Greenwich - March 2024

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GREENWICH

contents MARCH 2024 vol. 77 | issue 2

features

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VISION Kathryn Webster has achieved more in her twenty-eight years than most do in a lifetime. And the trailblazer is ready to change the status quo—advocating for the visually impaired in the corporate world. by j i l l johnosn m a nn

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T I

THE CALL OF THE WILD Landscape experts weigh in on what’s glamming up our backyards. Topping the list—native and ornamental grasses, pollinator plants, wildly colorful flowers and luxury features like plunge pools. by tom c onnor

departments 14 EDITOR’S LETTER 16 NOTABLE NOTES 19 STATUS REPORT BUZZ Get ready, kids! The Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich is about to get a major facelift. SHOP From stripes and pastels

to jackets and vests, these great finds will keep you on-trend this spring. DOThe Bruce Museum helps you hit the road to explore Connecticut’s architecturally historic buildings.

GO Just like Paris, the Cape is always a good idea. And the Chatham Bars Inn is the perfect retreat for every season.

HOME Add some whimsical touches to your interior design.

EAT Siren in Old Greenwich welcomes guests with its warm Mediterranean vibe and delicious, authentic cuisine.

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48 MONEY MATTERS Learn how to build your team of financial advisors, tax pros, attorneys and insurance advisers.

PH OT O G R A PH Y B Y K Y L E N ORT ON HA I R B Y M A R I NA N I K AC , S A LON M I MO Z A , G R E E N W I C H M A K E U P B Y LY DIA A R R OYO

GREENWICH MAGAZINE MARCH 2024 VOL. 77, NO. 2 GREENWICH MAGAZINE (USPS 961-500/ISSN 1072-2432) is published ten times a year by Moffly Media, Inc 205 Main St,Westport, CT 06880. Periodical postage paid at Westport, CT, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to GREENWICH MAGAZINE PO BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607.

50 G-MOM Arming your medicine cabinet—and immune system—to help you and your kids fight off everything from the sniffles to the flu; Usher in spring with these fun activities.

57 PEOPLE & PLACES Greenwich United Way; Moffly Media’s Light a Fire; Hospital for Special Surgery; Greenwich Historical Society; Pink Aid; Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich; YWCA Greenwich

85 CALENDAR 95 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 96 POSTSCRIPT Going green has never been so cute.

FOOD: ANDREA CARSON; LOBBY: CONTRIBUTED

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ON T H E C OV E R : K AT H RY N W E B ST E R AND THEO

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GREENWICHMAG.com CELEBRATING THE BEST OF WHERE WE LIVE

march 2024

LET’S BE FRIENDS! Show us your love and us on social!

@GREENWICHMAG Find out about store openings, see what’s coming up in the magazine and enjoy photos of iconic places around the area— follow us on Instagram.

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For over 100 years, Cummings & Lockwood has been building meaningful and lasting relationships with our private clients, their family offices, businesses and charitable entities, serving as trusted advisors throughout their lifetimes and providing sophisticated legal counsel at every important stage of their lives.

GREENWICH L I F E T O L I F E S T Y L E S I N C E 1 94 7 vol. 77 | no. 2 | march 2024 editorial editorial director

Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com social editor

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editor’s letter

MARCH 2024 / CRISTIN MARANDINO

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HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP

I

often say that the biggest perk of this job is being trusted to tell the stories of the remarkable personalities who call Greenwich home—leaders in business, art, entertainment, philanthropy … The list goes on.

This month, we put the spotlight on a young woman whose life narrative is not just compelling but a call to action for all of us.

How often do we say, “I’ll do this when (fill in excuse here)?” or “I’d do it, but …?” That way of thinking doesn’t compute with Kathryn Webster. To say she is excuse-averse would be an enormous understatement. As the founder of TAD (Technology, Accessibility & Design), Kathryn is at the forefront of creating a more inclusive world by bridging the divide between the corporate workplace and the visually impaired. (Approximately 75 percent of blind Americans are unemployed.)

She challenges us to recognize the profound impact embracing diversity can have.

Born blind, Kathryn never allowed her lack

of sight to define her. Instead, she consistently shattered barriers, challenged societal expectations and rewrote the script on what’s possible. In “Vision” (page 68) Jill Johnson Mann sits down with the changemaker to discuss her journey. We discover that her resolve to empower others doesn’t come from her blindness alone, it’s a reflection of her deep-seated belief in the potential of individuals to contribute meaningfully to society, regardless of physical limitations.

It’s easy to call Kathryn’s story inspiring because of her success despite her blindness.

But that’ll really irk her. She advocates for achievements to be recognized for their value and impact—not because of perceived hurdles. And the value and impact of her achievements rival those of the most successful business leaders. We know you’ll enjoy meeting her as much as we did.

WILLIAM TAUFIC

NO EXCUSES

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meaningful to me that greenwich magazine did a piece on JFS [and its work on refugee resettlement]— especially in this moment, as antisemitism is raging around the world. For the magazine to shine a light on the work JFS is doing for all members of our community— regardless of their background— filled me with great pride and appreciation.

From the bottom of my heart, thanks.

Taking Center stage

Winston Rider is poised to take the music world by storm (and do good along the way)

Wrap it up with our HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE!

Liz Salgue ro

Agents

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– ERICA BUCHSBAUM, GREENWICH JFS BOARD MEMBER Robyn Wh itti ngham

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Ch ris Franco

Rach e l Franco

Robert Russo

PARIS JUST GOT EVEN MORE CHIC— and we have the scoop

n

Working in human services, we always want to share our stories to give context to the greater public.

There is a careful balance of ensuring dignity and respect for our clients.

Thank you, Jamie, for the time you took to get the full and accurate picture of our families. Venera, [your photography and layout] made us all look amazing.

There are layers of goodness and advocacy in this article from immigration, women in leadership, and antisemitism. You truly captured the strength of our organization.

Our work is very challenging—and necessary. Thank you for shining a bright light on compassion and humanity through JFS of Greenwich.

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Kath l e e n Walsh

NOVEMBER

2023 $6.95

GREENWICHMAG.COM

Bi l l Tom m i ns

one act of kin d

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a at ss ne

lucy langl ey

Light a Fire honore es are im pa c

Laura delaf lor

Jen n i f e r lau

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ALL FIRED UP We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who played a role in awarding us the Moffly Media Light a Fire Grassroots Leader Award.

[November: “Lighting the Way” by Jill Johnson Mann]. This recognition means the world to us, and we are truly humbled by this honor.

Receiving the award is not just a recognition of our work but also a celebration of the power of community, collaboration and compassion. Your acknowledgment has put The Undies Project under a larger spotlight, making it visible to a broader audience.

Once again, thank you for this incredible honor. We are immensely grateful for your support and encouragement.

– LAURA DELAFLOR AND LUCY LANGLEY, GREENWICH CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS THE UNDIES PROJECT

The Power Within How a former Teen to Watch fosters emotional and physical strength in our kids

– RACHEL KORNFELD CEO, JFS OF GREENWICH

10/18/23 9:23 AM

Thank you so much for such a lovely evening last night [at the Light a Fire Awards ceremony in December at the Westport Country Playhouse]. It was truly special to hear everyone’s stories and meet so many passionate people.

I really love the message of the Light a Fire Award and am so appreciative of the increased exposure for Circle of Care for families of children with cancer.

TEEN TALK Phil and I so enjoyed the article about the students in the September greenwich magazine [“In Focus” by Jamie Marshall]. This is always one of my favorite issues, because it’s really amazing what various interests kids have and how they picture life itself.

– KATHY MCKNIGHT, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA

– ELIZABETH SALGUERO, WILTON FOUNDER, CO-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CIRCLE OF CARE

Editor’s Note: The McKnights’ granddaughter Ellie Burdick was one of our Teens to Watch. The tri-varsity sports captain at Greenwich Academy is now playing lacrosse at Dartmouth.

HOME RUN Thank you for the beautiful article on Jewish Family Services of Greenwich [December: “Building a Home” by Jamie Marshall]. It was absolutely fabulous—spot-on, and the photos were gorgeous.

On a personal level, it was deeply

STAYING FIT Thank you so much for your wonderful piece on staying fit with Shree at the YWCA [October: Founder’s Page—“Of Fitness &

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notableNOTES Flexibility” by Donna Moffly].

So grateful for this fantastic testimonial. Hoping I can do the same as she has!

– MARY LEE A. KIERNAN, PRESIDENT & CEO YWCA GREENWICH

I wanted to call out Donna Moffly’s perfectly marvelous Founder’s Page fitness story. It really struck a chord with me, a reluctant fitness buff.

I shall forever remember her “Don’t forget that inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the hell happened.”

– ANN DuBOIS, GREENWICH

ALL IN A ROW What a beautiful article on the girls in the boat [January: Status Report, Buzz—“Strokes of Genius— Greenwich Crew Makes Big Waves in England” by Mary Kate Hogan]!

We went to see the film The Boys in the Boat on Christmas Day, and to have this article come out was such a wonderful surprise. Mary Kate is such a gifted writer!

With love and thanks for recognizing these girls in such spectacular fashion.

– CHRISTY PRUNIER, RIVERSIDE

Editor’s Note: Christy’s daughter Julia Doss was on the Greenwich Crew who won the Women’s Junior Eights on the Thames at Henley last summer.

What an amazing article you put out on Greenwich Crew! Beautifully written, amazing photography!

Thank you for supporting these young women and their accomplishments and special piece of our town!

– KERRI JAFFE, GREENWICH

THE GIFT OF MUSIC We just saw the beautiful article in greenwich featuring Vega Music [October: Status Report, Do—“On a High Note” by Valerie Foster].

It is absolutely perfect in every way.

We are thrilled and eternally grateful for your time, energy, hard work and for including Vega on the cover.

