WESTPORT'S BIG UPGRADE: BRINGS HER MODERN MEDITERRANEAN TO COMPO NIK KI
PLUS SO MUCH MORE TO LOVE IN OUR ANNUAL EXPLORE ISSUE
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A Season to Explore
July always feels like the heart of summer in Westport. The long evenings, the salty air, beach dinners that turn into late nights, weekends away, and all of those little traditions that make this season here feel so special. Our Explore Issue is all about making the most of summer, both close to home and a little farther beyond it.
This month, we’re excited to feature Nikki Glekas on our cover as she begins an exciting new chapter at Compo Beach. Nikki recently won the bid to operate the concessions at Compo Beach and Longshore, bringing a fresh new energy to some of Westport’s most beloved summer spots.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Westport is finding thoughtful and creative ways to bring history to life. From community events to local storytelling, we take a look at how our town is celebrating such an important milestone.
Summer adventure comes in all forms, and Earthplace continues to be one of Westport’s true gems. While many families know and love it for its incredible children’s programming, adults will find plenty to explore this summer too, with nature experiences and events that make it easy to unplug and reconnect with the outdoors.
We’re also spotlighting Connecticut entrepreneur Hayley Cannon, founder of onewith, the swimwear brand featured on Shark Tank that’s changing the way women think about bathing suits. We loved hearing about her entrepreneurial journey, her Connecticut-inspired suit names, and some of her favorite summer picks.
Elsewhere in this issue, our new Pretty Necessary column shares expert-approved beauty tips to help you survive the heat both looking and feeling your best. We also feature local residents involved with the International Esperanza Project and the meaningful work they are doing to bring much-needed care to communities in Guatemala.
You’ll also find a look at the growing seed oil-free movement happening at local restaurants, highlights from our family’s recent trip to London, and smart shopping advice from top travel advisors who know how to find souvenirs actually worth bringing home.
And for this month’s Editor’s Pick, we visit the Yale Peabody Museum, a place filled with history, curiosity, and wonder for both kids and adults alike, and just a short drive away.
Whether your summer is filled with travel, beach days at Compo, backyard dinners with friends, or simply a little more time to slow down and enjoy the season, we hope this issue inspires you to explore something new.
Happy Summer!
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Marisa MacLean | marisa.maclean@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Sara Gaynes Levy | sara.gayneslevy@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Elizabeth Ginns Britten, Carly Cardellino, Lauren Cosenza, Yael L. Maxwell
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
John Videler, Manolis Klimis
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Rachel Chrisman
LAYOUT DESIGNER Rhiannon Coffman
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
MARISA MACLEAN, PUBLISHER @WESTPORTLIFESTYLE
inside the issue
city scene
WHERE NEIGHBORS CAN SEE AND BE SEEN
1: Make-A-Wish Connecticut's Taste of Wishes event at Aitoro Appliance. 2: Chef Chris Gonzales with a Wish recipient. 4: The Wish kids helped in the kitchen, too. 6: Chef Jes Bengston of Terrain Café. 7: Robin Selden of Marcia Selden Catering.
Photography by Joliette Marie
8: Clarendon Fine Art gallery welcomed renowned artist Mr. Brainwash, here with manager Eve Gianni. 9: Mr. Brainwash posed with guests.
10: And his own art. 13: Mr. Brainwash signing at the event. 14: With Betsy Perna, Ashley Lancer, Sophia Andersen, Marisa MacLean, Sara Gaynes Levy, and Jen Berniker. Photography by John Videler
city scene
15: Backstage at Fashionably Westport, benefitting Homes With Hope. Virginie Bleyaert and Penny Yi. 16: Maxx Crowley, president of the Westport Downtown Association, introducing Fashionably Westport. 17: Homes With Hope CEO Helen McAlinden. 18: Amanda Castellano, Sophia Andersen, Sara Gaynes Levy, Hannah Spencer, Justine Roux, and Marisa MacLean. 19: Dylan Curran, Dan Woog. 20: Rachel Katz Frank, owner of Chem Chronos Medical Aesthetics, on the runway. 21: Emcee Dave Briggs, Adam Goldberg, founder of Popup Bagels, and emcee Lonnie Quinn.
Photography by John Videler
22: Dave and Anna Barnes. 23: A surprise performance during the show. 24: Dan Woog, of '06880,' on the runway. 26: Dr. Daniel and Samantha Lax.
27: Courtney Fuchs, Lindsey Feldman, Ryan Wolf, and Alex Rahmani. 28: Jason and Nicole Ruscio, owners and operating partners of Squeeze Massage in Westport. Photography by John Videler
29: The planning committee for the Women Leading the Way to Wellness luncheon. 30: Julianne Bochinski, Robin Selden, Kaitlyn Tarpey-Borea, and Westport Lifestyle publisher Marisa MacLean. 31: Event chairs Wendy Kroll, Dr. Shieva Ghofrany, and Kaitlyn Tarpey-Borea. 32: Wally Lamb, Dorothy Lyman, Robin Selden, Zakiya Dalila Harris, and Alisyn Camerota. 33: Author Wally Lamb with Miss Connecticut Cayla Kumar. 34: Amanda Castellano and Julianne Bochinski. Photography by Laura St. John Photography
36: Amanda Castellano, Westport Lifestyle publisher Marisa MacLean, and Westport Lifestyle social media manager Sophia Andersen. 38: Zac Mathias, Community Impact Honoree Julie Stein, and her daughter. 39: Choose You Champion Honoree Brittany Thompson with her family. 40: Ashley Langer, Hannah Spencer, Liz Busch, and Zac Mathias. 42: The panel led by Alisyn Camerota, with authors Wally Lamb, Dorothy Lyman, and Zakiya Dalila Harris. Photography by Laura St. John
ROUNDUP
Delamar West Hartford Named One of the World's Best Hotels
The Delamar West Hartford was selected as one of Travel + Leisure's 500 best hotels in the world for 2026, the only Connecticut hotel to make the list. The Delamar also has properties in Westport, Southport, Mystic, and Traverse City, Mich. For more information, visit delamar.com Photography Courtesy Delamar Hotel Collection
HealthyBaby Launches Prenatal Support
HealthyBaby, the innovative maternal health and babycare company founded by Westonite (and former Westport Lifestyle cover star) Shazi Visram, has launched a subscription-based prenatal. The HealthyBaby Our Prenatal system offers comprehensive nutritional support with morning and night doses to help with nausea, trimester-specific packs (including the "4th trimester"), extensive heavy-metal testing, natural folate, and many more benefits. For more information or to subscribe, visit healthybaby.com
Photography Courtesy HealthyBaby
"It's a Woman's
World" Celebrated Women in Connecticut Food
CT Bites and Stephanie Webster honored some of the most influential women in the Connecticut culinary arts world at their "It's a Woman's World" event. Honorees included Anne Grossman of Rebel Daughter Cookies in Norwalk, who was awarded "Vendor of the Year," while Melanie Pabon of Westport's The Cottage was awarded "Server of the Year."
