeles for over 10 years. As a stylist I worked on commercials, advertising, and television sets. In my 30s, I went through chemotherapy, and it made the conceiving process difficult. After three years of trying to get pregnant, my son Shane was born, and I wanted a piece of jewelry to represent him that didn’t look like something everyone else was wearing. I wanted a piece of jewelry that felt bespoke and customized with my information. When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I sourced a very simple dog tag, stamped Shane on it and wore it on a heavy, long, gold chain. I would wear the necklace on set while I was styling, and it was an instant conversation piece. People immediately began asking me if I could make one for them or their significant others, so I began taking orders on set and making them for the grips and gaffers. Then people started asking for more designs, so I made new styles while I was at home with my six-month-old son. When my husband saw the orders piling up, he looked at me and said, “Jen, this is a business; you need a website.” In 2006, I launched a direct-to-consumer website, and Jennifer Fisher was officially born.

Your jewelry has been worn by Michelle Obama, Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Lopez, among many other celebrities. What makes it stand out in a saturated market? And how do you get it into the hands of such high profile women?

JF: We’ve been very fortunate with our celebrity clientele and relationships, which have all happened naturally over time. We don’t pay them. When celebrities wear our jewelry to the grocery store or out and about in their daily lives, not being styled on the red carpet, I think it gives the brand serious credibility because the individuals are choosing to wear it. We stand out, because once people touch and feel our hoops, they realize how lightweight the products are and how high-quality the materials are.

// All of our partnerships have happened organically, which has been a blessing. These collaborations have allowed me to expand beyond jewelry and engage in designing furniture for CB2, bedding for Kassatex and boots for Larroudé. //

JENNIFER FISHER

Your growth trajectory as an entre p reneur, starting with jewelry, and exploding into a multi faceted lifestyle brand has been extraordinary. What motivated you to expand into other areas? What’s the ethos of your brand?

JF: The ethos of my brand is to make everyday things cooler. All of our partnerships have happened organically, which has been a blessing. These collaborations have allowed me to expand beyond jewelry and engage in designing furniture for CB2 (which launched right before Covid), bedding for Kassatex, and boots for Larroudé. We’ve actually decided to create a few more styles with Larroudé for fall, so stay tuned. I can’t wait for everyone to see the new colors.

You have a prolific social media presence, which includes @jenniferfisherjewelry and @jenniferfisherkitchen. How much time do you devote to social media and how integral is it to your brand/sales?

JF: Social media, to me—Instagram in particular—is a great communication tool. I use it to speak to my clients, celebrities and to pretty much everybody via both of my accounts. In my mind, it’s like a phone system more than a photography and video site. I’m using it all day long, multiple times a day. Many people are shocked to learn that I handle all of the social media for the brand, which is not a small undertaking!

You have a gorgeous recipe blog on your website. What stimulated this? Do you love to cook? Are you a foodie?

JF: Thank you for saying that! I love to cook, and I’m a foodie, too. I enjoy making things that are delicious and colorful, but also simple, as I’m not classically trained in the kitchen. I learned from watching my parents and from

the cooking class I took after school in the sixth grade, which I credit for my brownie baking skills.

Tell us more about your home collaboration with CB2.

JF: The home collection I designed for CB2

was something that came to us organically and was two years in the making prior to launch. The partnership allowed me to design a home collection that felt like my jewelry. Pieces that are universal and appeal to everyone. I thought the neutral items would work with any color palette in a home. The collection felt timeless, which reflects the success of the collaboration. It’s all stuff you never realized you needed until you saw it. I’m really proud of what we were able to create with CB2; they were an amazing partner.

Your fragrance, My Scent, launched in April 2022 and sold out in two hours! How did this come about?

JF: My Scent was my Covid project. I could never find the perfect fragrance for myself; I was mixing five different aromas. As a result, for years, I’d be riding in an elevator and someone would say, “Who smells like the cookie you eat on vacation?” So I decided to create it for others. It’s a blend of predominantly vanilla and coconut that’s both comforting and sexy. The crazy thing is that so many people bought it without even smelling it!

Your salts have become a must-have item in every kitchen. What inspired these? Do you have a favorite?