– ALLISON JACKSON, CHARLIE MANGOLD AND MIKE DEVANY, GREENWICH

Greenwich magazine welcomes letters that are timely and relevant to material published in our magazine. All letters become the property of Greenwich magazine, which reserves the right to edit them. Please include your name, address and day and evening telephone numbers for verification. Mail: Letter to the Editor, Greenwich magazine, 205 Main Street, Westport, CT 06880; fax: 203-222-0937; or email editor@greenwichmagazine.com.

greenwichmag.com

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The Boys & Girls Club reimagined: the outdoor amphitheater, a classroom and the new exterior

JOIN W THE CLUB! FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS,

THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH HAS PROVIDED OUR KIDS WITH A SAFE, FUN AND EDUCATIONAL SPACE,

AND IT’S ABOUT TO GET A MAJOR MAKEOVER by va l e rie f o st e r

hen the Boys Club of Greenwich opened in 1910, its purpose was to provide athletic and recreational programs to boys from disadvantaged homes. It took seventy-five years for girls to join the club, which meant a name change to the current Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich.

As the club grew, so did its locations— from a storefront on the Post Road, then to Railroad Avenue, to its present historic Georgian-style Clubhouse on Horseneck Lane. It’s been twenty years since the last major renovation, and according to Cristina Vittoria, CEO, it was time for a redo, in this case a $22.5 million, 10,000-square-foot addition and expansion of the Clubhouse.

We sat down with Cristina to learn all about the project.

GM: WHY DID YOU DECIDE THAT THIS IS THE TIME FOR RENOVATION? CV: The Clubhouse is in desperate need of renovation and modernization.

We were dealing with an outdated infrastructure, such as plumbing, electrical, HVAC and technical systems. We also needed to modernize the facility and make some enhancements.

We knew we needed to think about how we serve our kids and the community. Our needs keep growing with the changing times. The children and teens who call this place their home away from home need academic, health and fitness services. Our goal is to make sure that every child graduates from high school, and they graduate with a plan.

GM: THERE ARE MANY CHANGES PLANNED AT THE CLUBHOUSE, BUT LET’S START WITH THE ENTRANCE. CV: It’s so important today to have a secure

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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buzz

Taking the Club to new heights—an archtiect rendering of what the building will look like

entrance. There will be an elongated drop-off and pickup area, a more secure vestibule and upgraded security throughout the building.

Once you enter, there will also be seating for parents in the lobby.

We’re also building a new gymnasium with a regulation-size court for basketball, volleyball and other activities. Plus, there will be bleachers for parent spectators.

The old gym will become a dance, fitness and theater space.

The majority of our kids come for after-school care.

Plans call for doubling the academic and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math) instructional space.

We’re also increasing and upgrading the Teen Center into a space of its own, a fun, safe place. Of course, the infrastructure changes figure prominently in the plans.

GM: HOW MANY CHILDREN DO YOU SERVE ANNUALLY? CV: There are 1,955 members ages six through eighteen.

The breakdown is 55 percent elementary schoo, 28 percent middle school and 17 percent high school.

parents at town halls about the changes that would be taking place and explained to them exactly what would be happening.

GM: SINCE THE CONSTRUCTION WILL NOT BE FINISHED UNTIL THE SPRING OF 2025, WHERE ARE YOUR PROGRAMS BEING HELD? CV: We are very committed that during the renovation and expansion, there will be no disruption to the programming.

We will continue to serve the kids who rely on our services. We have five different locations throughout Greenwich that have stepped up and are helping us. Both before and after-school programs are in St. Roch’s education building and New Lebanon School. Basketball and soccer are at Western Middle School. BGCG Advance [a specialized program for children in grades first through third to enhance academic performance] is at Hamilton Avenue School, and our swim team is at the YMCA. Early on, we began educating

GM: IS THERE A COST TO JOIN THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUB? CV: There is an annual $75 membership fee; and although scholarships are only given for summer camp, we never want price to be a barrier to accessing our programs, so we do offer a payment plan.

GM: HOW DID YOU RAISE THE FUNDS FOR THIS $22.5 MILLION PROJECT? CV: The funding is largely from private, individual contributions and family foundations. About 20 percent of the overall project— $6.5 million—is from state bonding.

GM: THERE ARE MORE THAN 5,000 BOYS & GIRLS CLUB LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE?

CV: There are two factors that set us apart. The first is our vast, robust alumni community that supports us in many ways. Some bring their kids here to participate. Others, volunteer. For example, they take part in job and college panels. If kids are interested in a certain industry, we can connect them with alumni. Our police and resource officers come back and play ping-pong with the kids. Many alumni provide financial support through donations. Some leave bequests in their wills.

And we focus on service, athletics and healthy lifestyles—character building—through many of our programs. For example, we work on self-esteem, building a strong sense of self, teaching that character matters. And our kids volunteer at various activities in the community.

We are proud of the programs we offer and grateful to the Greenwich community for all the help they have given us over the years and are supplying now during the renovations and expansion.

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One of America’s Best Hospitals, right here in Norwalk

The only hospital in Connecticut ranked among the top 1% in the nation Norwalk Hospital, part of Nuvance Health, is the only hospital in Connecticut to receive the America’s Top 50 Best Hospitals award from Healthgrades. Norwalk Hospital has been consistently ranked for top quality by Healthgrades for the last seven years in a row. This means that you and your family have access to nationally-ranked care, right in your community where you live and work.

Norwalk Hospital is proud to be recognized among the top 1% in the nation, because quality of care matters. And, what matters most to you, matters to us.

Norwalk Hospital

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shop

Spring Trends

STRIPES

PA S T E L S

CROPPED J AC K E T S

VESTS

B Y H A N N A H D E E LY

NEUTRALS

J E W E L RY

PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY OF STORES/BRANDS

The runway’s freshest picks are designed to make your wardrobe bloom!

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The Lineup

LOUISA BALLOU Cotton Polo Maxi Dress, $550; net-a-porter.com

H E R E ’ S H OW T O P U T A S P O RT Y T W I S T O N T H E C L AS S I C P R E P P Y STRIPE THIS SPRING

ROSIE ASSOULIN

ADIDAS

High-Rise Maxi Skirt, $995; modaoperandi.com

Sambae Leather Sneaker, $110; adidas.com

PHILLIP LIM

WHITE & WARREN Organic Cotton Sweater, $315, Darien; darien sportshop.com

PHOTOGRAPHS: COURTESY OF STORES/BRANDS

ISABEL MARANT Darwen Jacquard Tote, $295, Norwalk; nordstrom.com

KULE Cotton Blend Knit Sweater, $398; kule.com

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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Pretty Pastels

LOVESHACKFANCY Cotton Blend Tweed Jacket, $595, Greenwich; loveshackfancy.com

S OF T E N U P YOU R SE AS ONA L WA R D R O B E W I T H O U R P I C K S T H AT A R E AS S W E E T AS S O R B E T

MONOGRAM MARY Canvas Fringe Tote; $128 (including free monogram), Old Greenwich; monogrammary.com

T O RY B U R C H

ASHA BY ASHLEY MCCORMICK Embroidered Linen Caftan, $495, Greenwich; ashabyadm.com

ULLA JOHNSON Silk Kaia Dress, $1,390; ullajohnson.com

FRAME Cinched V-Neck Blouse, $328, Greenwich; frame-store.com

MANOLO BLAHNIK Patent Leather Slingback Pumps, $925, Norwalk; nordstrom.com

OLIVER PEOPLES Kienna Acetate Sunglasses, $440, Greenwich; oliverpeoples.com greenwichmag.com

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shop ZARA Faux Leather Crop Bike Jacket, $70, Greenwich; zara.com

ULLA JOHNSON Cotton Alessa Jacket, $550; ullajohnson.com

ALICE & OLIVIA

Top Off Your Summer Look…

MAJE Short Oversized Bomber Jacket, $445; maje.com

STELLA MCCARTNEY Animal Print Pocket Jacket, $1,590, Greenwich, saksfifthavenue.com

W I T H T H E S E C H I C C R O P P E D J AC K E T S AND TIMELESS VESTS

WE THE FREE

RAG & BONE

Tate Denim Vest, $98, Westport; freepeople.com

Priya Striped Wool Vest, $295, Greenwich; rag-bone.com

VERONICA BEARD Long Woven Becca Vest, $598, Greenwich; veronicabeard.com

VINCE Lightweight Crepe ThreeButton Vest, $445, Greenwich; vince.com

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T O D ’S

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shop

ARZANO 18K Yellow Gold Pear Cut Diamond Ring, $3,630, Fairfield; hcreidjewelers.com

Summer Stunners ADD ANY OF THESE

S P LU R G E WO R T H Y J E W E L S — A N D A G L AS S OF RO SÉ — T O YOU R SPR I NG WA R D R O B E A N D E N J OY E F F O RT L E S S ST YLE ALL SEASON

SHREVE, CRUMP & LOW 18K Yellow Gold and Pavé Diamond “North Star” Pendant, $3,300, Greenwich; shrevecrumpandlow.com

PETER SUCHY

MARCO BICEGO STEVEN FOX Australian Opal and Diamond Platinum Drop Earrings, $37,500, Greenwich; stevenfoxjewelry.com

Jaipur Color 18K Yellow Gold And Multicolored Gemstone Necklace, $5,380, Greenwich; manfredijewels.com

Pink And Green Tourmaline Earrings, $1,940, Stamford; petersuchy jewelers.com

VERDURA Gold and Ceramic Sicily Bangles, $37,500 each each, Greenwich; famille greenwich.com

DAVID YURMAN Madison 18K Yellow Gold Chain Bracelet, $3,200; Westport, lbgreen.com

GOSHWARA 18K Yellow Gold Prasiolite and Malachite Oval Ring, $2,600, Greenwich; betteridge.com

JL ROCKS 14K Yellow Gold and Diamond Link Earrings, $1,200, Greenwich and Westport; jlrocks.com

RUSS HOLLANDER MASTER GOLDSMITH Aquamarine and Pear-Shaped Morganite With Amethyst in Handmade 18K White Gold Earrings, $12,500, Stamford; (203) 363-2200

greenwichmag.com

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AMY AIDINIS HIRSCH INTERIOR DESIGN

amyhirsch.com n 203 661 1266

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Simply Neutral

CHLOÉ

I F Y O U R P H I L O S O P H Y I S T H AT

Suede Buckle Slide Sandal, $875, Westport; mitchells .mitchellstores.com

LESS IS MORE, THEN THESE U N D E R S TAT E D L O O K S A R E F O R Y O U

HERMES

ARITZIA High-Waisted Crepe Cargo Pants, $148, Greenwich; aritzia.com

VERONICA BEARD Jax Button Front Twill Dress, $398, Greenwich; veronicabeard.com

LOUIS VUITTON Leather Atlantis GM Bag, $3,200; louisvuitton.com

ISABEL MARANT Suede Lecce Wrap Belt, $295, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

BA&SH Cotton Cargo Jacket, $425, Darien; darien sportshop.com

DOLCE & GABBANA Cat Eye Sunglasses, $290, Greenwich; sunglasshut.com greenwichmag.com

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LIFE INTERRUPTED

BY AN INJURY? WE’RE HERE FOR YOU. Thatʼs the ONS difference.