Photography Courtesy Anne Grossman.
Marty Erdheim Winner of the 2026 Jackie Robinson Essay Contest
The Westport Library, the Westport Center for Senior Activities, and Meryl Moss Media awarded Marty Erdheim as the winner of the 2026 Jackie Robinson Essay Contest. "The Jackie Robinson Essay Contest is a signature program of the Library’s Common Ground Initiative, inviting participants to reflect on Robinson’s enduring legacy through the written word," the Library said in a statement. For more information on the contest, visit westportlibrary.org
Photography by KT Kaminski/ The Westport Library
A Smarter Move Starts Before Fall
Summer in Westport is a time to recharge, reconnect, and plan ahead. While the market naturally slows in July and August, savvy buyers and sellers use this time to position themselves strategically for the fall market.
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Wheels2U Expands Service
Wheels2U is extending its midday Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday service, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, passengers can request a ride to or from anywhere in Westport if the trip starts or ends at one of the following: Saugatuck or Greens Farms Train Stations; The Westport Library; Westport Senior Center; The Farmers’ Market; Jesup Green; or Post Road East & Compo Road North.
OKO Launches Robata
Robata, a Japanese cooking technique that centers on cooking over an open flame to create deeper smokiness, texture, and flavor, is now available at OKO in Westport. The technique highlights dishes like fresh salmon, hangar steak, teriyaki chicken, and Japanese eggplant with mushrooms. For more info or reservations, visit okokitchen.com
Photography by Melissa Olguin
CULINARY• EVENTS • LIFESTYLE
ARTICLE BY YAEL L. MAXWELL PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY EARTHPLACE
Known for a stellar array of family programming, Westport’s beloved nature center offers plenty of adventure for grownups as well.
Earthplace
for Everybody
Tucked away in the quiet northeast corner of Westport is one of the town’s gems. Part 62-acre nature preserve, part school, part wild animal care center, part research station, and still so much more, Earthplace is treasured for its conservation efforts, educational initiatives, and animal encounters. Many might plan family activities around visiting the center’s American bald eagle pair—Chatty and Cerena—and watching them enjoy their morning meal in their newly refurbished enclosure, generously sponsored by Saugatuck Financial. Others pencil in the date that Earthplace’s camp registration opens so their children get the chance to make meaningful summer memories. But the adventure doesn’t stop there.
Veronica Swain, Director of Nature Education & Conservation, and her team implement a variety of programs throughout the year that appeal to all ages and are open to the public. Some of her favorites include:
• Craft and Sip Series: Run every other month for the 21+ crowd, each class is different. Past examples include creating mosaic stepping stones, natural fabric dyeing, and designing botanical stationery. Preregistration is required. BYOB and snacks!
• Mindfulness Series: These monthly classes, generally held outdoors, bring in community teachers and are designed to immerse attendees in nature while finding peace and rejuvenation. Think yoga and sound baths! Pre-registration is required.
• Naturalist hikes: Experts guide attendees throughout the property’s many trails on a specific theme. You might learn about foraging or how to spot some of the region’s iconic butterflies. Pre-registration is required.
• Canoe paddles: Have you always wanted to take a jaunt down the Saugatuck River but never had the equipment to do so? Sign up for one of Earthplace’s canoe paddles and the staff will take care of all the heavy lifting for you. Naturalists will guide groups of up to five four-person canoes in search of osprey, egrets, and turtles. Open to ages 3 and up. Pre-registration is required.
• Pick Your Own Bouquet: Held several times throughout the summer season, visitors are invited to select blooms like dahlias, sweet pea, zinnia, snapdragon and more from the Earthplace garden and design a tabletop bouquet. Pre-registration is required.
Earthplace also hosts several annual events designed to bring the community together while promoting its initiatives. Some well-loved ones include:
Woodside Bash.
A pick-your-own bouquet.
• Toast to the Trees: Held annually on Arbor Day weekend (April 24), this event features a craft beer tasting trail complete with live music, arts and crafts, and special animal visitors. This is one of the center’s biggest fundraisers, and one of its most fun events of the year.
• Cocktails & Clams: Kicking off the summer season off-site at Copps Island Oysters in Norwalk, this 200-person party on the water specifically raises money and awareness for Harbor Watch, the water quality testing arm of Earthplace.
• Moth Ball: If dressing up like a moth while watching moths flutter about in the early summer evening light sounds like your idea of a good time, this is a must-attend event. Family-friendly (and just a little nerdy), the Moth Ball allows attendees to take nighttime nature walks and even participate in expert-led lightsheeting (think lots of moths in front of a backlit white sheet hung up on a clothesline).
• Woodside Bash: This adults-only kickstart to fall is one of the center’s biggest fundraisers, and one of its most fun events of the year. It features food, signature cocktails, and live entertainment all on-site at Earthplace. The 2026 bash is planned for October 17.
• Murder Mystery Campfire: A newer event for Earthplace, this one brings back summer camp vibes for an adults-only group. The second annual campfire is planned for October 10.
A common thread among all these programs is that while they’re designed to be fun, they all have a thread of environmental education woven in, Veronica says. “You’re not going to get away from these without learning some kind of new knowledge. But we try to be sneaky about it.”