JF: The inspiration for the salt came from not being able to find something in the market to season my eggs in the morning that didn’t have garlic and onion. It literally started with a homemade batch of the Universal Salt blend in a bowl on the side of my stove that I used to season my food. That was our first product, then came Spicy Salt and Curry Salt. My favorite, hands down, is the Spicy Salt.

When you’re not working, what do you love to do in your spare time?

JF: Cook. Although I guess you could say my hobby turned into part of my business! When I’m truly passionate about something, it’s hard to separate the two.

The ethos of my brand is to make everyday things cooler.

opposite page: top row left: Hailey Hoops, $650 top row right: My Scent, $65  bottom row left: Jennifer Fisher Universal Salt , $12 bottom row right: My Scent, $65

unique shops

outdoor activities great entertainment & useful services

The fun doesn't stop at our borders! Check out these under-the-radar gems—here, and in our neighboring towns. services

by Eileen Bartels

Unique specialty shops in every corner of Fairfield County

Small & Migthy

Remember the days when you were a kid and rode your bike to the local library to get punches on your summer reading challenge card? You can recreate those days by designing your own summer reading challenge. Fairfield County boasts an abundance of local independent bookstores, so why not make it your plan to do your summer reading by discovering a different independent bookstore, one shop at a time? Plan outings to visit local bookstores and take the time to stroll the nearby streets and cafes—fresh book in hand.

athena books

228 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich

hours: Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. athenabooksog.com

barrett bookshop

6 Corvin Drive, Darien

hours: Mon.–Fri. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. noon to 4 p.m. barrettbookstore.com

books on the common

404 Main Street, Ridgefield hours: Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. booksonthecommon.com

diane’s books

8 Grigg Street A, Greenwich hours: Mon.–Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. dianesbooks.com

dogwood books and gifts

254 E. Putnam Avenue, Greenwich hours: Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,Sun. 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. dogwoodbooksandgifts.com

elm street books

35 Elm Street, New Canaan

hours: Mon.–Sat. 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sun. noon to 5 p.m. elmstreetbooks.com

westport book shop

(nonprofit shop of used books)

23 Jesup Road, Westport hours: Sun. and Mon. Noon to 5 p.m., Tue.–Sat. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. westportbooksalesentures.org

westportmag.com

Athena bookstore in Old Greenwich VENERA ALEXANDROVA

When you’re looking for a cup of coffee that’s good for more than just your palate, make a date and bring some friends to Coffee for Good. This spot hits a home run in its mission of offering great coffee while providing training in food service operations to individuals with intellectual and developmental differences. Employees train at the shop and then go on to jobs in the community. Grab-and-go food, merchandise and an array of drinks from coffee to tea are tucked into the beautifully renovated ground floor location on Maple Avenue.

coffee for good

48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich hours:

Mon.–Sat. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. coffeeforgood.org

Freeman suits and Rhone shorts for the guys to Vineyard Vines blazers and Roller Rabbit PJs for the kids—and sports gear for everyone. Ease and service is the hallmark of this shop, with options for virtual shopping, curbside pickup and private shopping appointments. It also offers complimentary gift wrapping, alterations and local delivery in an eco-friendly smart car. If “the sport shop” doesn’t have what you’re looking for, do you really need it?

darien sport shop

1127 Post Road, Darien hours:

Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. dariensport.com

Take a mini vacation with a stop at Arden’s in Rowayton. This thoughtful coastal café and shop embraces the seaside charm of its small Norwalk enclave and allows visitors to escape to the beach, if only just for a lunch break. It sells housewares, table linens, and pantry provisions. The café features a thoughtful menu focused on sustainably. Check out the website for Camp Arden opportunities for kids, as well as unique adult workshops, communal after-hours dining experiences and intimate private events.

arden’s 158 Rowayton Avenue, Norwalk hours:

Tue.–Sat. 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. ardensrowayton.com

For over seventy-five years, Darien Sport Shop has provided one-stop shopping, from luxury brands to sporting goods, at their 4,000 square foot landmark building in Darien. This family-owned store has something for every person and price range—from iconic Diane Von Furstenberg dresses and Vuori leggings for the ladies to Hickey

Order from Barvida’s menu of clean-eating options like juices, smoothies, superfood lattes, acai and smoothie bowls, wraps and salads. Originating in Darien and recently opening in New Canaan, this is the perfect spot to refuel and recharge with nutrient-dense food—non-GMO produce, 100 percent organic ingredients and eco-conscious packaging.