Now offering:

After Hours Urgent Ortho Care in Greenwich and Wilton!

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4:00-7:00pm Noon-4:00pm

Services include: Prompt evaluation, x-ray, fracture care, and immediate treatment plans

WALK INS WELCOME

2/8/24 9:58 AM

go by kim-marie galloway

A Gem in All Seasons

above: Everyone feels at home at the Chatham Bars Inn.

I

f Wes Anderson attempted to capture classic New England, with its shingled cottages, wild beaches and bracing ocean breezes, he’d film at Chatham Bars Inn. The Inn opened its doors in 1914 as a hunting lodge for discerning Bostonians. Even

then, it appealed to the luxury market, offering swanky new amenities such as saltwater baths and steam heat. Over a century and many renovations later, Chatham Bars Inn is still the place to stay on Cape Cod. Returning guests may say it is the Cape.

From Henry Ford to Bruno Mars, this little dot on the map where the Mayflower first landed has seen its share of the rich and fabulous. Today, guests make the journey to the edge of the eastern seaboard for many reasons: a classic summer vacation, a weekend of sport fishing on one of the Inn's boats, whale watching, daytrips to Nantucket, a recent Robert Burns’ supper or for upcoming Wellness Weekends in partnership with Canyon Ranch.

A vacation on the Cape has been a summer rite of passage for generations. But we could argue that Chatham Bars Inn is a year-round destination. From January through March, the Inn invites travelers to “activate their winter” with wine tasting and mixology classes, iPhone photography, astronomy, line dancing and an art series.

There's a room to suit every vacationer, from multigenerational families to romance-seeking couples. Book a suite or two in an Ocean View cottage and load in all the grandkids. Heck, bring the dog—the hotel is pet-friendly. The suites have separate bedrooms with sofa beds in the living room. Families looking for even more space can rent the stand-alone Kettledrum House, which sleeps ten.

Want to leave the kids behind? Book one

COURTESY OF CHATHAM BARS INN

READY FOR A LUXURIOUS RETREAT that’s just a car ride away? We sure are

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Exquisite.

Experiential.

Effortless.

Words rarely used to describe vegetable gardens. Words frequently used to describe ours.

Your property is an extension and reflection of your lifestyle and impeccable taste. Homefront Farmers understands this. The organic gardens we design, build, and maintain are works of art that blend seamlessly into your landscape. Our expert farmers take loving care of your ‘homestead’ to produce exceptional tasting vegetables, fruit, flowers, and honey, all season long for your family.

Delight in the joy and satisfaction of growing your own food at home… effortlessly.

A R I V E R S I D E F E N C E C O M PA N Y

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203 .938 . 0900

YARD TO TABLE SINCE 2011

info@homefrontfarmers.com : homefrontfarmers.com : @homefrontfarmers

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go

left: The stunning coastline

above: A homey vibe welcomes guests. below: The Inn's fleet of cars lets guests cruise around in luxury.

above: Have a meal fit for, well, a star at the Inn's STARS restaurant— Provincetown scallops with sunchoke risotto, pancetta and aged balsamico. below: Well-appointed New England luxury is a hallmark of the Inn.

COURTESY OF CHATHAM BARS INN

of the twelve spa suites (conveniently located just above the spa). Each has a private in-room wood sauna, oversized hydrotherapy tub, steam shower and cozy fireplace. Indulge in spa treatments ranging from CBD massages to oxygen facials. No children are allowed, so it’s not your fault the kids had to stay home.

The Inn is only a ten-minute walk from downtown Chatham. But why walk if you can borrow one of the classic bikes with wicker baskets for hauling swag bought at the famous Black Dog t-shirt shop in town? And, thanks to a new partnership, guests also have access to Lexus vehicles, which are on loan for a few hours so you sightsee or book for over-sand excursions.

You’ll want to stay on the property for dinner. The award-winning STARS restaurant has the only ocean view of any eatery in Chatham. It’s the definition of classic New England, with Norman Rockwell's “Spirit of America” hanging over the fireplace. The menu keeps it local with Cape Cod oysters, American Waygu and produce from the Inn’s farm. In summertime, the Beachhouse Grill is the place to be. Chilled lobster rolls and refreshing cocktails are a must. Guests can also book a clambake on the private beach. And if your crew has a lucky day of fishing on one of the Inn’s boats, bring in the catch and the chef will prepare it for your dinner.

Chatham Bars Inn recently received the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award, reserved for the most luxurious properties worldwide—only 360 hotels boast this accomplishment.

If you’re looking for a winter escape, the room rates are tempting, starting at $356 per night in the Main Inn and running to just over $1,000 per night for the Presidential Suite. Starting rates will climb by the July 4th weekend to $1,200 per night. Be sure to check out the events calendar for upcoming art series, line dancing and mixology classes. chathambarsinn.com

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2024 THE YEAR TO SELL AGENT

105%

AVERAGE

20+

HOULIHAN LAWRENCE GREENWICH BROKERAGE

SALE TO LIST PRICE

MARKET LEADER

#

1

YEARS

MODERNINMIDCOUNTRY.COM

Inventory remains low This is the ideal time to list your home ELLEN MOS HER M 203.705.9680 EllenMosher.com emosher@houlihanlawrence.com

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2 SOUND VIEW DRIVE | GREENWICH, CT Source: GMLS, 1/1/23-12/31/23, Agent ranking, sale price to list price percentage, total dollar volume Residential, single family Greenwich, Riverside, Cos Cob, Old Greenwich.

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home

MODERN BOBBIN DETAILS ADD A PLAYFUL POP by megan gagnon

1

3

2 6 4

5

“modern b obbin designs seamlessly intert wine the essence of tr aditional cr aftsmanship with a c ontemp or ary t wist, skillfully reimagining its form across diverse categories in unexpectedly innovative ways.”

7

1 IN COMMON WITH

2 PARK EUN-KOOK

3 AERIN

4 AND OBJECTS

5 NOIR

6 TROY LIGHTING

7 JONATHAN CHARLES

Gemma sconce in blackened brass; starting at $1,500. incommonwith.com

KoKo table; $7,680.

1stdibs.com

Odette bookends; $695 for set of two. aerin.com

Leckford Stool; $4,084. andobjects.com

Cooper mirror in metal with brass finish; $2,085.

Beehive, Fairfield; thebeehive fairfield.com

Miela floor lamp

by Loft & Thought; $990. Chloe Winston Lighting Design, Norwalk, 203-9578686; chloewinston lighting.com

Orb dining table; $6,560. Schwartz Design Showroom, Stamford; schwartzdesign showroom.com

IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

—alexis varbero, owner + ceo, schwartz design showrooms

greenwichmag.com

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enhancing your property through the pursuit of perfection

A rare fence company is one that has the good taste, the craftsmanship, and the experience to build a fence that actually enhances your property. We have been serving our customers for over 30 years ~ from large estates to quaint backyards ~ in all the styles and materials you’re looking for. Let us show you how a properly built fence can enhance the value of your property.

203.210.7447 | riversidefence.net | driveway gates | pergolas | cable rail | deer fence | wrought iron | arbors

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do First Presbyterian Church and Carillon Tower STAMFORD From New Canaan: a 20-minute drive via CT-15 S

MODERN W MARVELS GREENWICH’S BRUCE MUSEUM ORGANIZES A DRIVING TOUR TO CELEBRATE

CONNECTICUT’S RICH HISTORY IN MODERN ARCHITECTURE b y e il e e n m u rphy

hen people think of Connecticut, they often think of historical colonial-style homes, surrounded by stone walls and lush yards. While our architecture does lean more traditional than avant-garde, our proximity to both New York City and Boston has always been a big draw to artists and pioneers of all kinds—architects included.

To celebrate our rich history in modern architecture, the Bruce Museum in Greenwich recently organized the Connecticut Modern Driving Tour. This self-guided tour takes you from Stamford to Hartford, with numerous stops along the way. You’ll find a detailed history of each site, along with location and visitor information, on the museum’s website.

CONTRIBUTED; OPPOSITE PAGE: BLACK AND WHITE PHOTO BY PEDRO E. GUERRERO. COURTESY OF PAMELA GORES

From Greenwich: a 15-minute drive via I-95 N

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Gore's Pavilion NEW CANAAN From downtown New Canaan: a 3-minute drive; a 20-minute walk From Greenwich: a 25-minute drive via CT-15 N and I-95 N

clockwise from top, left: Originally a pool house and winter lodge, Gores Pavilion is now a museum. opposite page: Stamford's First Presbyterian Church.

Many of these sites are open to the public, so plan ahead, as the interiors are often just as interesting as the exteriors—as is the case with Stamford’s First Presbyterian Church and Carillon Tower, which many readers might know as the “fish church.” Designed by Wallace K. Harrison, who also created Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the church is immediately recognizable for its two-story tower, but the colorful glass slabs that Wallace used instead of traditional stained glass, should be appreciated from the inside.

It’s no surprise that the driving tour features two locations in New Canaan, home to the Harvard Five, a famous group of modern architects that settled in the town in the 1940s.