At the end of the day, Earthplace’s programs align with its mission, which, in part, aims to bring people together through conservation. “We want to encourage locals and people from farther away to learn more and be more comfortable with their environment,” Veronica says. “Once you're comfortable with it, and you've learned more about it, you're more likely to protect it.”
Earthplace is located at 10 Woodside Lane. To learn more, visit earthplace.org or call 203-557-4400.
A Craft and Sip project.
HOW WESTPORT IS BRINGING HISTORY TO LIFE THIS SUMMER.
ARTICLE BY ELIZABETH GINNS BRITTEN
CELEBRATING
AMERICA AT 250
Two hundred and fifty years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Westport is marking America’s birthday by doing what it does best: bringing together the community through history, music, art, and beloved summer traditions.
While the nationwide America250 initiative includes everything from oral history projects to student contests and community celebrations, Westport’s observance is taking shape through a thoughtful mix of exhibitions, performances, educational programs, and beloved hometown traditions. A new community hub, Westport250, is helping residents track the growing calendar of events throughout the year.
At Westport Museum for History and Culture, history becomes something visitors can step directly into. The museum’s new exhibition, The Real Revolution (running through 2026), explores what life was really like in Westport during the Revolutionary era, including the divisions that shaped both the town and the young nation.
The museum is also launching Washington’s Spies Escape Room (running until late August), an immersive experience housed inside its historic seven-sided cobblestone barn. Inspired by George Washington’s spy network, the attraction invites participants to solve clues tied to Revolutionary-era espionage before time runs out.
Additional programming throughout the year includes “Paths of Patriots ” cemetery tours beginning July 7, colonial tavern cooking classes at Wakeman Town Farm throughout the summer, and workshops on candle dipping, invisible ink, and other 18th-century crafts, which will run through the end of the year.
“Our whole exhibit is about Westport in the Revolution,” said Executive Director Ramin Ganeshram. “We encourage people to come see it and sign up for programming.”
At the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts, America 250 is taking shape through music. This summer’s lineup leans into jazz, Americana, bluegrass, funk, and improvisation — genres deeply rooted in American creative tradition.
Organizers point to Wynton Marsalis’s observation that “jazz is democracy in music” as a guiding idea for the season.
Highlights include EGGY on July 11, a Connecticut-based jam band known for genre-blending improvisation, and LaMP on July 24, an all-star trio featuring Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and Scott Metzger.
At The Westport Library, the anniversary is being explored through art, education, and community conversation.
Through Verso University, the library will present America at the Movies, a four-part film series running through June, examining how cinema has reflected the country’s history, contradictions, and ideals. A History of Beer lecture and tasting is planned for July 15, and a guided summer visit to Fairfield University Art Museum will tour its flag-themed exhibition, For Which It Stands.
CONTINUED >
This year's fireworks are a once in lifetime party!
The library will also host American Journeys, an all-member exhibition by The Artists Collective of Westport, which opens in June. And the Westport Garden Club’s annual flower show, American Spirit 250, runs from July 10 through 12.
The anniversary has also inspired reflection on the nation’s founding ideals. At a recent TEAM Westport event held at the library, Staples High School students Kaila Patel and Liam Harrison were honored for essays examining how the promises of the Declaration of Independence continue to evolve.
Kaila described the Declaration not as “a finished product,” but as “a catalyst” that each generation is responsible for building upon.
Beyond Westport, the neighboring Weston History & Culture Center is commemorating the anniversary with Sarah Treadwell: Connecticut Mom, American Patriot, an exhibition that explores the often-overlooked role of women and military families during the Revolutionary War.
For many residents, however, the centerpiece of every summer and especially the 250th celebration, will once again be the annual Compo Beach fireworks, sponsored by Westport residents Melissa and Doug Bernstein, returning on July 2.
In honor of America’s 250th birthday, this year’s display will be longer than usual and will feature several custom-designed effects, including skywriting-style visuals spelling out “250” and “USA.” Four of the fireworks have been created specifically for the occasion and will make their debut over Compo Beach. “We love sponsoring fun, happy, relaxing things like the fireworks,” Melissa says.
That spirit also inspired LifeLines, the Melissa & Doug toy company’s founders’ newest creative wellness venture. Every fireworks attendee will receive a special Compo Beachthemed LifeLines pad featuring nostalgic Americana imagery such as Ferris wheels, diners, and classic summer scenes.
Other community-wide initiatives planned under the Westport250 banner include patriotic window displays, red, white, and blue floral installations, a photography exhibit, a field of flags, and the unveiling of a 1976 time capsule.
It’s all part of a celebration that feels quintessentially Westport: thoughtful, creative, community-minded, and rooted in both history and imagination. Two hundred and fifty years later, the story of America is still being written — and Westport is finding meaningful ways to tell it.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY IOANA
ALEXANDRESCU & EMILY DENNY PHOTO
SWIMMING With SHARKS
Connecticut-based swimwear entrepreneur Hayley Cannon is reinventing how women think about bathing suits.
New London native Hayley Cannon (Segar) has an origin story that will be familiar to many women: seven years ago, she was shopping for swimsuits for a trip to Miami and couldn’t find a single one she liked. Nothing fit as well as her beloved no-show underwear, with its bonded seams and lay-flat fabric. That’s where the a-ha moment comes in: she wondered, why not take the concept of what makes no-show underwear so flattering and turn it into swimwear?
“People kept telling me over and over that it couldn’t be done,” Hayley, who now lives in Fairfield County, tells Westport Lifestyle. But with a true entrepreneur’s spirit, Hayley didn’t take that for an answer. The University of Connecticut alumna connected with an advisor at the Connecticut Small Business Development Center—a no-cost resource affiliated with the university—and they suggested she apply for the summer accelerator program at UConn’s Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI). At the time, Hayley only had a prototype of her seamless swimwear, but she was accepted into the program, which came with $15,000 of nondilutive funding and eight weeks of startup support. “They took a chance on me,” Hayley says. “They weren’t really doing apparel or consumer products at the time. The startup support was amazing. Their vote of confidence was huge for my confidence in myself.” With the funding, Hayley found a technical designer who was willing to bring her concept to life. “Basically, we took two layers of normal swimwear fabric—not one, like no-show undies use–and bonded them together,
instead of using seams that are bulky and squeeze,” she explains. “And then we have a soft, flexible, inner grip strip that keeps things secure in the water without the use of seams or elastic.” The result was almost exactly what she’d originally envisioned when she sketched out her idea. In 2020, she started production of the line, which she named onewith—after her pursuit of swimwear that is “one with” your body.