Signature juices like The Dope Detox and The C Word are tasty, and the Mood Manager and Malibu smoothies will bring you back for more. If you’re looking to kick off

the summer with a nutrition reset, the café offers several cleanse plans that include smoothies, juices and wellness shots. Pickup and delivery options are available.

barvida

879 Post Road, Darien 137 Elm Street, New Canaan hours:

Mon.–Sat. 8 a.m.to 5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. thebarvida.com »

above: Shanalee Davis serves up a tasty cup of Joe at Coffee for Good.

above: Arden's co-owners and founders, Laura Jayson and Jill Brody Rowayton below: Barvida offers a wide range of smoothie bowls and cold-pressed juices.

ARDEN'S CONTRIBUTED; BARVIDA BY VENERA ALEXANDROVA

SCHOOL's OUt

We are lucky to have so many ways to keep our kids active and engaged all summer long. Just make sure to plan ahead and take advantage of all the great opportunities in our area

Shakespeare is accessible to kids of all ages at Shakespeare on the Sound in Pinkney Park Rowayton. In addition to this year’s main Shakespeare performance of As You Like It that runs Wednesday, June 14 through Sunday, July 2 (every day except Mondays) at 7 p.m., the organization offers educational performances for younger audiences. Plan to attend the free children’s thirty-minute version of As You Like It, performed

at 6 p.m. These mini-shows are suited for all ages. General admission does not include a seat, so bring a blanket or lawn chair. Food and beverages are allowed, and the park section opens at 4 p.m. VIP tickets are available and include a chair. And for the budding thespians in your life, check out the June workshops and camps for ages eight to fifteen.

shakespeare on the sound Pinkney Park 177 Rowayton Avenue, Norwalk shakespeareonthesound.org

above: Family-friendly fun at Shakespeare on the Sound in Rowayton

Long Island Sound is home to an amazing array of animals, and you can see many of them up close in Norwalk at The Maritime Aquarium. With over seventyfive exhibits and 7,000 animals, this world-class aquatic center houses everything from jellyfish to meerkats. As it’s more than just an aquarium—you can spend a day with the kids checking out the hands-on activities, 4-D movies and a variety of special events. From Animal Encounters to Seal Feeding to Story Time, there are things to captivate and engage every member of the family. Enjoy close-up views of the harbor seals in their new Pinniped Cove, a three-sided, two-level underwater attraction. Plan a visit around Seal Training Demonstrations at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Tickets for vistors thirteen to sixty-four are $29, children three to twelve are $20.95, 4-D theater admission is $7.

the maritime aquarium

10 North Street, Norwalk hours: Mon.–Sun. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., open until 6 p.m. in July and August maritimeaquarium.org

Greenwich Nature Days aims to instill awareness and cultivate joy and wonder by fostering connections with the natural world. Kids (pre-school through fifth grade) can explore, imagine and create via the nature immersion programs. Saturday, May 20, there is a drop-off program at Converse Brook Preserve with the Greenwich Land Trust. And a summer solstice program for women will be hosted on Wednesday, June 21. Visit the website for all activities and locations.

greenwichnaturedays.com

and August is apple time. Check the schedule for events, such as the annual firefly festival on Wednesday, June 14, and fishing derby on Thursday, May 18, at Blueberry Pond. There’s also craft and story time at the Animal Farm.

A little farther away in Shelton, Jones Family Farms invites you to pick berries all summer long. Valley Farm features blueberries and strawberries, while Pumpkinseed Hill includes those, as well as pumpkins and gourds in the fall.