Gore’s Pavillion, located in beautiful

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Blank_sin

Building the Contemporary Home www.yankeecustombuilders.com

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do The Glass House NEW CANAAN From downtown New Canaan: a 6-minute drive via Wahackme Road From Greenwich: a 25-minute drive via CT-15 N and I-95 N

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top: The Glass House is not visible from the road, but tours are given of the house, galleries and grounds. right: The views from inside the house are constantly changing with the seasons.

particularly interesting.

Just across the street is another of Kahn’s buildings, the Yale Center for British Art. Completed in 1977, three years after Kahn died, the steeland-glass building is currently under construction and closed to visitors, but you can get an excellent view of the exterior while visiting the art gallery.

However, the most recognizable New Haven building featured on the tour is the Hotel Marcel. When designing this building for the Armstrong Rubber Company, architect

CONTRIBUTED

Irwin Park was designed as a pool house by architect Landis Gores for Jack Irwin (former ambassador to France) and Jane Watson (daughter of IBM founder Thomas J. Watson).

It is now a museum operated by the New Canaan Historical Society. Less than a mile away stands the renowned Glass House, a celebrated work of the Harvard Five’s most famous architect, Phillip Johnson. Originally Johnson’s private home, it is now a National Trust Historic Site and opens for tours from April through December.

A second Johnson-designed building in nearby Ridgefield was Johnson’s first commercial project.

Known as the Schlumberger Research Center, it reopened after an extensive restoration and is again operating as a private office building as initially intended by Johnson.

Heading north to New Haven, you’ll find three driving tour stops. The Louis Kahn Building at Yale University is home to the oldest college art museum in the country. Considered to be one of Kahn first masterpieces, the tetrahedral concrete ceiling is

2/8/24 10:00 AM

Interested in Gardens and like to Travel?

Join one of Glorious Garden Tours’ bespoke tours to; - Cotswolds in July - Cote d’Azur (SOLD OUT) - Scottish Highlands in September We also curate private tours for Garden Clubs and family re-unions.

For more information, go to gloriousgardentours.com or call Sandy at 203-273-9334

Two Galleries return to Greenwich Avenue

TAYLOR I GRAHAM

&

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Visit our 80 Greenwich Avenue location and websites offering Exceptional Investment Quality Art Traditional Contemporary Sculpture March Exhibition

Jane Piper: White Is A Color One of America’s mid 20th century abstractionists with extensive exhibition and museum history

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MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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Hotel Marcel

CONTRIBUTED

NEW HAVEN From New Canaan: a 45-minute drive via CT-15 N From Greenwich: a 60-minute drive via CT-15 N and I-95 N

Marcel Bruer certainly achieved the company’s goal of separating the office area from the research department’s quiet space and the city’s hopes for a building that would change the city’s skyline. The interior of the Hotel Marcel is equally interesting.

Further north, you will find the Mattatuck House in Waterbury and the Avery Court at the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, both art museums. Interestingly, when the Avery Court first opened in 1934 with a retrospective exhibit of artist Pablo Picasso’s work, architect Phillip

Alexander Calder. In Hartford, there is a 600-foot tall, bright-red sculpture titled Stegosaurus and in New Haven is Gallow and Lollipops, an example of the type of kinetic sculpture Calder is known for.

For more on The Bruce Museum’s Connecticut Modern Driving Tour, visit thebrucemuseum.org.

Johnson was one of the many guests in attendance.

The newest building on the driving tour is the Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek synagogue in Chester.

Designed by Connecticut native Sol LeWitt in 2001, the interior dome is a post-and-beam construction style that rises two stories above the sanctuary to form a Star of David with a skylight in the middle.

In addition to the buildings featured on the Bruce Museum’s Connecticut Modern Driving Tour, there are also two public works of art by artist

top: The office building sat empty for years until Becker + Becker bought it and turned it into The Hotel Marcel, named after the architect Marcel Breuer.

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Welcome Dr. Barry Witt!

Expert in reproductive medicine

Illume Fertility is thrilled to announce the addition of Barry Witt, M.D. to our award-winning team of board-certified reproductive endocrinologists serving Westchester and Fairfield Counties.

Dr. Witt joins with more than 30 years of expertise where he has helped thousands of Connecticut and New York-based individuals and couples to achieve their goals. His decision to join Illume Fertility was propelled by the practice’s commitment to patient experience and advancing inclusive fertility and family-building care in the community.

A former patient on Dr. Witt:

“

Dr. Witt was outstanding.

He was always very clear and never left any questions unanswered.

He was direct and to the point, but always with a comforting, warm smile.

He is the reason my dream of having a family is now a reality.

To schedule a consultation with Dr. Witt, call toll-free (866) 755-4856 or visit illumefertility.com/dr-witt.

“

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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eat b y mary k at e ho g an

Join the Party SIREN IS READY T O G R E E T Y O U WITH MEDITERRANEAN HOSPITALITY

phot o gr aphy b y andrea c ars on

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opposite page: Greek salad with heirloom tomato, cucumber and red wine vinaigrette; fried burrata with creamy polenta and mushrooms; patatas brava with hot paprika aioli; grilled cauliflower with green tahini, sumac and pine nuts; market fresh whole fish and tabouleh salad above: A perfect spot to grab a cocktail and a quick bite; General Manager Adham Elsharkawy with owner Anshu Vidyarthi; lamb lollipops with harissa, tsatziki and sumac salad

I

t was high time for a new addition to the dining scene in Old Greenwich, and Anshu Vidyarthi heard the siren call. A restaurateur with an excellent track record—he partners with Antoine Blech on the popular Le Penguin and Le Fat Poodle—Anshu launched his first solo venture with Siren Restobar, set in prime real estate on

Sound Beach Avenue. The menu features Mediterranean tapas, and the décor by designer Lynn Morgan evokes a vacation vibe. The interior is fresh and sophisticated, a subtle nod to nautical with lots of white and blue, siren mascots painted on the walls, and a round bar displaying fresh seafood front and center.

“I wanted it to feel like you’ve just gotten off a boat on a Greek Island,” Anshu says. Siren’s ambience channels an escape to sunnier locales on a cold, gray day, and it will also be a choice spot to celebrate in the warmer months. Double doors open to a back patio with seating for thirty, and double doors in front lead to twelve sidewalk spots, with the breeze flowing through.

When the space was updated, a wall was removed to give the dining room an open, airy feeling. The round bar is the focal point, busy with people savoring oysters, tapas and cocktails, many having dinner there. “It’s a great way to eat,” says Anshu, who has the backing of local investors. “You feel like you’re part of the action in a convivial atmosphere.”

At the end of the day, tapas are essentially elegant party food, and it feels like a party’s happening here, with the DJ playing every Friday and Saturday night, the lively crowd and lights getting progressively dimmer throughout the evening. We ate here on a Saturday night and arrived fifteen minutes early for an already early reservation. In fact, the restaurant wasn’t open yet, but we were still welcomed to seats at a round corner table, ideal for five friends celebrating a birthday.

In no time our group was toasting with cocktails and savoring rounds of tapas, everything from a garlic-studded mix of house-marinated olives to the comfort food of warm mushroom croquettes on a bed of truffle aioli, and a velvety

butternut squash soup garnished with pomegranate and pumpkin seeds. We sipped on the La Farmacia (a signature drink with tequila, ginger, honey, smoked chili and lime) and Naked and Famous (Mezcal, Aperol and lime) cocktails, and later, our server recommended a bottle of Sancerre to go with the multicourse meal of shared plates.

There are twenty-one tapas on the menu from executive chef Jorge Ramos as well as meats and cheeses, a mezze platter (pitas with dips) and oyster and clams. With so many tempting choices, it’s easy to get carried away.

Chef Ramos, originally from Uruguay and formerly a chef at Barbounia and Lola Taverna in Manhattan, turns out dishes that are simply

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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eat FAVE DISHES Moroccan meatballs Grilled Haloumi Merguez Sausage Mezze Platter with homemade hummus Boquerones Short Ribs Oysters

TOP COCKTAILS La Farmacia Carajillo

above: Birthday celebrations include sparklers, Mediterranean music and a staff serenade. below: La Farmacia—tequila, ginger, honey, smoked chili and lime

220 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich, 203-628-4205; sirenrestobar.com

“i wanted it to feel like you’ve just gotten off a boat on a greek island.”

—ANSHU VIDYARTHI, OWNER greenwichmag.com

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right: Executive Chef Jorge Ramos far right: Grilled cauliflower, green tahini, sumac and pine nuts below: Olive Oyl Cake with carmelized lemon zest and honey drizzle

presented, allowing the main ingredients to shine. For example, the red snapper is pan-seared to give it a crispy finish and plated with a tomato and olive caponata, while the short ribs are lightly sauced and paired simply with a dill-flecked aioli.

The Greek salad contains no lettuce, only a variety of tomatoes, cucumbers, olive, onions and a top-quality feta. Sometimes a basic dish is the best one. We loved the Spanish patatas bravas, cubed fried potatoes in a creamy paprika sauce that is seriously addictive. Another favorite: the lamb lollipops, individual Frenched lamb chops served with tzatziki, and a fried burrata with roasted peppers. Though we shared one entrée, a special braised lamb shank served with squash and couscous, we didn’t really need it—there was so much food.

Desserts were a must, as we were celebrating a birthday. Both the lush citrus-olive-oil cake and decadent chocolate mousse satisfied all sweets cravings. Another fun way to end the meal is with the Carajillo, a Spanish take on the espresso martini with tequila, espresso and dark chocolate.

The servers made us feel at home throughout the meal, and we lingered longer than usual. For Anshu, who is also working on Juju (a Mexican restaurant next door) and a second location of Siren in Port Chester, hospitality is always the goal. He says, “I want you to feel like we invited you to our house.” G MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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money matters

BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

TIPS FROM THE FAMILY OFFICE

Eliot Bassin

T

he world’s wealthiest families aren’t scurrying around in March and April looking for their tax forms.

They’ve got people for that. And if the family’s balance sheet tops $100 million, they probably have an entire Family Office, which includes dedicated financial advisers, tax pros, trust and estate attorneys, and insurance advisers.

