Issuu

A Letter From the Publisher

Dear Reader,

I hope this letter finds you in high spirits and full of creative energy.

Today, I want to take a moment to celebrate and explore the fascinating world of style. Style is not limited to the clothes we wear or the way we adorn ourselves; it encompasses every aspect of our lives. From the way we decorate our homes to the music we listen to, from the books we read to the way we carry ourselves in conversations, style permeates every facet of our existence. It is the thread that weaves together the tapestry of our lives.

Style is deeply personal. And it evolves as we celebrate our quirks, our passions, and our desires. Style is a form of self-expression that communicates who we are, how we perceive the world and what we value. In this way, style becomes a powerful tool for connection, as it enables us to find common ground with others who share our aesthetic sensibilities.

As individuals, we have the freedom to embrace established styles, blend them together, or forge entirely new paths, becoming trendsetters ourselves. We hope this issue inspires you to forge new paths or perhaps explore familiar ones. There is so much here in Ridgefield to uplift our spirits, boost your productivity and ignite your creativity.

What I’ve found is that the best style is an authentic expression of who you really are. And that’s something no one on earth can duplicate.

Here’s to being uniquely you!

BRUCE BERNSTEIN, PUBLISHER

@RIDGEFIELDLIFESTYLEMAGAZINE

September 2024

PUBLISHER

Bruce Bernstein | bruce.bernstein@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Kristy Jefferson | kristy.jefferson@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Pam Antonacchio | pam.antonacchio@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Kristy Jefferson

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dariusz Terepka Photography, Kate Wark Photography, Natasha Fleming Photography

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman

LAYOUT DESIGNER Amanda Schilling

city scene

Jill Rae Design Art Reception 1: Mariah Murphy, Jill Rae and Kim Harper 2: Beth Lyons, Anne Kain, Jill Rae, Jennie Carr and Julia Frossell

3: Heide Follin 4: Heide Follin and Various Guests 5: Donna Scarpa and Rachel Volpone 6: Jill Rae, Melanie Cronin and Mary Joyce

7: Cecilia Moy Fradet, Heidi Follin and Michele Riche

Photography by Jill Rae Designs and Guests

Wine Divine with Sommelier Jillian Fontana at Lounsbury House 1: Michele Ford and Amanda Gabbard 2: Cole Miller, Wendy Wooters, Stephanie Miller, Haley Levesque, Al DeLuca and Katy Schermann 3: Lisa Stiehl and Corrinne DiVestea 4: Amanda Gabbard, Michael McGuirk, Nicholas Renzulli, Emily Silpe, Ted Ryan and Lauryl Schembri 5: Emily Fernandez and Laurie Nagle 6: John Taverna and Donna Lomenzo 7: Antoinette Brennan, Nick Lang, AJ Lang and Kathy Lang Photography by Diana DiVestea

city scene

The Prospector’s 10 Year Anniversary Kick Off Celebration with the Ridgefield Chamber of Commerce 1: Michael McGuirk and Prospects 2: Kate Robb, Brooklyn Showah, Alice Meenan, Katie Faughnan and Margot Pratt 3: Valerie Jensen 4: Dillon Tepfer, Ryan Wenke, Valerie Jensen, Michael McGuirk, Rachel Wise, Rudy Marconi, Kate Robb, Brooklyn Showah 5: Maggie Gould and Event Guests 6: Michael McGuirk, Timothy Harman, Valerie Jensen, Rudy Marconi, Ryan Wenke, Alice Meenan 7: Thomas DeVittorio, Rudy Marconi

Photography by Samantha Burkardt, Prospect Productions

BROOKLYN SHOWAH

Inspiring. Aspiring.

Offering courses in:

Parent and Child Classes

Age 1-3

Pre-Ballet Classes

Age 3 and up

Ballet

Contemporary

Modern Musical Theater Pointe Jazz Tap Hip Hop

To register, or for more informationon current classes as well as our Summer Program, call 203.438.5597 or visit ridgefielddance.org.

Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at 440 Main Street, Ridgefield, Connecticut

•

• Cut debt in half with half the payments in half the time

• Eliminate monthly student loan payments to zero (loans over $100k)

• Implement wealth building strategies to protect against market losses

Reduce Taxes || Eliminate Debt || Build Wealth

Darci Hether

From conception to completion, our full, concierge-level interior design services ensure that your residential interiors are meticulously crafted to reflect your vision and unique desires. At Darci Hether New York, we cater to busy professionals who are seeking luxurious, stress-free interior design solutions. Whether you’re across the street or across the country, you can rest assured that all your needs will be served to curate a space that you’re proud to call home. darcihether.com

Photography by Kelsey Ann Rose Interiors

Ridgefield Farmers Market

Ridgefield Farmers Market is a gathering spot for friends and neighbors to convene every other weekend in a convivial, open-air environment, while filling their market bags (and tables!) with fresh, local food. The Market provides a platform for both established and up-and-coming food producers, featuring Ridgefield’s three major local farms — The Hickories, Henny Penny Farm and Wild Iris Flower Farm, along with 30 other local vendors to share their products with the community. ridgefieldfarmersmarket.org

Photography

Oh So Swag

Oh So Swag is your go-to solution for creative custom swag, offering collaboration from design to delivery. Order online or get in on the fun with Swag Parties! Whether it’s a private party or adding flair to a larger event with pop-up stations, we provide all the materials for your guests to design their own swag on the spot. Come explore the world of custom swag and unforgettable experiences with Oh So Swag! OhSoSwag.shop

by Corrin Arasa

Photography by Sara Armstrong

VINTAGE ENCLAVE ON ROUTE 7 IS A MUST-VISIT DESTINATION

The New Vintage

ARTICLE BY KRISTY JEFFERSON | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DARIUSZ TEREPKA PHOTOGRAPHY

"I felt like we could make it a destination.”

“Honestly it felt like we were on vacation,” says longtime Ridgefield resident Lisa Cambridge-Mitchell, referring to the new vintage enclave tucked away on Route 7. Drive two minutes north of Nod Hill Brewery and you will find that the former location of Walpole Outdoors is now home to three businesses that perfectly complement each other - Bluebird Consignments, Vixen Hill Vintage, and Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee. After attending one of their “Sip and Shop” events back in February with a group of friends, Cambridge-Mitchell was taken with the relaxed atmosphere. “We had so much fun, wandering from store to store, taking it all in, chatting, shopping, and laughing,” she says. “I loved it.”

Open for less than two years and off the beaten path from Main Street, you would be forgiven for not yet knowing about this gem of a retreat in our own backyard. Take the drive, however, and you’ll find a destination where you can grab a special blend at Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee to sip while looking through their collection. Then you can take your coffee over to Vixen Hill to comb through their astonishing, colorful collection of unique vintage housewares, toys and clothes, then end your tour where it all began - Dana Bucci’s Bluebird Consignments.

You may remember Bucci’s original Ridgefield location on Catoonah Street. After needing to vacate that property, she ended up on Ethan Allen Highway in a lofty barn with rustic old beams and a ceiling painted deep forest green. The shop is filled

to the brim with an eclectic collection of furniture, jewelry, lamps, sculptures, paintings, handbags, dining sets, light fixtures, pillows, the occasional kayak, and more. As a huge part of her business is estate sales and online auctions, she loves the idea that an item can spend some time in the shop before it goes to the right person. “That’s my passion,” she says, “selling something back to someone in the community who's going to use it for a couple more decades and who knows - maybe a century.”

The business side of estate sales is a lot of work, though Bucci definitely has the energy for it. She and her team go into a house after the owners have cleared out everything they are taking. Bucci will then meticulously catalogue, research, and price the remaining items, running a sale out of the home for three days. Research itself can take up to a week because “you need to know what you’re selling,” Bucci tells us. After the sale Bucci will often do the cleanup as well, leaving the house completely ready for the new buyers to walk in the front door. “When you’re selling a house that you’ve lived in for 25 years and you’ve raised your family in, it is really hard to let go,” says Bucci. “I don’t think I’ve ever left a home where someone hasn’t hugged me and said, I could never have done this without you. And that is such an amazing feeling I can’t even tell you.”