Visit the website or call Farmer Jones Crop Hotline (203-9298425) to know which parts of the farm are open for visitors each day.

silverman’s farm

jones family farms

555 Walnut Tree Hill, Shelton hours: Mon.–Sat. 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sun. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. jonesfamilyfarms.com

Whether “It” caught your eye as you drove to the Cape or back from Watch Hill, just up the highway in New Haven right off I-95 sits It Adventure Ropes Course at Jordan’s Furniture, the world’s largest indoor adventure ropes course. This nearby destination is the perfect escape for those rainy or too-hot days. Four levels of adventure include Zip It (zip lines), Little It (suited for small children), Climb It (a fresh take on climbing walls) and Jump It (a free fall simulation). There are courses and attractions that provide appropriate challenges and fun for every member of the family. Book online to make sure you have a spot and save money on ticket prices. Prices start at $8 an hour for the smaller kid adventure course and climbing wall.

jordan’s furniture

400 Sargent Drive, New Haven hours: Mon.–Thurs. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fri.–Sat. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. itatjordans.com »

Summer is fruit-picking season, and just a short drive up the Merritt in Easton is Silverman’s Farm. June is strawberry season, July ushers in the blueberries

451 Sport Hill Road, Easton Animal Farm and Market hours:

Mon.–Sun. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pick Your Own 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. silvermansfarm.com

left: Take a trip under the sea at the Maritime Center in Norwalk

above: Adorable furry friends await at Silvermine’s Farms.

left: Who needs a candy store when you can pick nature’s candy? (At least that’s what you can tell the kids.)

MARITIME AQUARIUM; SILVERMINE'S FARM; MEGAN GAGNON

Get Out

Miles of shoreline and parks offer opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors.

Here are a few ways you can bathe in the sun and gaze at the stars

movies at bendheim western civic center Greenwich greenwichct.gov

movies at compo beach Westport westportct.gov

movies in the park, mill river park Stamford millriverpark.org

the remarkable theatre 50 Imperial Avenue, Westport remarkabletheater.org

travelers championship, tpl highlands

1 Golf Club Road, Cromwell travelerschampionship.com

(Screen and Sky)

It really feels like summer when you can stretch out on a blanket or lawn chair under the stars and catch an outdoor movie. Our communities offer an abundance of opportunities to enjoy outdoor cinema. Every Saturday movies start at sunset on the Great Steps at Mill River Park in Stamford. Greenwich hosts summer movie screenings at the Bendheim Western Civic Center, and Westport’s Compo Beach is the setting for its summer screen. Check local listings for movies and showtimes. For a truly old-fashioned drive-in movie, try something that is, well, remarkable. The Remarkable Theatre is located in downtown Westport and creates meaningful employment for people with disabilities. Check the website for summer listings.

Catch a glimpse of fan-favorite golfers like Rory Mcllroy at the PGA’s Travelers Championship at River Highlands in Cromwell, Monday, June 19 through Sunday, June 25. The course is located up north by Middletown and is New England’s only PGA stop on the tour. Tickets are sold through the Travelers Championship and Ticketmaster.

Create a personalized athletic challenge for yourself or a group with Conquer Events. This app allows you to set up your fitness tracking devices for a challenge of walking, biking, hiking or swimming covering a set number of miles (anywhere from twenty to over 2,000) in virtual destinations.

above: Our towns offer pletny of spots to enjoy the sand and surf.

Swim the great Barrier Reef or Hike along the Great Wall of China. This makes all those miles you log add up to more than another ring closed on your Apple Watch. As you hit milestones in your route, you can explore images and information about the local wildlife and attractions. Challenges

are $29. As you progress toward your destination, Conquer Events contributes to ecological initiatives. Reach 20 percent of your challenge and a tree is planted through the Eden Project. Meet another 20 percent and a contribution to the Plastic Bank is made to help curb plastics in the environment.

theconqueror.events

live music at the finish and a festival atmosphere. Proceeds from the race fund programs for cancer survivors.

Kick off your cycling summer on Sunday, May 21 at Sherwood Island State Park in Westport with The Bloomin' Metric. This bike tour offers four countryside to coastal route options—twentyfive, forty, seventy-five and 100 kilometers. The ride is sponsored by Sound Cyclists, a volunteerrun recreational cycling club that focuses on safety, fun and fitness. bike.ctchallenge.org bloominmetric.com

and continue for eleven Sundays, concluding on October 8 with The Grand Prix of Greenwich. All tickets include car passes, which allow entry for all vehicle occupants. Children of all ages and dogs on leashes are welcome. Bring a lawn blanket or low chair for seating.

Marcia Selden Catering is on-site with a la carte items or pre-order a Polo Picnic box. There is also a rotating schedule of food trucks.