Eliot Bassin, a Certified Public Accountant who works with high-

net-worth clients in Fairfield County and beyond, calls this supporting cast “the Core Four,” and he believes that every family, regardless of their level of wealth, can benefit from a similar group of pros.

In a Family Office or MultiFamily Office, professionals unite around a family’s articulated goals. Financial advisers manage investments, CPAs handle tax planning, trust and estate attorneys safeguard assets over the long term, insurance advisers protect it all.

This effort doesn’t come cheap.

Maintaining a Family Office can cost $1 million or more each year.

“It’s an integrated approach to planning,” integration being the key to its success, says Bassin, a Certified Public Accountant and partner with FML CPAs in Stamford.

While many folks here in lower Fairfield County, regardless of their net worth, do enlist help from financial advisers, CPAs, attorneys and the like, many do so only when

a service is needed, such as calling a CPA at tax time, or meeting an estate attorney when making out a will.

In the process, the family’s financial undertakings tend to “be less integrated,” Bassin says. “By waiting until they actually have to make a change, they might be missing out on opportunities along the way.”

He suggests a cohesive, collective, proactive effort to assemble your team of trusted professionals, “before you anticipate the need.”

In other words, pick up the phone or the mouse and introduce your various advisers to each other.

How you structure a business or your real estate holdings or your investment accounts today, will significantly affect how you might transfer that wealth to the next generation. It might not seem pressing or even relevant now, but if your ventures prove successful and lucrative (and more complex), your decisions today are critical.

Bassin willingly connects with his

clients’ advisers along the way. “It’s one way that we get to understand clients and to know what they’re trying to accomplish. I have a client right now whose financial adviser I speak with once every three or four weeks.” Together they stay on top of impending issues; for example, discussing capital gains options like gifting and gift-tax exemptions well before the year’s end.

Getting your team on the same page can be a challenge if you don’t actually know what you and your family are trying to accomplish.

Begin by determining your goals, values and challenges, then you and your Core Four can work toward integrating a strategy. While you could navigate this effort by yourself, “sometimes it’s hard to piece things together,” Bassin says.

Your team members, though, deal with issues like this each day; they can educate you so that you won’t make a rash decision. “They can get you to think about things you might not think about on your own,” Bassin says.

THE CORE FOUR IN ACTION A local couple came to CPA Eliot Basin with a noble wish: to sell their $1.5 million home to their children, to finance the mortgage themselves, and to forgive a substantial portion of their kids’ loan. What was the best way to proceed?

Basin gathered two other members of the couple’s team—their financial adviser and their trust and estate attorney—and the pair needed in annual cash flow to live on comfortably, ascertained the amount of principal and interest they could gift to their kids without exceeding gift tax exemptions, spelled out what would happen if they were to die still owning the house, and more. In the process, they removed the house from the couple’s estate so that they wouldn’t exceed Connecticut’s $13.61 million cap.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED.

got to work. Together, the group analyzed the couple’s investments and retirement accounts, helped determine how much

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2/7/24 1:27 PM

HOME & HERD

In my experience working with buyers and sellers, I discovered that my relationship with my clients has always been based on trust and an expectation of providing the support, knowledge and experience I‘ve accumulated over the last 25 years.

providing sanctuary for more than 20 years

Jim Hoffman is the Managing Broker for Greenwich Connecticut Properties, LLC in Greenwich, Connecticut.

(203) 273-1759 jbhoffman48@gmail.com

GREENWICH CONNECTICUT PROPERTIES LLC

NEW

COMMISSION RATE IS

3.90%

LEARN MORE at www.elephants.com MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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g–mom

WHETHER YOU CATCH A LITTLE COLD OR END UP FLAT ON YOUR BACK WITH THE FLU, CONSIDER THESE TIPS ON HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS BEFORE—OR WHEN—ILLNESS HITS

COLD COMFORT

VIPADA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

b y ei l een bart el s

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An Ounce of Prevention

Prevention is the best medicine, so play it smart. Winter is the time to make sure you are proactively engaging in habits that strengthen your immune system.

EXERCISE

A DIET RICH IN FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

HYDRATION

MEDITATION

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SUPPLEMENTAL INSURANCE Nothing compares to eating a healthy and balanced diet, but you can supplement with vitamins and nutrients.

It’s always wise to get your doctor’s input and review potential interactions supplements may have with your medications. There are several products that may provide the immune boost you’re looking for: Zinc, Vitamin C, B and D all work to keep you healthy.

MEDICINE CABINET 101 Basics like Tylenol, Advil, Musinex expectorant and cough suppressants like Delsym are nice to see on the shelf when you need them. A saline nasal spray keeps sore sinuses flushed. A good classic jar of Vick’s VapoRub can cut through a stuffy nose and soothe a sore chest. For stomach issues, Pepcid AC, TUMS, AlkaSeltzer are good to have on hand, as well as anti-diarrhea medicine Imodium. Consult a doctor before using medicine you’re not familiar with, and make cleaning out your medicine closet an annual event to dispose of expired medicines.

AG1 Athletic Greens is a powdered combination of pre- and probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and can be mixed into water or smoothies for foundational nutrition support. drinkag1.com

SLEEP

IMMUNIZATIONS

Covid and flu shots may not completely ward off every strain of those viruses, but they can lessen the impact of illness if you do get infected.

Same goes for other immunizations you may be eligible for such as shingles, RSV and pneumonia. Check with your doctor on what should be a part of your annual immunization.

Cymbiotika supplements provide nutrients via a liposomal delivery, so they are absorbed into your system without being broken down by your digestive system.

They come in liquid pouches you can drink on the go. I stock up on the Liposomal Vitamin C for immune support during cold and flu season. cymbiotika.com

Many people are low on Vitamin D, as the most natural source of Vitamin D is processed through our skin via sunlight.

Hum brand offers an assortment of targeted vitamins like its Vitamin D called Here Comes the Sun. humnutrition.com

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE Winter heating can dry out your sinuses, so buy a good quality vaporizer or humidifier for your bedroom. Follow the instruction to keep it clean, making sure you wash and dry as directed regularly.

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WRAP IT UP Have ACE bandages on hand so you can wrap up an injury while you determine if you need a trip to the orthopedist.

Also be sure to pick up a roll of KT Tape.

Choose among an array of colors from flesh to florescent and use the tape to support the area of injury. Check out the KT Tape website for ways to tape properly. kttape.com

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HOT AND COLD There’s nothing like a hot water bottle to ease a stomach cramp or ache. Add an electric heating pad to your wellness arsenal (particularly one with a self-shutoff in case you fall asleep with it on). Other maladies need to be iced, from pulled muscles to a migraine, so keep a few soft-gel packs in your freezer.

RecoveryTherm Cube, by Therabody, performs double duty by providing quick cold or heat. The cordless device can be strapped onto sore or injured shoulders, backs, arms and legs ($149). therabody.com

SWEAT IT OUT The power of a good sweat is now mainstream and infrared saunas are popping up at most local spas.

There is a lot of science to back the benefits of sauna and heat. Restore Hyper Wellness is a new addition to the local wellness scene. Located across the parking lot from Trader Joe’s on High Ridge Road, Restore is part of a larger chain with locations in Westport and around the country.

In addition to Infrared saunas, it offers cryotherapy, red-light therapy and IV drip therapy. restore.com Restore Hyper Wellness 1055 High Ridge Road Stamford

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AT YOUR DOORSTEP Plenty of local spots have just what mom would make—and they'll deliver to your doorstep. Keep the fluids going with goodquality soups and broths.

Aux Délices’ bone broth is legendary for its restorative powers. Cos Cob’s Nit Noi Provisions' broths offer varieties from chicken, beef, vegetable, with add-on options like scallions, Thai chili, chili vinegar and garlic to clear the toughest head colds. It also offers a revive broth and coconut broth. All broths are gluten-, sugar-, soy- and dairy-free and can be frozen. auxdelicesfoods.com nitnoiprovisions.com

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SHOW YOU CARE If you know someone who is sick or recovering from surgery, Spoonful of Comfort delivers a box filled with get-well items (from a cozy throw and fuzzy socks to a bedside bell), as well as tasty soups and rolls.

Boxes start around $90. spoonfulofcomfort.com

Pho

P HUMIDIFIER: MYJULY - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

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W 2

All

2/8/24 11:07 AM

coming up at the playhouse!

An Evening with

Judy Collins

APRIL 12

In conversation with

APRIL 27 More fun than having a hot dog party!

MAY 3 - 5

An Evening with

Isaac Mizrahi

The Bacon Brothers

Freestanding Tour

JULY 25

Live in concert

Photo: David Andrako

JUNE 6

Photo: Bryan Derballa

Photo: Shervin Lainez

JUNE 15

Tony Kushner

Photo: Jacob Blinkenstaff

Fran Lebowitz SEPTEMBER 5

TITLES TBA MARCH 11 APRIL 15 MAY 13 JUNE 10 SEPTEMBER 9 OCTOBER 7 DECEMBER 2

Photo: Brigitte Lacombe

PLUS OUR MAINSTAGE PRODUCTIONS STARTING IN OCTOBER! JOIN THE ENCORE CLUB AND GET ADVANCE ACCESS TO NEWLY ANNOUNCED EVENTS!

WESTPORTPLAYHOUSE.ORG 203 227 4177 All dates, times, titles, and artists are subject to change.

50_55_GW_FOB_GMom_March_2024.indd 53

Scan for a full list of events!

2/8/24 11:07 AM

g-mom

OUT & AB OUT • A Greenw ich magazine and Greenw ich Moms par tnership

GET READY TO USHER IN SPRING

by l ayl a lisiewski

’TIS THE MONTH OF BUNNIES AND LEPRECHAUNS . HERE ARE A FEW WAYS TO WELCOME THEM

No. 1 HIPPITY HOP! Easter celebrations begin the last week of March this year. Register for Greenwich Moms Easter Eggstavaganza and enjoy the fun with Greenwich Moms on Good Friday, March 29 at the Greenwich Historical Society. Activities include an egg hunt, DJ, bubble show, Chicken Joe’s Food Truck and, of course, a visit from the Easter Bunny. greenwichmoms.com

No. 3 GOING GREEN

No. 4

SIMPLE & CHIC Easter is around the corner, and whether you’re hosting extended family or creating an intimate brunch for your crew, there are easy ways to make it feel special.