Not only does Bucci care deeply for her clients, but her enthusiasm is infectious when talking about the meaning passed down through personal objects.

CONTINUED >

We work really hard and we work really well together, which is so nice. “ ”

“My friend had a really big table and chairs that I didn’t know how I was going to sell,” she tells us. “But I took it because it was hers and she raised her kids on it and they did family projects on it, and family dinners, and art, and homework. One week later a couple came in with three little kids and she fell in love with the table and she bought it and I was like holy cow - one generation was raised on this table and now another one is going to be raised on it.”

And while Bucci loves working with her clients from all over, “I like being in my own community,” she says. “I love having a Ridgefield address. I want people to use me as a resource to sell their things, to lighten their load, to declutter; I feel like I’m helping my community.” She is also in a unique position to, and frequently does, recommend local businesses to consignment

customers, donate to the Ridgefield Thrift Shop and support Habitat for Humanity. “So the whole thing is a feel-good in my business.”

In quintessential Ridgefield fashion, Bucci is also the connector that pulled together this assemblage of like-minded business owners starting with a tag sale and a lemonade stand at the home of Vixen Hill’s Amy Goodwin. Knowing Goodwin sold vintage jewelry and antiques with her business “Always in Bloom,” Bucci asked her over lemonade if she wanted to take a look at one of the other buildings on the Ethan Allen Highway Property. From there, Bucci says, “I knew Lana (Taubin) because she comes to my estate sales and I told Lana about Amy, and Lana’s good friends with Kelly (Magner). So I put those three together, which is really fun.”

CONTINUED >

“It’s been very smooth from the start,” says Goodwin. “I think it’s because the three of us, we all love vintage and we’ve been doing it for years, so it was perfect. And you can tell when you walk in that we each have a different aesthetic. I love florals and flowers, clothing, accessories and jewelry, then Kelly is more traditional antiques and the art and homegoods, and Lana is seasonal celebrations, so she really focuses on the dinnerware and the glassware and the things for entertaining.”

Walking into Vixen Hill is like a party for the eyes. Starting in the farthest corner is an explosion of color where you’ll find vintage toys, jewelry, clothes, and knick knacks. Making your way back to the front is like walking a winding path through a person’s treasures. A desk, a dictionary stand, someone’s varsity jacket, heirloom glassware - it is overwhelmingly fun to take in knowing you could never see it all in one visit. It is beautiful chaos, with so many completely different things in one space that somehow all fit together. Says Goodwin, “I love it so much because I feel like it’s like

women supporting women and just working together and sharing our experiences - we work really hard and we work really well together, which is so nice.”

Everyone agreed that it was a great addition to have Charles Moschos join them. After starting as a holiday pop-up, Moschos “caught the bug,” as Bucci puts it, and Ridgefield Vintage & Coffee became a permanent fixture. Moschos has taken the former residence and turned it into a classically curated closet, filled with men's and women's clothing, shoes, hats, and of course, coffee. As the business evolves, he has plans to bring in current lines for some brands that fit the vintage aesthetic, and an expanded collection of his own line. In something of a combination of the two, he also works with a tailor to bring vintage pieces back to life.

On working with the other businesses, he says “It’s a great collective of the three of us - I feel like we really complement each other.” He was confident he could build a clientele here but, he adds, “With them, I felt like we could make it a destination.”

I love it so much because I feel like it’s like women supporting women and just working together and sharing our experiences

Jill Rae, Kim Harper & Mariah Murphy

ARTICLE BY KRISTY JEFFERSON PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATE WARK PHOTOGRAPHY

Circle Going Full

UNDERGROUND’S MAUREEN RIVARD COMES HOME

Reflected everywhere in the new surroundings of Underground on Main Street is the beloved store’s original “why” - Maureen Rivard’s belief that there was a need in town for style options that leaned “hipper, funkier, edgier, not quite so conservative.” No matter your age, she says, “we can still have fun in how we dress and we can still look cool and edgy and funky and show our personality. I’m very happy to say that the age range of our client base is twenties to eighties. And we take a lot of pride in that.”