Grease your gears for the CT Challenge, a cycling event in Westport on Wednesday, July 29 with options including ten, twentyfive, fifty, seventy-five and 100 miles. With so many courses, there is one to match all cycling levels— flat, coastal, inland or hilly. This grassroots charity tour features

Break out your Pretty Woman dress, pack up the kids and plan a Sunday at the Greenwich Polo Club. Matches open to the public on Sundays, beginning on June 4, with the East Coast Bronze Cup

Gates open at 1 p.m. Matches begin at 3 p.m. and conclude around 5 p.m. East Lawn passes start at $50, Reserved Umbrella East Lawn are $125, Grandstand Bleachers are $55, Cabanas start at $500 and come with four car passes. For the best views reserve The Player’s Lounge for $1,000, which comes with five car passes.

greenwich polo club field 1 Hurlingham Drive, Greenwich greenwichpoloclub.com »

above: Watch the ponies play at the Greenwich Polo Club. below: Take a virtual hike with Conquer Events.

GREENWICH POLO CLUB; CONQUER EVENTS

Take it Easy

Want to take back your meal prep time and enjoy summer evenings without spending hours in the kitchen? Enter Food Design Catering. In addition to providing amazing catering for your special events, Food Design now offers Family Meal deliveries. Menu items feed four or eight and include options for entrées, soups, salads, sides and desserts. (How does pan-seared filet mignon, butternut squash purée soup, snow peas with shallots and warm apple cobbler sound?) Or take it a step further with the Healthy Meal Plan and let these amazing chefs prepare you a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner with items like egg white frittatas, sesame-crusted salmon and truffle-seared chicken. fooddesigncatering.com

No need to struggle with glutenfree restrictions, thanks to these two bakers in the area. You can now have your cake and eat it, too, with no need to compromise the taste. Old Greenwich Baking’s philosophy sums it up with the phrase: OGBC is just good, not just "good for gluten free." Stock up on the gf baguettes, buttermilk biscuits and pecan pie for your next picnic or bbq through this online service. Everyone can enjoy the good life without having to guess if the baked treats are gf, thanks to the Stylish Spoon in SoNo. Try the OatMEAL cups with chia, blueberry and chocolate or grain-free donuts. All baked goods are dairy-free, soy-free, vegan and gf.

old greenwich baking order online, free delivery in Greenwich; $10 Fairfield County oldgreenwichbaking.com

stylish spoon

97 Water Street, South Norwalk hours:

Tues.–Thurs. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or by appointment stylishspoon.com

Give your dog more than just another walk around the block. K9 Trek offers stimulating hikes and group nature walks throughout Fairfield County for your favorite furry child. Services include pick up and drop off and there is complete supervision at all times. We all know, a good dog is a well-exercised—and tired—dog. Services start at $30 including transportation. k9trek.com

From gourmet meal delivery to specialty spa services and pet adventures, plenty of services are available to help you enjoy the lazy days of summer

top and left: Stylish Spoon

above: Old Greenwich Baking

The Well at the Mayflower Inn expands beyond simple spa services and is a full-on wellness destination. In addition to spa services, it offers body detox packages, guided forest bathing and nature hikes, all at the gorgeous Mayflower Inn in Litchfield County. Recognized Functional Medicine doctor

Dr. Frank Lipman oversees the new program.

Or escape to New York City for the day and check out The Well NYC, featuring the same signature East meets West programs. Schedule one of the transformative treatments from breathwork to vibrational energy sessions.

the well at the mayflower inn

118 Woodbury Road, Litchfield

The Well New York

2 East 15th Street, New York, NY the-well.com

That summer beach body is about more than just looking good—it’s about feeling great. Get ready to have fun in the sun with all the energy you deserve. Try one of Dr. Katie’s three-, five- and ten-day detoxes. Dr. Katie Takayasu is an Integrative Medicine doctor with a passion for plant-forward cooking and lifestyle balance who understands the pressures many woman face in seeking balance. Her seasonal health reset of anti-inflammatory nutrition is delivered to your door and comes with daily curated support from both doctor and coaches. Invest in getting yourself on the right track for summer and beyond. Doorstep delivery is available for Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Westport, New Canaan and Darien with programs starting at $159.