The brand took off immediately, proving that Hayley’s lightbulb moment packing for her trip to Miami was an experience that women all over the globe could relate to. “We went viral so many times,” Hayley says. “We really found our market.” Things were growing steadily, but onewith exploded in popularity after Hayley appeared on season 16 of Shark Tank to pitch the line. Hayley had actually been hesitant to apply, but after she sat in on a webinar with her founder’s networking group where alums of the show raved about their experiences, she took a chance. “I was like: you know what? I’m going to use this as a moment of confidence and apply. Of course, you’re thinking you’ll never hear back,” she says with a laugh. But she did, and she got a rare double-shark deal, with Barbara Corcoran and guest shark Jamie Kern Lima (the co-founder of IT Cosmetics) sharing 20 percent equity of the company. “Shark Tank was gas on the fire,” she says. “Being able to say ‘we were on Shark Tank ’ instantly legitimizes what you’re doing. I think some people honestly thought [when I said I had a swimsuit line] that I was in my spare bedroom crocheting bathing suits. But when you say ‘Shark Tank ’ it clicks for people
“Being able to say ‘we were on Shark Tank’ instantly legitimizes what you’re doing," says Hayley.
Photo by Ioana Alexandrescu.
that we’re doing something different. It is just really validating as an entrepreneur.” And as you’d expect, having insight from Barbara Corcoran and Jamie Kern Lima has been invaluable. “It’s been incredible to have the sharks on our side and get advice from them,” Hayley says. “The sharks have been there, and done that. They remind me that when in doubt, cut out the noise and follow the data.”
While onewith has become go-to swimwear for women all over, it also has deep Connecticut roots, and not just because Hayley grew up here, or even because onewith’s offices are in Darien. “My coastal Connecticut upbringing shaped the entire brand,” says Hayley. “From the beginning, I never wanted palm trees in our branding. To me, the beach is going to Anchor Beach in Milford or Compo, not Turks and Caicos.” (She even named one of the brand’s core bottom styles after Compo Beach.) And as Connecticut has influenced her, she’s giving back to the next generation of CT-based entrepreneurs: she recently joined the advisory board at the CCEI, the same organization that kickstarted onewith’s journey. “I feel forever grateful that they saw something in me so early on, and I feel like the least I can do is help other entrepreneurs in their journeys by advocating for them,” she says. “I really appreciate UConn building this infrastructure to facilitate entrepreneurs and give them funding and support they wouldn’t otherwise have access to. They’re being so looked out for. I can’t wait to see how that progresses through the years.”
Hayley never stops innovating, either. When she got married earlier this year, she had the idea to create her own wedding dress with onewith’s patented construction (see right). “I woke up one day and just knew I needed to wear one,” she says. It's a testament to how much the brand means to her. “Onewith is so fulfilling, because it allows me to do everything I love to do, and express myself in all the ways I’ve always wished I could express myself,” she says. “It’s the most rewarding thing I could have asked for.”
To shop onewith, visit onewithswim.com
“My coastal Connecticut upbringing shaped the entire brand,” says Hayley. "To me, the beach is going to Anchor Beach in Milford or Compo, not Turks and Caicos.”
Photo courtesy ABC.
Photo courtesy ABC.
Photo by Emily Denny Photo.
THE ONEWITH SWIM FOUNDER SHARES HER FAVORITES FROM THE LINE FOR A CONNECTICUT SUMMER.
SUMMER IN CT HAYLEY'S PICKS
"TO ME, WESTPORT STYLE IS REFINED AND TIMELESS WITH A COASTAL INFUSION, WHICH IS SO ONEWITH," SAYS HAYLEY. "OUR DESIGNS ARE ALWAYS MINIMALIST AND CLEAN."
HERE ARE HER PICKS:
WESTERLY TIE-FRONT BIKINI TOP
($49.95, onewithswim.com):
"Our #1 selling swim that fits like undies bikini top for a reason! When in doubt, wear Westerly. It's just a no-brainer style; that tie-front that is adjustable and super secure, while giving that signature second-skin fit."
COMPO HIPSTER BIKINI BOTTOM
($49.95, onewithswim.com):
"An obligatory pick for the women of Westport! Of course named for Compo Beach, this is onewith's fullest coverage style, and stays in the spirit of our swimsuits that fit like underwear with the hipster cut."
IDLEWILD HIGH-NECK ONE PIECE
($98.95, onewithswim.com):
"What I love most about Idlewild is that it combines the security and coverage of a high neck with the effortless sportiness and polish that comes with that silhouette in a one-piece swimsuit. The best part? It doubles as the perfect bodysuit! You can throw on a pair of jeans or a maxi skirt after the beach and head straight to dinner at Nômade or La Plage with ease. It layers beautifully under clothes due to our patented edgeless construction."
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY MANOLIS KLIMIS
COMPO’S Big Upgrade
THE CHANGES THAT THE NIKKI GLEKAS COLLECTIVE HAS MADE TO COMPO BEACH AND LONGSHORE ARE JUST WHAT WESTPORT NEEDED.