When Rivard got to work updating the former Rodier space on Main Street, she was in familiar territory. Calling up the memory of M. Rivard Vintage Home, she tells us, “22 years ago, the very first shop I ever had in Ridgefield was in this space.”

It was the beginning of a retail career that, more than 20 years on, has thrived from one incarnation to the next. After selling M. Rivard due to a full schedule, she says, “then of course I missed it.” So she opened French Market, a home furnishings venture down the street near the location of present-day Chez Lenard. The economic sucker punch of 2008 changed things again, just as Rivard was fortunate enough to get out of her lease. For the next 10 years, she focused on personal interior design work, and has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Good Housekeeping, and Flea Market Style Magazine to name a few. Six years ago she opened Underground

next to Ross Bread and after building a loyal clientele with her eclectic collection, word came that Ross was expanding, meaning Underground would have to move out. “I honestly thought about just closing and being done; I sat with that for a couple of weeks and really got sad,” she says. “I mean, I really felt it. And I knew - no, that’s not an option.”

Rivard’s relaxed, easy manner belies her tenacity. It wasn’t necessarily her first choice to head back to her original haunt, only because she knew it would require a lot of work to bring her vision to life. However, along with her partner Steve Anderson, an artist and a potter whom she describes as “amazingly talented,” she thrives on design challenges and is no stranger to hard work. She and Anderson did the interior renovation themselves, and the results are extraordinary. The color palette is a mix of soothing creams and saturated blacks, with dark tin ceilings, light pine floors, and decor that is understated yet bold, a throwback to Rivard’s early days immersed in vintage home furnishings. The work is all Rivard and Anderson, but to stand in the new Underground is to feel like it manifested itself. Like the store knows it was always meant to be here.

The team she has in place takes obvious delight in working closely with their clients. Tracey Baines, Quinn Caravella, and Jackie Debany have decades of collective experience in retail, fashion, and small business ownership. Their mantra is “Just keep an open mind.” Acknowledging that sometimes women can get stuck or assume something won’t look good - these are

CONTINUED >

"We can have fun in how we dress and still look cool, edgy, funky and show our personality."

things they hear all the time. “All we ask is just keep an open mind, and try things on. Don’t be afraid to get in the fitting room,” says Rivard. There is also great pride taken in maintaining a collection that is both fresh and has something for everyone. As Caravella tells us, “[Rivard] has a great eye sourcing things you just don’t see anywhere else.”

Reopening Underground and being back on Main Street is like a homecoming for Rivard, and one that is going really well. There has been “great foot traffic, and I’m happy to say - so much has changed post-COVID in so many towns and certainly Ridgefield being one of them,” says Rivard. “I feel that Main Street has never been more vibrant, and shoring up all that growth is a real sense of community and stability. We couldn’t be happier; our new space and location are a perfect fit for us!”

THEN AND NOW

ARTICLE BY KRISTY JEFFERSON

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATASHA FLEMING PHOTOGRAPHY

Danielle Verrilli is a firecracker in human form. And after 12 years of bringing her seemingly endless energy and passion to Audrey Road on Bailey Avenue, she has built herself a community within the community. Whether it’s due to her ever-changing inventory of lively and unique fashions, or the kind atmosphere she has cultivated, her loyal client base keeps coming back for more.

“Someone is always coming in to shop here first,” she says. “I know everybody has to go to the mall and they

Audrey Road Still Feels the Love

have to go to Amazon for certain things - that’s part of life - but to know that they try here first - that really means a lot.” Her philosophy has everything to do with how people feel, with the experience just as important as finding the right piece for the right person. Bubbly and enthusiastic, Verrilli describes herself as "Hurricane Danielle" when working with clients. She says, “As long as I make people feel good when they’re here, and give them a good product that they can afford, they can keep coming back.” And the result? They do.