dr. katie wellness insights

745 Post Road, Darien drkatie.com

Give a little lift to your facial regime. Let Susan Knight in Greenwich give you an Acupuncture Facial Rejuvenation to diminish fine lines, reduce redness and boost your skin’s elasticity with this natural and ancient skin-care treatment. The five-step process includes a healing mask, body acupuncture to balance the organs, facial acupuncture, a pearl mask and finally, a facial massage to stimulate blood flow. Other acupuncture options include parent/teen and couples acupuncture. Afraid of needles? She offers cupping as well.

susan knight acupuncture

100 Melrose Avenue, Suite 107, Greenwich susanknightacu.com

above: Feel your blood pressure drop as soon as you step into The Well at The Mayflower Inn.

That’s En tertainment

Alive at Five hosts live music in downtown Stamford on Thursday nights from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for just $25. The outdoor summer concert series has become a staple in Stamford, offering great music from national and regional headliners. This year’s performances take place July 13, 20, 27 and August 3 in Stamford’s Mill River Park. You must be twentyone years old or over to attend.

Need a place to take the little ones? Roger Sherman Baldwin Park in Greenwich hosts its familyfriendly Wednesday Night Concert Series, June 28 through August 23. And Binney Park will offer two Sunday night shows (July 30 and August 27). Pack a picnic, ditch the shoes and dance in the grass.

The Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts in Westport is a true entertainment gem. It offers an amazing lineup of summer concerts and events with its “50 Free Nights Under the Stars” series. There are also ticketed performances throughout the season including Samara Joy,

And be sure to check out the goings-on at MoCA in Westport. This month, the museum will host two concerts (Friday, May 12, Iraqi violinist Ameen Makdad, and Saturday, May 20, Joni Mitchell tribute) within the stunning Rainbow in the Dark exhibit by German artist Anselm Reyle.

alive at five

Mill River Park, 1010 Washington Blvd., Stamford stamford-downtown.com

binney park

Binney Park Drive, Greenwich greenwich ct.gov

roger sherman baldwin park 100 Arch Street, Greenwich greenwichct.gov

levitt pavilion

40 Jessup Road, Westport levittpavilion.com

moca in westport

19 Newtown Turnpike, Westport mocawestport.org

Michael Franti & Spearhead and Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers.

right: Alive at Five in Stamford • Rainbow in the Dark at MoCA

Looking for a low-key and convenient option to New York City shows? We’ve got you covered

Save yourself a trip to the city and still see world class theater locally at the Westport Country Playhouse. This summer catch the classic thriller Dial M for Murder, running Tuesday, July 11 through Saturday, July 29. For a truly unique glimpse into the process of theater, check-out the Playhouse Script— script-in-hand run throughs—for an intimate look at artistic performance in progress. This onetime performance brings actors together to rehearse and perform

on a simple set and includes the audience in decisions regarding costumes and sets. Tickets are on sale for Monday, June 12 at 7 p.m. ($25, $20 for Westport Country Playhouse members).

Visit the website for other upcoming shows and special events. Tickets start at $35 and season ticket packages are available. Season ticket holders can customize the shows they attend and choose from a number of interesting pre- and postshow events such as Post-Play Dialogues, Backstage Pass and Thursday Talkback Q&A’s.

westport country playhouse

25 Powers Court, Westport westportplayhouse.org

the ridgefield playhouse

80 East Ridge, Ridgefield ridgefieldplayhouse.org

With smaller audiences, local playhouses provide an intimate setting to experience theater. Get your tickets to see Next to Normal at The Ridgefield Barn Friday, June 2, through Saturday, July 24. The Barn hosts year-round community theatre with cabaret seating. Tickets start at $33, with doors opening an hour prior to show, and guests may bring their own food and drink.

At Sterling Farms in Stamford, Curtain Call offers a dozen productions a year as well as Comedy Nights and Interactive Murder Mysteries at the Kweskin Theatre and Dressing Room Theatre. On Friday, June 2, through Saturday, June 17, see Assassins The Musical at Kweskin Theatre. Tickets start at $28 for seniors and $30 for adults.

the ridgefield theatre barn 37 Halpin Lane, Ridgefield ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org

curtain call 1349 Newfield Avenue, Stamford curtaincallinc.com

Let Art Garfunkel, the Wallflowers or America add more music to your date night with the line-up of favorite artists performing at the The Ridgefield Playhouse this summer. From tribute bands to the real thing, every week of the Playhouse’s summer calendar offers a fun night out. Be sure to check out Moffly Media’s Evening of Art, Jazz and Wine five-part series including performances by Sergio Mendes on Wednesday, June 21, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra on Friday, July 28.