Just before the start of beach season, Westporters got word that the Nikki Glekas Collective—the hospitalty group founded by Westporter Nikki Glekas that operates the three food service locations at Chelsea Piers in Stamford, the Beach Grill at Weed Beach, event spaces like Bank Street Events, The Loft at Chelsea Piers, and Stone Hill, plus much more—would be taking over the food and beverage options at Longshore’s Pavilion and Halfway House, as well as at Compo Beach. The new concepts (The Sandbar at the Beach, The Sandbar at the Pavilion, and The Sandbar on the Green) have given us lots of reasons to celebrate— a liquor license to serve alcohol at a new beverage cart on the golf course! Promises of s’mores and hot chocolate
“I want to be able to go to the beach, order a salad, let the kids eat what they want, and not worry about the mess.”
when the ice skating rink opens this winter!—but the real boon for the town is Nikki’s understanding of what eating at Longshore and Compo should look like. “The vision is that this is how I eat with my family,” she explains. “If I get home at 6 and don’t want to cook, I want to be able to go to the beach, order a salad with some fresh protein, let the kids eat what they want, and not worry about the mess.”
Indeed, Nikki’s local roots and strong food-world pedigree (her family’s beloved Greek restaurant, Eos in Stamford, closed in 2019 after 11 years) are reflected in The Sandbar’s menus. There are Greekinspired dishes like gyros, chicken souvlaki wraps, and Greek salads, kid-friendly fare like chicken tenders and smash burgers, fresh, produce-forward dishes like watermelon/arugula salads with grilled chicken, tons of drink options, grab-and-go options like fruit cups or Greek yogurt parfaits, and, of course, novelty ice creams. Everything is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and with families in mind, Nikki says, because she knows that’s what she looks for when dining out with her husband, Jimmy, and children. “We have Chelsea Piers, and we have Weed Beach, so we know how to offer good quality in a cafe,” she says.
For the aesthetic, the Compo location combines Nikki’s Mediterranean heritage and expertise with coastal Connecticut’s signature look: think rattan lanterns, nautical rope stanchions, and motifs of olive and lemon trees. She’s also got mobile ordering available, and hopes to add catering in the near future. “I want people to be able to order a sandwich platter, or a salad for 15, and pick it up in the beach cafe,” she says. Pickup is seamless, with dedicated spots for picking up advance orders, paying for grab-and-go items, and typical ordering. “Our vision is, really, to make dinner at the beach possible. We’re open late, so people can come down after work or school, and just enjoy.”
CONTINUED >
A life , Guided by thoughtful wealth management. well lived
You have built a remarkable life shaped by vision, perseverance, and thoughtful decisions. Your wealth should be guided with that same intention.
ARTICLE BY CARLY CARDELLINO AND LAUREN COSENZA
Pretty Necessary
SUMMER'S HOT, BUT YOU'LL BE HOTTER WITH THESE ROAD-TESTED AND EXPERT-APPROVED BEAUTY HACKS.
Colorescience
Sunforgettable Brush-On
Sunscreen SPF 50
Need to reapply your sunscreen, but already have makeup on? Dust this powder over your existing look for sun protection that won't disrupt your glam. This one comes in four shades, plus translucent. $69, colorscience.com
Vaseline Original Healing Jelly
Does your signature scent quickly fade in the heat? Apply an ointment, like Vaseline or Aquaphor, to your skin where you spritz your fragrance; since it's occlusive, it will lock in and hold the scent for hours. $7, CVS
Barefaced Polishing Pads
Want smooth, shiny, perfectly-even Barbie legs? Use these pads with glycolic acid and retinyl palmitate to gently exfoliate and resurface your skin. Doing so daily removes any uneven texture and tone. $55, barefaced.com
THE BEST PASTE Matte Firm Hold
If greasy summer strands have your hair falling flat, massage a small amount of THE BEST PASTE Matte Firm Hold into the roots to immediately boost volume at the scalp. The clay-based formula helps absorb oil; start at the crown and work towards the hairline. $28, thebestpaste.com
MAKEUP BY MARIO
Master Mattes Eyeshadow
Palette: The Neutrals
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TEAM HOPE
WESTPORTERS INVOLVED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ESPERANZA PROJECT ARE BRINGING MUCH-NEEDED CARE TO GUATEMALA.
ARTICLE BY SARA GAYNES LEVY
Courtesy Miri Levin.
Dr. Flora Levin, a Westport-based, board-certified oculofacial plastic surgeon, first heard about the International Esperanza Project (IEP) through her longtime friend Michelle Hollaender, the CEO and founder. The IEP is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving homes, healthcare, and education in Latin America, specifically Guatemala. Four years ago, Flora first accompanied the IEP on a trip to Guatemala alongside her daughter, Miri, now a rising college freshman. The experience was transformative. “There are so many organizations that do these amazing things, but I think, for a lot of people, it’s very hypothetical,” says Flora. “These trips have a huge, tangible impact.” IEP volunteers install smokefree stoves and water filters in homes to improve respiratory health and reduce waterborne illnesses. They send doctors and nurses who offer high-quality medical care at clinics and surgical centers. They educate more than 350 students each year with their school program. It’s an incredibly impactful organization, and Flora and Miri have been back every year since. Last year they brought along Flora’s middle child, her son Jacob. “When my mom first approached me about the project, I was, I think understandably, intimidated by the prospect of flying out to a country I’d never been to to help people I’d never met,” says Jacob. “But it was so easy to integrate into the community. [IEP] makes it as easy as possible to help out, and they look after you in a very special way.”
Courtesy Miri Levin.
While volunteer doctors like Flora perform surgeries, distribute much-needed medicines, and treat illnesses, Jacob and Miri stress that every volunteer on the trips gets hands-on opportunities to contribute. Miri has been working in the operating rooms with patients who are heading into surgery, taking their vitals and monitoring them after their operations. She says she’s surprised even herself with her ability to think on her feet in these sometimes-stressful situations, which she learned from the amazing nurses and surgeons who volunteer with the program. “As soon as somebody needs help, everybody drops what they’re doing and does what’s best for the patient,” she says. It’s the kind of teamwork where every pair of hands counts. “I was only moving boxes and supplies from point A to point B—just trying to make myself useful—but I could see the impact,” says Jacob. “Seeing someone in post-op and knowing that I had, in some way, helped to reach the goal of getting them safely into and out of surgery, and hopefully moving them in the direction of a brighter future, was incredible.”