Audrey Road

Audrey Road began 12 years ago in just one room stocked with vintage wares. “I’m bringing back the vintage,” Verrilli tells us. In one room of the store, customers will find everything from vintage high-end fashion labels to t-shirts, handbags, and jewelry.

Are you looking for help booking your next trip? We can help with that!

& Dana Cox

SEPTEMBER 2024

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

SEPTEMBER 7TH AND 21ST

Ridgefield Farmers Market

Jesse Lee Church | 10:00 AM

Featuring a curated selection of some of the best growers and makers around. Every other Saturday you’ll find organic farm fresh produce, baked goods, and specialty items alongside family activities and live music on beautiful, historic Main Street. Pack your picnic blanket and an appetite - this is gonna be good. ridgefieldfarmersmarket.org

SEPTEMBER 14TH

Guild of Artists 50th

Birthday Celebration

Ridgefield Guild of Artists | 6:00 PM 2024 marks the Guild’s 50th Anniversary, and in celebration of this momentous milestone, we’re planning a Birthday Party on Saturday, September 14th from 6-9pm. We ask everyone to join in our celebration of us! During our 70’s Pop-Up show we’ll party like it’s 1974! Admission is $50 per person for a fun party with food, libations, music and more. rgoa. org/50th-birthday-celebration/

SEPTEMBER 20TH

Under the Harvest Moon Fundraiser

Woodcock Nature Center | 7:00 PM

An enjoyable, relaxed evening of food, live music and more to benefit the nature center’s well-loved programs in environmental education. Held in and around Woodcock’s picturesque candlelit pavilion and pond, a highlight of the evening is carefully prepared fare by local chefs Sarah and Bernard Bouïssou of À Table in Ridgefield. woodcocknaturecenter.org/ harvestmoon

SEPTEMBER 24TH

KICKS Public Art Event Auction

The Benjamin | 6:00 PM

Wear your best “Kicks!” The KICKS Public Art event you have been seeing all over town is culminating with a Just for KICKS Auction Event. All of the KICKS Sneaker Sculptures will be auctioned off as well as a variety of donated items. All net proceeds will go to KICKS for Kids and ArtFul Visual Arts Initiative. artfulgives.org

SEPTEMBER 28TH

Third Annual Ridgebury Farm Fete

Ridgebury Farm and Stables | 6:00 PM

Don’t miss the Magic! The Third Annual Ridgebury Farm Fete will be more whimsical than you can imagine. Keep your eyes peeled for mysterious hints as we prepare to reveal a theme that’s straight out of a beloved, fantastical world. All funds raised will support the 501(c)3 Non-Profit with therapy scholarships, care of the herd, and inclusive programming! ridgeburyfarm.org

SEPTEMBER 28TH Pop Party

The Aldrich Museum | 7:00 PM

In celebration of our 60th anniversary, The Aldrich will host a vibrant Pop Party, a special one-night event—featuring Pop Art inspired music, cocktails, and activations— to raise critical funds in support of the Museum’s mission to serve as a leading incubator for artists at critical creative junctures. thealdrich.org/events/pop-party

Want to be featured?

hacks HAIR

Part the top half of the hair in two sections. Create fishtail braids (or braids of choice) and tie them together in the back of the hair. Add a fashion accessory around a ponytail for a little extra fun!

reverse

fishtail braids

ARTICLE BY ABBI SULASKI

PHOTOGRAPHY BY POPPY & CO. BY KELSEY HUFFER

Part the hair down the center or side part, if preferred. Create braid(s) on the side of the head and secure with elastic. Twist the hair with braids into a simple bun, securing it with hair pins. Add an accessory for a classy touch.

simpleupdo

Braids to Keep You Chic All Year Long

Braids are a great way to add style and uniqueness to your hair style rotation and have been a staple in hair styles dating back to the 3500 B.C. This historical hairstyle is here to stay, so we wanted to share some go-to impressive looks.