Sisters Carolina Cardoso and Barbara Alves, the talented duo behind Host to Perfection, share four tips to create this beautiful tablescape.

No. 2 WEARABLE TREAT Jelly beans don't have to be used just to fill those little plastic eggs. They're the perfect ingredient for adorable edible bracelets. Children line up their jelly bean designs and then crafty parents handle the needle and thread. Enjoy!

What you'll need • Jelly beans • Sewing needle and thread • Optional ribbon Steps 1. Setup your needle and thread, tying a knot at end of at desired length.

2. Place the jelly beans in the order you want to string them.

3. Insert the needle into the first jelly bean and continue to the knotted end.

spring classic—hyacinth.

They’re an early spring blooming bulb and are widely available this time of year. They also have an incredible sweet fragrance.

add a special spring feel to place cards by adding yellow spray roses.

Simply punch a hole in the top of the place card and slip the flower stem through it.

• Pick a Pastel Color Palette Gingham pink linen napkins complement the pink shades of the hyacinths and the flower vase (see below). You can

• The Final Touch Place a few chocolates at each place setting. Is Easter complete without chocolate? G

• Remember: Less Is More Accessorize the table with bunnies and medium-sized decorative Easter eggs. With these themed accessories, you can keep the flowers simple.

4. Cut off the needle and tie the bracelet.

6. I add a pink bow to the end of the bracelet.

7. Tie onto your child’s wrist.

8. The best part?

Nibbling on the jelly beans to get it off.

• Stay in Season For the flowers use a

PARADE IMAGE: TINIGOTENA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; ALL OTHERS CONTRIBUTED

This year the St. Patrick’s Day parade begins at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 17 in the Town Hall parking lot and heads north down the Post Road, turning onto Greenwich Avenue and continuing down to Steamboat Road, where it ends. Parking restrictions start at 10 a.m. and there will be no parking on the east side of Greenwich Avenue from West Putnam to Steamboat. There will be no parking on the west side of the Avenue from Bruce Place to Steamboat. greenwichct.gov

Every month Layla Lisiewski, Greenwich mom of four and founder of Greenwich Moms and its parent company, The Local Moms Network, shares some of her favorite things to do—from seasonal activities to can’t-miss events. Follow @greenwich_moms on Instagram, sign up for the newsletter and check out the calendar at greenwichmoms.com.

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D

Thank you sponsors and supporters for at the 4th Annual Girls With Impact Gala PRESENTED BY

Because of you, we raised over $300,000 to support our powerful tuition-free programs where young women gain a critical foundation in business and leadership to realize their full potential in college and the workplace.

Day Pitney ⎸ DTCC ⎸ Mariner Wealth Advisors ⎸ Richards of Greenwich ⎸ Yale New Haven Health

Support brighter futures -- for under-served young women, their families, our communities, and the economy, by helping us reach our goal to impact 50,000 young women by 2026.

Girls With Impact is a 501c3. Donate here: www.girlswithimpact.org

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2/8/24 11:08 AM

Eat, Drink, Celebrate Greenwich!

9TH ANNUAL

RESTAURANT WEEK

Opening Night Party Tuesday, April 2 6:00-8:30PM Tony’s at the J House

Tickets: $95 Early Bird Sale KYLE NORTON; WINE: KRAKENIMAGES- UNSPLASH.COM; KYLE NORTON

(Limited tickets available. Sale ends 3/25. $125 regular price)

Restaurant Week

Mon, April 1 – Sun, April 7 Bar • In-Restaurant Dining • To-Go Special Offers One Week Only!

Some of our participating restaurants include: Bianca Restaurant & Bar . Coffee for Good . La Taqueria . Little Pub Greenwich OG Social Club . SoNo 1420 . Tony’s at the J House . and many more!

2024 SPONSORS

Scan or visit GreenwichRestaurantWeek.com for event details, purchase tickets and view the full list of participating restaurants. *All ticket sales via Eventbrite, no cash/ credit card purchase at event/door.

2024 GRW_PrintAd_March April draft.indd 1

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people&PLACES by alison nichols gr ay

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BOB CAPPAZO 1

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HANNAH STORM FOUNDATION / The Village Stamford

Order Up!

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he Hannah Storm Foundation’s Celebrity Waiter Night at The Village in Stamford was a smashing success. Guests mixed and mingled with ESPN’s Hannah Storm and her celeb waiter besties from the world of sports, media and entertainment. The funds from the evening cover surgeries for children suffering from debilitating vascular birthmarks. hannahstormfoundation.org »

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1 Mike and Sue Bodson, Chris Cabanillas, Dr. Kim Nichols 2 Stephania Bell, Laura Rutledge, Nicole Briscoe 3 Jill Lombardi, Hannah Storm, John Lombardi 4 Lisa Kerney, Sam Ryan, Carolyn Manno 5 Hannah Storm with her “waiters” 6 Eileen and Steve Bartels, Johnny Denis, Nicholas Bartels 7 Jay Harris, Allan Houston, Kimberley Martin, Rich Jewell 8 Hannah Storm with her husband, Dan Hicks 9 Rachel and Brian Matthews MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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LIGHT A FIRE / Westport Country Playhouse

All Fired Up

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1 Melinda Anderson, Megan Gagnon, Samantha Yanks, Eileen Murphy, Gina Fusco 2 Jeff Calapos, Deirdre Childs, Jeff Fuhrman, Jim Pratt-Heamey 3 Leslee Assch, Barbara OrmerodGlynn 4 Elena Moffly, Ken and Cindy Friedrichson 5 Jonathan Moffly, Leo Karl 6 John and Lucy Langley, Laura and Edgar Delaflor 7 Alex, Jill and Tom Robey 8 James Naughton, Rob Russo 9 Gabriella Pannunzio, Debra Fram, Eric Schwartz, Claire Furlin

MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/ANDREA CARSON PHOTOGRAPHY

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or nearly two decades, Moffly Media’s Light a Fire Awards have celebrated the unsung heroes in our community who go above and beyond to help those in need. This year, actor/director James Naughton once again hosted the evening, bringing his wit and grace to the stage of the Westport Country Playhouse. The sponsors that made the event possible were Karl Chevrolet, Coastal Bridge Advisors and Cummings & Lockwood. Honorees represented the incredible work of longstanding nonprofits like the Make a Wish Foundation and the Fairfield County Community Foundation, as well as grassroots organizations including The Undies Project, The Loved Movement and Greenwich Point Conservancy.

Each of them reminds us that one person can indeed make a difference. »

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10 Chris Franco, Susie Baker, Rachel Franco 11 Sandy Herman, Donna Moffly, Lisa Mandel 12 Jessie Gilbert, Cristin Marandino, Gabriella Mays 13 Carlos, Liz and Jeff Salguero 14 Michael and Kathy Walsh, Claire and Thomas Gallagher 15 Jeanne Sikaitis, Jennifer Lau, Andrew Lau 16 Bill and Paula Tommins 17 Patty, Jay, Barbara and Jake Richards 18 Adriana Podesta, Barbara Kestenbaum, Margarita Zimmerman, Sarita Hanley, Walter Stewart, Eva Lopezreyman 19 Allyson and Scott Gottleib 20 Pam Keogh, Cathy Laporta, Kim Pugh, Robyn and Adam Whittingham, Rose and Bob Folds

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MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY / Guastavino’s Manhattan

In Good Hands

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1 Bill Cowher, Veronica Stigeler, Lois and Bryan Kelly 2 Jason Blevins, Scott LaValva 3 Russell Warren, Ronnie Barnes, Frank Cammisa, Scott Rodeo, Samuel Taylor, Bryan Kelly 4 Julia Retzky, Thomas Sculco 5 Sandra Kozlowski, Alana Serota, Susan Padgett 6 Sheeraz Qureshi, Pat Bovonratwet 7 Megan Gulotta, Lois Kelly, Jennifer Marie Taylor 8 Dr. Thomas Sculco, Marina Kellen French, Dr. Steven Haas, Dr. Peter Sculco 9 Kat Barth, David Helfet 10 Alana C. Serota, Liz Moley, Lois Kelly, Susan Padgett, Lynette Buck

CONTRIBUTED BY HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY

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ospital for Special Surgery (HSS) recently held its annual benefit, chaired by Greenwich resident Lois Kelly, at Guastavino’s in Manhattan.

The evening celebrated the 160th anniversary of HSS and honored four doctors for their work: Dr. Jason L. Blevins, Dr. David L. Helfet, Dr. Sheeraz Qureshi and Dr. Thomas P. Sculco. Guests enjoyed a special performance by singer and songwriter Queen V and a keynote speech by Bill Cowher, American sports analyst and former head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With over 350 people in attendance, the event raised nearly $1 million in support of the hospital’s key pillars of excellence—training, research, education and academic programming. hss.edu »

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John’s Island Perfect Setting. Personal Bliss.

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

6 Sea Court : $7,995,000 4BR+Office : .55± Acres : Private

Welcome to John’s Island. A cherished haven enjoyed by generations who have discovered the undeniable allure of life by the sea in Vero Beach, Florida. Members of the by-invitation-only John’s Island Club enjoy over 1,650± acres, miles of sandy beach, three championship golf courses, Har-tru tennis courts, pickleball, squash, croquet, oceanfront Beach Club, Golf Clubhouses, endless fishing and so much more. Discover beachside bliss in Florida...