“Seeing mothers cry because [their kids are] getting true healthcare for the first time in their lives is really special.”
theater so I could watch him,” Flora says. “And then here are my kids, actually learning how to put in IVs. Jacob cut sutures. It’s pretty powerful, the experience of not only sharing something like that with your children, but taking them out of their bubble.” Miri agrees: she recalls the raw emotion of “watching kids come out of surgery and seeing mothers cry because they’re getting true healthcare for the first time in their lives. It’s really special.” And Jacob says he can picture himself on a medicine-focused career path thanks to his experiences: “I could see myself committing the rest of my life to [medicine], and I wouldn’t have been able to come to that realization without the real-world exposure that the International Esperanza Project offers,” he says.
For Flora, the IEP trips have also been a way to share her career with her children in a way no takeyour-child-to-the-office experience could ever recreate. “I decided I wanted to be a doctor when I was around 10, and my dad took me to an operating
Ultimately, Flora, Miri and Jacob hope that more Westporters and Fairfield County residents are inspired to get involved with IEP. Anyone can go on a trip—Spanish speaking is not a requirement—and there are six trips per year, each with different focuses. Flora and her children participate in the Team Hope trip, which has a medical focus, but you don’t need a doctor in your midst to make a difference. “You can go as a family, do the stoving and water filters, and it’s such a powerful bonding experience,” says Flora. “When you get to share that with your kids—it just fills your soul.”
Local restaurants are ditching seed oils for a healthier alternative.
The Seed Oil-Free Revolution
ARTICLE BY SARA GAYNES LEVY
There’s nothing outwardly obvious about what local eateries Hey Taco, Lyfe Café, Press Burger, and Kneads all have in common. And indeed, it’s not the cuisine they serve that binds these restaurants together: it’s the oil they use to cook their food. These spots are all early adopters of Zero Acre Farms’ Organic Fera fruit oil, a new, seed oil-free, high-heat-performance cooking oil brought to Westport by Jeff Nobbs, founder and chairman of Zero Acre Farms, and vice president of marketing Jacqueline Hensel, a Westport native who has worked with Michelin-starred chefs in New York City and beyond. Westport Lifestyle sat down with Jeff and Jacqueline to talk through concerns about seed oils, and how Zero Acre Farms is helping local restaurants make the change.
WESTPORT LIFESTYLE: THERE’S A LOT OF BUZZ BEHIND THE IDEA OF DITCHING SEED OILS—CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT WHY?
Jeff Nobbs: The reason chefs have been using canola, soybean, and other seed oils for so long is because they’re not solid fats,
they have a high enough smoke point, and they’re neutral-ish tasting. But when you fry with oils that are high in polyunsaturated fats, they break down into known toxins. (They create off flavors, too.) Honestly, that’s why the industry spent so many years frying in trans fats—they’re quite stable in fryers. And where seed oils become the most unhealthy is when they’re heated over and over in a deep fryer. We get nearly 20 percent of our daily calories from oils, so making them better can have a big impact. Restaurants have been saying ‘please help us, we want to move off this stuff.’ But there just hasn't been a good alternative.
WL: AND HOW DID YOU LAND ON ORGANIC FERA FRUIT OIL AS A REPLACEMENT?
JN: Everything else to date has required some sort of sacrifice. Extra virgin olive oil is far from neutral and far from affordable. Coconut oil is more like a shortening. Avocado oil is prohibitively expensive. I’m very passionate about oils, and my research led
Jacqueline Hensel.
Jeff Nobbs.
me to South America, specifically Colombia, where this tree, oleifera x guineensis, was being grown as a disease-resistant tree. We saw that this fruit was very high-yield in terms of oil, and that the oil was high in monounsaturated fat and had a really clean taste. It has a high smoke point, and is affordable and accessible, and is liquid at room temperature. It’s organic certified. It performed really well in our tests. So we were the first to bring this organic oil to the U.S. food service market.
WL:JACQUELINE, HOW DID YOU COME TO THE BRAND?
Jacqueline Hensel: I met Jeff and the team when I was running marketing and communications at Gracious Hospitality Management [Michelin-starred restaurateur Simon Kim’s group, which includes COTE Korean Steakhouse and COQODAQ]. At COQODAQ, our goal was to create the healthiest version of fried chicken on the market. And the components of fried chicken are just chicken, batter, and oil. We trialed dozens of oils. Zero Acre Farms’ was light-years ahead. I was excited to get involved.
WL: YOU’VE HAD SOME PRETTY IMPRESSIVE PLACES SIGN ON, LIKE THE AFOREMENTIONED COTE, CRAIG’S IN LOS ANGELES, AND 1 HOTELS. AND THEN YOU’VE GOT A SLEW OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY SPOTS!
JH: I think Westport takes a lot of lead from what’s happening in the city, especially as we’re getting more N.Y.C. transplant chefs, and that’s why we’re seeing a lot of growth here. Ingredient integrity is becoming such a profound thing for chefs. I spent the last dozen-plus years of my career working with chefs. Knowing I can finally give back to them and do something to help their businesses feels really rewarding. When I see another restaurant adopt it, especially in my hometown, I feel so proud.
To learn more, visit zeroacre.com
A hot honey chicken sandwich from Lyfe Cafe, fried in Zero Acre Farms oil.
Fries from Press Burger, fried in Zero Acre Farms oil.
Top travel advisors give their best advice for finding souvenirs you’ll actually love.
SHOP SMART
ARTICLE BY SARA GAYNES LEVY
For even the most seasoned travelers, a highlight of every trip is finding a perfect piece of the destination to bring home: something that will spark happy memories long after the vacation ends. “Even before I was in the travel industry, I’ve always loved buying things on my trips, because I’ve always loved having a piece of my travels with me,” says Carly Ritter (@elite.travelbycarly), a luxury travel advisor with SmartFlyer. “They’re reminders of where I was, who I was with, and the memories that were made.” With that in mind, Westport Lifestyle spoke to Westport-based luxury travel advisors for their top tips on making the most of your souvenir shopping on your next vacation.
Kristin's ceramic treasures from Portugal and Croatia..