The only thing better than seeing a play in the great outdoors is having a gorgeous park at your disposal to explore before or after. Waveny Park in New Canaan is the perfect summer destination with over 250 acres of parkland, including approximately three-anda-half miles of jogging and walking trails, a picnic area and plenty of open space. Each year it hosts the Summer Theatre of New Canaan with performances on the outdoor stage. Saturday and Sunday performances for children start at 10 a.m. Bring your own lawn chair or book VIP seating for evening performances of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast July 15 through 30, Thursdays and Fridays 8 p.m., Saturdays 7 p.m.

summer theatre of new canaan

Waveny Park, 677 South Avenue, New Canaan stonc.org

above: Escape the crowds at Waveny Park in New Canaan. below: In June, Patti LuPone will take the Westport Country Playhouse stage.

WAVENY PARK BY KYLE NORTON; WCP BY MICHAEL ALLAN GALVEZ; MOCA BY LESLIE LASALA

4 Things to Know in Westport

by sara robbin

Live Performance Lineup // The Levitt Pavilion lights up this Spring with 2023 GRAMMY Award Winner for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Vocal Album Samara Joy (June 1), roots, rock, reggae, rap powerhouse Michael Franti Spearhead with Phillip Phillips (June 24), and Eileen Ivers - a.k.a “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin” (May 26).  Also renown for its world-class free programming, the Levitt Pavilion’s free-ticket highlights include 4X

GRAMMY Nominee Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole (June 11); Alisa Amador, winner of the 2022 NPR Tiny Desk Contest (June 22), and Americana-folk faves Midnight North (June 30). Tickets can be bought at levittpavilion.com.

For the Horticulturist // Those April showers are bringing May flowers! The Westport Garden Club is celebrating its 99th Anniversary with its annual Plant Sale on Saturday, May 13th, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on the Jesup Green at the Westport Library. The sale features over 1,000 homegrown perennial plants from members’ gardens with a special section of CT native and pollinator plants. Shoppers will also find herbs, unique tomato plants and great gifts for Mother’s Day, including cut flowers and decorative container gardens. Additionally, pre-orders available May 1 to 10, for curbside pickup on May 13 .Visit westportgardenclub.org for more details.

For the Philanthropic Family // Experience Camps, a nonprofit that provides free, one-week summer camp programs for grieving children, will host its 5th annual Day of Champions event on Sunday, May 21. Twenty teams comprised of children and adults will compete in a color war style competition at PJ Romano field to benefit kids who lost a parent, sibling or caregiver. The event is an incredibly fun way to raise money and bring awareness to the needs of grieving children. Volunteers and spectators welcome! To learn more, donate or get involved, visit experiencecamps.org.

Shopping For A Cause // Treat yourself this Mother’s Day while raising money for a charity that protects mothers everywhere. Westport’s No Stone Unturned is hosting its Shop for a Cause event on Friday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., inside Swoon and Penfield Collective in Sconset Square. The event will feature luxury designers such as LC, Jonathan Simkhai, and Stoned Jewelry Concierge, all whom will be donating 15% of sales to Every Mother Counts, a charity founded by Christy Turlington Burns which tackles the global maternal health crisis. Follow @no.stone.unturned.ct to learn more.

Worldwide Awards & Recognition

Our reputation as a leader in luxury is unrivaled. Global industry experts at Luxury Lifestyle Awards have named William Raveis among the elite Top 100 Real Estate Brokers and Developers of the World for 2022. Everywhere, from Nice to Naples, Greenwich to Greece, people recognize our luxury brand and luxury personal service from agents who deliver best-in-class experiences.

Voted #1 Luxury Broker by Luxury Portfolio International®, our global reach connects us to the widest audience of high-net-worth buyers across the world. Our partnership with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® gives agents access to an international network of nearly 140,000 real estate professionals and over 550 luxury brokerages across 70 countries.

Please call for a confidential consultation. We’d love to talk with you.