March Ad Greenwich Magazine 25JAN23

750 Beach Road #102 : $2,650,000 Oceanfront : Updated Interiors 1,500± SF : Beach & Pool Access

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772. 231.0 90 0

JohnsIslandRealEstate.com

BOB CAPAZZO PHOTOGRAPHY

Exclusively John’s Island

(203) 273-0139

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY / Greenwich Country Club

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Decking the Halls

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1 GHS Holiday Boutique party committee 2 Heather Georges, Hilary Haroche 3 Kate Stice Stewart 4 Muza Andrabi 5 Daniel Souzzo, Jean Forte 6 Pamela Johananoff and Pepper 7 Vaughn Dorrian 8 Frank Gaudio, Kathleen and Gus Dyke 9 Brent and Christina Collins 10 Ann Barton, Tom Galvin 11 Marisa Noel Brown, Nicki Rose

MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/ BOB CAPAZZO

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reenwich Country Club looked more like the North Pole for the Greenwich Historical Society’s Holiday Boutique. Cochairs Connie Anne Harris, Patrick Mele, Mimi Moulton and Catherine Tompkins curated the chicest vendors to fill the ballroom, and visitors got to check everyone off their lists. It was two fun-filled days of shopping, mingling and supporting the Greenwich Historical Society. greenwichhistory.org »

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12 Mary Ellen Markowitz, Ann Liflander, Lisa Mandel, MJ Brogan, Helaine Wiener, Nancy Boksenbaum 13 Anthony Bellom, Alease Fisher Tallman, Ashley Cole 14 Lauren DuPont, Courtney Moss 15 Suzan Sletteland, Donna Moffly 16 Nick Anaya, Courtney Curcis 17 Dina Fleischmann, Dianne Niklaus, Barbara Johann 18 Jennifer Rowe, Kay Sterling 19 Karen Zucker, Gina Filippelli 20 Beverly Keys, Abby Yozell 21 Sandra Caruso, Susannah Heyworth, Amanda Gaudelet 22 Cameron Smith 23 Sarah Michler, Caroline Witmer, Bunny Laughlin 24 Karen Ryder, Anne Green, Joan Carter 25 Meg Bono, Patrick Mele, Pat Mele, Betsy Backer MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH / The Clubhouse

Ground– Breaking Goals

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1 The Clubhouse at 4 Horseneck Lane 2 Ryan Fazio, Rachel Khanna, Hector Arzeno, Steve Meskers, George Fox, Tony Mann, Governor Ned Lamont 3 BGCG Club kids 4 George Fox, Tony Mann 5 State Representative Steve Meskers 6 BGCG CEO Cristina Vittoria 7 (back row) Taylor Tejada, Cristina Vittoria, Rachel Khanna, Hector Arzeno, Steve Meskers (at the mic), Governor Lamont, Lauren Rabin, Ryan Fazio, Fred Camillo, Eileen Tang, Jada Brewington; (front row) BGCG Club kids.

LAURA DIANIS

onnecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo and the Greenwich delegation recently joined Cristina Vittoria, chief executive officer of Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich (BGCG) and a crowd of boardmembers, supporters and Club kids to break ground on the expansion and renovation of the BGCG Clubhouse at 4 Horseneck Lane.

Founded in 1910 and built in the 1930s, BGCG’s Clubhouse has served thousands of young people in the course of its history. This marks the organization’s first major renovation project in nearly twenty years.

The 10,000-square-foot addition and expansion of the Clubhouse will include a new gymnasium, upgraded teen center, additional instructional space and an outdoor amphitheater—all built over the club’s existing outdoor parking lot. The new Clubhouse is slated to open in early spring 2025. bgcg.org »

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Final A-Lis

in fairfield county

awards

the premier home design competition

You have to be in it to win it!

Visit athomealistawards.com to learn more about getting on the 2024 A-List.

Enter beginning March 1st!

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

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GOLD SPONSORS

VENUE SPONSOR

2/6/24 12:56 9:14 AM 2/8/24 PM

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YWCA GREENWICH / Belle Haven Club

Y Not Give Back?

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1 Justin Boxford, Suzanna Romano, Greg Krywosa, Molly Boxford 2 Stephanie Dunn Ashley, William O’Shea, Lauren Walsh, Linda Chase Jenkins, Diana Smith 3 DJ Marjorie Gubelmann aka DJ MAD MARJ 4 Nicole Lindsey, Jennifer Kaalund, Josiah Lindsey 5 Courtney Combe, Mary Lee Kiernan 6 Kia and Ryan Tucker, Genevieve and Chris Gimbert 7 Amy Dana, Joe Profaci, Janet Poillon 8 Suzanna and Craig Burns, Joe Riccardo, Toland Sherriff, Bowen Burns 9 Akhurapa Ambak, Liza Dorsey, Simone Quartey 10 Kelly and Jason Kent

MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/ BOB CAPAZZO

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he YWCA staff and The Fall Party host committee clearly has throwing amazing soirées down to a science.

They picked the prettiest venue (Belle Haven Club), created the most delicious signature cocktails (from Happy Monkey by JeanGeorges) and invited a fabulous DJ from Manhattan (Ms. Marjorie Gubelmann) to spin the beats.

Everyone looked incredible— all while raising important funds to support youth programs at the YWCA Greenwich. ywcagreenwich.org G

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Although born blind, Kathryn has never let the condition define her.

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K A T H R Y N N O T H I N G

W E B S T E R T O

D O

P R O V E S W I T H

I T

H A S

E Y E S I G H T

by ji ll johnson mann • phot o gr aphy b y k yl e nort on ha i r by ma ri na nik ac, sal on mimo z a, greenwich • mak e up b y lydia arroyo

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has an impressive résumé. She earned her bachelor of science degrees in statistics and computer science, with high honors, from Wake Forest. She earned an MBA from Harvard. Her career has taken her from Deloitte in D.C. to global investment firm KKR in New York. She spoke at the Clinton Global Initiative and was named a 2023 Change Maker. She is a trailblazing advocate for the visually impaired and launched the TAD Foundation last year. She is only twenty-eight.

Don’t tell Kathryn she’s “inspirational,” though. She can’t stand that, because the compliment is usually linked to a fact that the Greenwich resident has never allowed to define her: Kathryn Webster is blind. When leaving a conference, a simple comment that she’s taking the train home may yield the “inspiration” line. “Give me a break,” she says. To her, the obstacles she needs to maneuver around on her commute are nothing. The roadblocks Kathryn is striving to clear for the almost eight million visuallyimpaired people in the United States are the ones commanding her laser focus. not have time for pity or coddling. “It was my job as a mom to find her strengths and move forward,” says Monica. “She had twenty-three surgeries. I was working full-time. I just kept my head down. I never remarried. I focused on the kids.”

Tough love is one ingredient in Kathryn’s success story. At Central Middle School and Greenwich High, Kathryn was part of the cool crowd.

As her vision deteriorated, she didn’t want to stand out. She started to learn braille at her mother’s insistence, but she kept taking off her thick glasses and throwing away her cane. “My mom and Alec let me fall down the steps at a pizza place,” recounts Kathryn. Monica chimes in, “She refused to use the cane. She had to learn.”

Kathryn was an athletic kid. She was a cheerleader and ran track. By junior year, she had lost too much vision to continue competing in cheerleading. “That was so heartbreaking,” she recalls. “I didn’t want to accept accommodations. With track, my mom would casually wear a cute neon jacket so I could see her at the end of my sprint. Then I did a triathlon with Bob D’Angelo, who used to run the Boys & Girls Club.” Kathryn took up rowing, which she continued through college. She also plays golf. “She’s the stellar athlete in the family,” says Monica. “She’s a great golfer—you just need to tell her the hole is at 12 o’clock, 2 o’clock…” Kathryn scoffs, “Golfing is not a hard sport for a blind person.”

Kathryn had a storage room at the high school full of braille books.

She took AP courses. Years in advance she just had to decide which ones, so her books would come on time. She took the SAT and ACT in braille.

GROWING UP GREENWICH Kathryn was born blind, but her parents had no idea for the first two weeks, until Kathryn’s dad, Tad Webster (the inspiration behind the TAD name), noticed she startled every time a camera clicked. Her mom, Monica Webster, was sure her baby was fine but took her to the pediatrician at his urging. “The waiting room was packed that day,” recalls Monica. “They did the blue light vision test right in the entryway.” When the nurse blurted, “I’m sorry, your daughter is blind,” Monica fainted.

An emergency surgery restored vision in Kathryn’s right eye, giving her 20/70 vision in that eye, with corrective lenses, for the first ten years of her life. Her parents divorced when Kathryn was under two, and by age four, she had moved from Fort Lauderdale, where she was born, to New Jersey, and finally Greenwich—pinpointed by Monica for its public schools with the support Kathryn would need.

Monica, a realtor at Douglas Elliman, stopped in during our interview at Kathryn’s new townhouse in Greenwich. Their mother-daughter banter is typical. Kathryn: “I just bought this house—my first house!” Monica, “Yeah, I was like, ‘Bye, buh-bye! See ya later.’” She chuckles and mentions that the place needs some lamps. But there is enough light to see her pretty blond daughter on the couch, relaxed and confident, in a casual sweater and pants—there is nothing that says “disabled” here or “special needs”—a term Kathryn especially loathes. Her guide dog Theo offers a hearty greeting and wanders the room.

As a single mom to Kathryn and her older brother Alec, Monica did

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Kathryn and her trusty companion, Theo

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“My teachers were incredible,” she says. “They are such a big part of why I’m successful today. Jennifer Perrelli, my math teacher, spent so much time with me. My English teacher, Mr. Walker—I love him to death. I used a device called a BrailleNote, which is essentially a laptop with a Braille screen on it, to read all my books.”

Camille Fusco, Kathryn’s high school Latin teacher, comments, “Kate was an incredibly disciplined, intelligent, curious student. She was a strong self-advocate and essentially simply found a way to achieve her goals. She dealt with the challenges of multiple surgical procedures with grace and maturity. In many ways, Kate has been an exemplar to me when I have struggled with health issues.”

Alec Webster, who works in private equity in Dallas, talks to his sister daily. “We’re really close,” he says. “We always have been.” He credits his mom with pushing her kids to be independent. “She was a single mom.

She had to figure out work, getting home to feed us, getting us to practice.