SET ASIDE TIME
First, and maybe most importantly (if a bit obvious), leave yourself time to shop if it’s important to you. “I have had clients who want an itinerary where they have activities every single day, and I warn them not to do that,” says Kristin Zovich, a luxury travel advisor with Gold Coast Travel ( goldcoasttravelct.com). “Then you don’t have time to explore those hidden gems.”
ASK A LOCAL
Want to avoid junky tourist traps when you’re looking for things to bring back? All our experts agreed; your best bet is to ask a local for recommendations, whether that’s the concierge at your hotel or a guide on an excursion or tour. “If you’re going on a tour, talk to your guide—they’re a local, and they’re an amazing resource,” says Kristin. For example, on a recent trip to Portugal, she did a bike tour, and her guide pointed her in the direction of a farmer’s market where she could pick up handmade items. “If you can find a place where locals would actually go to shop for their day-to-day items, you can pick up some amazing things,” she says. Similarly, Carly and her husband did a wine tour in Sicily, then asked their guide to accompany them to a wine shop where he helped them pick local wines. “That was amazing, because we could buy from more vineyards than the ones we had been to [on the tour],” she says. One last tip: before you buy a trinket, says Kristin, flip the item over. “Make sure that it doesn’t say ‘made in China!’”
CONTINUED >
“If you’re going on a tour, talk to your guide—they’re a local, and they’re an amazing resource,” says Kristin Zovich.
Carly's mirror from Morocco.
Carly's planters from Sicily.
TRY TREATS
Edible mementos are always a good bet, and great for sharing with friends and family back home. “I love to cook, and I love food, so I like to bring back perishable items I know I’ll use at home,” says Ashley Lancer, senior travel advisor at VWT by Chase Travel (valeriewilsontravel.com). “When I went to Japan, I brought home tea and candy, like uniquely-flavored Kit-Kats. When I went to Mallorca, I brought home a dish to grind garlic and make aiolis. When I went to Africa, we brought back biltong and a beautiful butter dish I keep in the fridge and see every day.” Treats make great gifts, too. “Off the coast of Portugal, I ran across this shop that was selling sardines, local olive oils, and the best tuna I have ever tasted,” says Kristin. “I ended up bringing cans of the tuna home for my friends.”
LOOK FOR HOME DECOR (THAT YOU’LL ACTUALLY USE)
It’s an easy way to bring a souvenir into daily life: for example, a set of small planters she bought in
Sicily lives on either side of Carly’s kitchen sink. “They’re very traditional Sicilian style, in bright, bold colors, and they are just so joyful,” she says. They also picked up poster-sized prints of beautiful wine labels from a vineyard they visited, a way to preserve their trip as literal art. Kristin, whose husband is Croatian, decided to turn one of their powder rooms into a Croatian-inspired setting. “We got painted ceramic fish, because fish are very prominent in coastal areas of Croatia, and hung them up next to a picture of Dubrovnik. Every time we go into that room, we remember our trip together.” And if you fall in love with something, says Carly, sometimes you just have to go for it. “We bought a rug in Morocco, and we weren’t sure where we were going to put it. It’s in my office now. Sometimes you just have to have faith that you’ll find a home for it and make it work.”
DON’T FEEL PRESSURED TO BUY
You might be in a location known for a specific item—like rugs in Morocco—but just because it’s
Kristin Zovich.
Some of Kristin's favorite souvenirs.
their most popular product, or because it’s a oncein-a-lifetime vacation, doesn’t mean it’s the right purchase for you, says Ashley. “Figure out who you are back at home and what would actually fit into your lifestyle and decor,” she says. And if you find you’ve come home empty-handed, no big deal—turn to your camera roll. “I take a lot of photos when I’m traveling, and I get a lot of them blown up and framed,” says Kristin. “It’s original, and it brings you back to that memory every time you see it.”
PACK SMART
Planning ahead is a good way to make sure there’s room for whatever you pick up: “Even if you pack correctly, it always feels like you’re bringing back more than you packed somehow!” says Ashley. “So I always leave some room in my luggage.” Kristin says she sticks to smaller items to be mindful of the space she’s left herself. And there are tried-and-true tricks if you’re planning to purchase something larger, like bringing an empty soft-sided bag you can check on the way home. (Pro tip: your clothes make great insulation.)
“Figure out who you are back at home and what would actually fit into your lifestyle and decor,” says Ashley Lancer.
Carly and her husband brought a mirror home from Marrakesh by getting it bubble-wrapped, adding an arm handle, and using it toward their carry-on allowance, keeping it in overhead bins during flights. You also don’t have to bring it home yourself: “I remind my clients that a lot of amazing products can be shipped back,” says Ashley.
Ashley Lancer.
Carly Ritter in Lake Como.
Ashley's custom perfumes from France and garlic grinding dish from Mallorca.
Christopher J. DeMattie Partner
Carole Topal Orland Co-Founder
Sarah E. Murray Partner
Mind the Gap
London is one of those cities that somehow works for everyone. There’s history, shopping, incredible food, theater, and just enough chaos to make it exciting for kids and adults alike. But where you stay really shapes the experience, especially when traveling as a family. For us, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London ended up being so much more than just a beautiful hotel. It became a huge part of the trip itself.
The location alone is hard to beat. The hotel sits right on Hyde Park and just a few blocks from Harrods, which made it incredibly easy to pop in for shopping or wander through Knightsbridge between activities. Having the park directly across the street ended up being such a nice balance to the energy of the city. Between the playground, the seesaws, and the adorable ducks everywhere, it became one of the kids’ favorite spots to unwind between sightseeing and activities.
ARTICLE BY MARISA MACLEAN
A particularly thoughtful part of the experience was the hotel’s Little Ranger Adventures program for children. Created in partnership with the Household Cavalry Museum, it introduced the kids to London’s royal history and traditions in a way that felt both immersive and genuinely special. The experience included themed treats, treasure maps, and beautifully done dress up pieces that brought the entire adventure to life. It also ended up being the perfect way to begin exploring the city, giving us an up close look at the Changing of the Guard without feeling overly crowded or touristy.
Tea, towers and Hyde Park on a trip to London.
Breakfast each morning quickly became part of the experience itself. The spread was incredible, with fresh fruit, pastries, tea, warm scones, and just about anything else you could want before a long day of exploring. But what really made it special was the view. From the breakfast room, you could actually watch members of the Household Cavalry riding by in full uniform along Hyde Park. It felt so quintessentially London and the kids were completely mesmerized every single morning.
After full days of walking through the city, having the indoor pool at the hotel ended up being such a luxury. Surprisingly, not many hotels in London have one, and after hours of sightseeing, shopping, and exploring, it was so nice to come back and have downtime built into the hotel itself. The kids could swim, we could relax a little, and everyone reset before dinner.
The Little Ranger experience also included a VIP movie night in the room for the kids, which made them feel incredibly special. Naturally, we chose Paddington because it felt mandatory in London. The hotel staff came in and transformed the room with sweets, snacks, and all the cozy details imaginable. While the kids settled in for movie night, my husband and I headed downstairs to The Aubrey, the hotel’s Japanese izakaya and sushi restaurant. The omakase was incredible and easily one of the best meals we had during the trip.
Outside the hotel, London completely delivered. Visiting Buckingham Palace and seeing the official Changing of the Guard felt like one of those iconic London experiences you have to do at least once, though it’s worth checking the schedule ahead of time because it doesn’t happen every day. Seeing Big Ben in person was another one of those moments that never really loses its magic no matter how many photos you’ve seen before. Seeing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London felt especially magical for the kids, and afternoon tea at Sketch was every bit as fun and over the top as we hoped it would be.
For dinner, Dishoom Kensington was a favorite and completely lived up to the hype. We also saw Matilda in the West End, which was fantastic for both kids and adults.
And for families with slightly older or adventurous kids, the Thames Rockets speedboat tour was such a fun surprise. It ended up being one of the most exciting things we did in London and was a great balance to some of the more traditional sightseeing. We also loved doing the London Eye for the iconic city views.
What I loved most about the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London was that it managed to feel both elegant and genuinely family-friendly without trying too hard. Nothing felt stiff or overly formal. It was luxurious in a way that still felt comfortable with kids, which is actually pretty rare.
By the end of the trip, it felt less like we had stayed at a hotel and more like the hotel had become part of our London story.
For more information, visit mandarinoriental.com/en/london/hyde-park
JULY 2026
JULY 2ND
2026 PAL Independence Day Fireworks Celebration
Compo Beach | 9:00 PM
Generously sponsored by Melissa & Doug Bernstein and the Bernstein Family Foundation, the fireworks light up the skies on July 2, with a rain date of July 3. Passes are available at the Westport Police Department (50 Jesup Rd) and the Parks and Recreation Office (260 Compo Rd. S). $50, cash or check only.
JULY 10TH
Matteo Bocelli
The Levitt Pavilion, 40 Jesup Rd. 7:30 PM
On July 10, the Levitt Pavilion presents Matteo Bocelli’s Falling In Love World Tour. Matteo is the son of world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli, but his sound is all his own, blending modern pop production and classical Italian techniques. Tickets, from $55, at levittpavilion.com
JULY 10TH
Kids' Night Out: Trailblazers
Earthplace, 10 Woodside Ln 6:00 PM
Kids play at Earthplace for an exciting evening focused on a unique nature theme while parents enjoy a night off. A naturalist will guide the children as they explore the different plants and animals that live in the sanctuary. Cheese pizza and popcorn will be provided. Pickup at 9 p.m. From $50 (sibling discounts available), at earthplace.org
JULY 11TH
Eggy
The Levitt Pavilion, 40 Jesup Rd. 4:00 PM
Modern jam-band Eggy will play the Levitt Pavilion in a special afternoon show on July 11. One dollar from each ticket sale benefits Eggy's partner charity, Backline Care, which supports mental health resources for musicians and their families. Tickets, from $26, at levittpavilion.com
JULY 11TH
Music in the Meadow: Quinn Sullivan
Lachat Town Farm, 106 Godfrey Rd. West, Weston | 6:00 PM
Music in the Meadow returns for the 2026 season with singer-songwriter Quinn Sullivan, a disciple of Buddy Guy's known for his guitar playing. Tickets, from $45, at lachattownfarm.org
JULY 11TH
John Arden Music Dueling Pianos
Music Theater of Connecticut, 509 Westport Ave., Norwalk | 8:00 PM
Hear dueling-pianos favorites from artists such as Billy Joel, Elton John, The Beatles, and standards such as "Sweet Caroline," "Piano Man," "Don't Stop Believing," "Come Sail Away," and more. Tickets, $55, at musictheaterofct.com
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ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
EDITOR’S PICK:
ARTICLE BY SARA GAYNES LEVY
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY YALE PEABODY MUSEUM
When planning this feature for our annual “Explore” issue, I thought back to the last time I had encountered a sense of exploration, that feeling when you know you’ve uncovered a hidden gem. The first place I thought of wasn’t anywhere in Westport, but it wasn’t some far-flung locale, either: it was the Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven. A few months ago, a friend suggested a day trip there with our families, and I was blown away at the quality of the University’s collections—absolutely on par with the American Museum of Natural History in N.Y.C., but a 35-minute drive away, and completely free. “Thanks to the generosity and foresight of our lead donor, we were able to permanently remove cost as a barrier to entry to the museum, allowing more people to see what we have to offer,” Steven Scarpa, the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications at the Yale Peabody Museum, tells me. “There are iconic dinosaurs, breathtaking gems, fantastic animals, and objects that take you back to ancient civilizations.” The breadth of their exhibits truly has something for everyone, from toddlers to grandparents. “Our director, David Skelly, grew up in Wilton and was inspired to become a scientist by his experiences at the Peabody,” says Steven. “A trip to the Peabody can often be a transformative experience, one that illustrates the world and our place in it.” Top your visit off with a meal at an iconic New Haven pizzeria, and hopefully you’ll leave Yale with the same satisfaction—in both body and mind— we felt that day (and all on a single tank of precious gas).
For more information or to plan your visit, visit peabody.yale.edu
YALE PEABODY MUSEUM