If she had a bad day, she couldn’t just take a day off from being a mom,” he explains. “That trickled down to my sister. If she came home and said, ‘I couldn’t do this the same as everyone else, because I can’t see,’ we would say, ‘No, you can do it. Go and try again.’ That fed into everything: her going to Wake Forest, Harvard Business School, KKR.”

ultimately taking him off life support. Tad died on October 1, 2017.

“That put everything in perspective,” says Kathryn. “Being blind was nothing compared to losing my dad.”

Despite being in a “deep funk,” Kathryn volunteered at a training center for blind kids, started her job as an analyst at Deloitte and spearheaded Project RISE—a mentorship program for visually impaired students in Virginia. She ran Project RISE for four years, while earning a promotion to senior consultant at Deloitte and a business school sponsorship. While at Harvard Business School, she received eight summer internship offers.

But she knew she was the exception.

With a job offer from KKR in place, Kathryn used her final year at business school to develop an idea that would become her side job and altruistic mission. She founded the TAD Foundation in December of 2022 to give blind talent the opportunity to shine in the business landscape.

“In every space, I’m the only blind person,” says Kathryn. “It takes so much tenacity to stick with it. I want TAD to break down those barriers.

The unemployment rate for blind people is 75 percent, and it has literally sat there since 1970. They are either earning subminimum wages—because that’s legal—or they are in the blindness field. Blind people don’t know they

COPING WITH DARKNESS

WEBSTER’S DICTIONARY

Kathryn was losing vision through high school due to scar tissue buildup.

“I had to have cornea transplants. I’d had so many surgeries,” she says.

“When I went to college, I got my first guide dog, Enzo. A dog, unlike a cane, is a social magnet. I didn’t want to be judged. If it was light out, I could see okay to get around, but I was more confident with Enzo.” She shifted from Mac to Windows to have access to JAWS screen-reading software. “I was studying statistics and computer science, so I needed the best software,” says Kathryn. “There are not a lot of blind people in STEM. I like doing things people say I can’t do.”

Kathryn got involved in student government. “I was treasurer. I also took over as president of the National Association of Blind Students, which is a very legislative collective action group nationally. We work with blind students on leadership development and everything under the sun in equipping them to be successful but also working with legislators on equal access to education and employment,” she explains. “We went to Capitol Hill and worked on bills with Congress.”

Two weeks before graduating from college, Kathryn lost the rest of her vision, but a phenomenon of “phantom vision”—the brain generating visual sensations when it’s not actually receiving visual stimuli—made her think she could still see. Another surgery ensued. It wasn’t until a doctor’s appointment in August, when she was told she had no light perception, that reality set in. “Everything went dark once I was told that,” says Kathryn.

Kathryn called her dad and shared the news. “He went on a motorcycle ride that night to clear his head,” recounts Kathryn, “and got in an accident.” Tad put on a brave front over the phone, but several weeks later Kathryn received the call he was in the hospital. She flew to Florida and found herself managing his medical decisions, including

An enlightening snippet of mother-daughter banter MONICA: “Alec, he was the best big brother. He took care of you and me! Poor guy, grew up faster than he ever wanted to. The older child of a special needs child—” KATHRYN: “You can’t say special needs, Mom!” MONICA: “OK, what do we call you?”

KATHRYN: “You say I have a disability or I’m blind.”

MONICA: “Well, you are hardly disabled.”

KATHRYN: “No, a person with a disability. I don’t care; I just don’t like special needs. As a kid, I hated being called blind, but now I say I’m blind, because I think with ‘visually impaired’ there is a connotation that I can see a little.”

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above: Kathryn in her Generals’ cheerleading days right: A former competitive equestrian, Kathryn now rides recreationally. below: Kathryn at the U.S. Olympic Training Center for triathlon training

top center: Kathryn and Alec with thier father, Tad top right: Kathryn, Alec and Monica above: An empowered child, Kathryn didn't let anything stop her. right: Kathryn (with Theo) at her Harvard Business School graduation

can do more because they are not given the resources to do more. They can go into any non-traditional field they want, not work in entry-level positions their whole life, not live off Social Security.”

TAD offers parent programming, to ensure parents have the support, resources and network they need from their child’s infancy. “Parents need to be pushing the limits with their kids as soon as possible,” insists Kathryn, “making sure they have a cane in their hand as soon as they can walk, making sure they have Braille resources. We give them the foundational understanding of how to raise their kid to be just like any other kid.” That is Tad’s legacy, as stated on tadfoundation.org: “As a parent of a blind child, every day Tad believed in the capacity of his daughter and the rest of the blind community. He felt that blindness need not ever be an obstacle to success and ensured that mindset was instilled in his daughter as early as she could talk.”

TAD’s Mentorship Program pairs each student with a sighted and blind mentor. “It’s the first-of-its-kind training program,” says Kathryn. “Any mentorship program I know of in the U.S., students have a blind mentor,

and that’s great, but we also integrate back into the sighted world that we live in. We are focused on developing technical and leadership skills— building Excel models or being able to present and network—not blindness skills. Our students have those already. It’s an academic year long, with four in-person weekend events and virtual meetings.”

Alec Webster, a founding member of TAD, is currently mentoring two students—one at Notre Dame and one at Cal Berkeley. “One wants to work in finance, one in law,” explains Alec. “Getting to know them has been awesome. Bringing the knowledge from the sighted side is really helpful in duo with the blind mentor. We both bring advantages that the other doesn’t have. I can tell them about the intangibles: sitting upright in an interview, holding eye contact, putting your hand out to shake, bringing your attention to the speaker and not looking around the room.

Together we can turn these students into really well-rounded candidates before their interviews. That’s a lot of what my mom and I did for my sister.”

Establishing corporate partners and building a pipeline of qualified

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right: Kathryn and her brother, Alec, who is a founding member of TAD, attending The Lighthouse Foundation's San Francisco fundraiser.

Kathryn serves as the nonprofit's vice chairman.

“In every space, I’m the only blind person. It takes so much tenacity to stick with it. I WANT TAD TO BREAK DOWN THOSE BARRIERS. THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR BLIND PEOPLE IS 75 PERCENT and it has literally sat there since 1970.”

COMPASSION NOT CONDESCENSION

Kathryn offers advice on how to help Treat blind people as you would treat anyone else.

blind candidates is the third TAD pillar. “It’s also a battle for businesses to understand what they need to provide for blind employees,” says Kathryn.

“It’s minimal: I need JAWS and someone to show me around the building.

That’s it. This weekend we have an event at KKR’s offices, working on everything—from how to digest a company’s 10-K to how to do a proper interview to résumés. We are working with local businesses, like Vineyard Vines, to get the students in professional dress.”

Nic Smoller, TAD’s chief strategist and also a Greenwich native, sits by Kathryn’s side during our interview. “Companies want to say ‘DEI DEI,’ [Diversity, Equity, Inclusion], but they’re missing a whole category of people that truly bring diverse experiences and perspectives,” says Nic. They recount a recent win, with a general contracting firm in Atlanta looking to hire blind interns. “We have two brothers based in Georgia,” he explains. “That will be a conversion to hopefully a full-time offer.”

Nic loves working with the current cohort of fifteen mentees. It’s rewarding in a way his mother Candace knew it would be when she met Kathryn by chance at Indian Harbor Yacht Club and learned about the foundation the young woman was forming. “She said, ‘Oh, my son has to be involved with that,’” recalls Kathryn.

Nic chimes in, “I went to Indian Harbor to meet Kathryn, and we talked for two and half hours. By the end I was part of the team.” The team also includes a slew of volunteers and a board of thirteen (half are blind). Syed Rizvi, a Harvard Law School student who will be working at Vinson & Elkins LLP in May, serves as vice president.

“Kate is a true team player who leads by example; she is humble and empathetic, quick to praise the accomplishments of others and downplay her own achievements,” comments Nancy Betty, a Greenwich nonprofit veteran who serves as one of Kathryn’s advisors. “However she chooses to apply her time and talent, the results are always impressive.”

G There’s that word again. Kathryn will just have to learn to accept it.

Offer help in a non-presumptive way, e.g. “Do you need help?” Or “Can I help with anything?” (Kathryn comments, “Sometimes in the street we are just exploring. If I bang into a garbage can, that’s OK; now I know where it is.”)

Coming into a room, make your presence known to a blind person, but be subtle.

Parents, don’t baby your blind children. Let them make mistakes.

Companies, hire diverse talent by putting your money where your mouth is and getting the talent in the door.

Visit the TAD site and email info@tadfoundation.org to learn more.

become a gala sponsor TAD’s first annual gala was held on February 22 at the Harvard Club in New York.

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Who will be voted All New. All You. THE BEST?

YOU PICK THE WINNERS! BESTOFGOLDCOASTCT.COM VOTING ENDS MARCH 13 EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

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by tom c onnor

The

CALL of the WILD

This spring, as native and ornamental grasses continue to replace demanding lawns, borders of pollinator plants and islands of wildly colorful flowers are signaling all creatures—including us—back to nature. Here, local landscape experts

opposite Riots of color are popping up in the chicest gardens across the county.

PHOTOGRAPHY: YOLS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

share just how our gardens grow in 2024.

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o

ne of the great natural pleasures of spending time outside on warm spring and summer evenings is listening to the free outdoor concerts performed by the All-Star, All-Insect, All-Night Orchestra. This gardening season, as members of the rhythm section—the tree crickets and land crickets, the cicadas and katydids—magically appear, the big band promises to crank up the volume and be in full swing for the first time in decades.

That’s because all across Fairfield County, many of the top landscape architects and designers have been preaching best practices to an increasingly committed congregation of environmentally conscious homeowners.

While buffalo grass and other native and ornamental grasses are kicking Kentucky blue and fescue off golfclub-like lawns (or at least out of sections of them), pollinator plants and brightly colored flowers are attracting birds, bees, butterflies and other creatures by the kabillions.

At the same time, paradoxically, something of a return to order and formality is underway, and why not? There’s a hard, clean look to arborvitae walls and boxwood borders, precisely edged garden islands and shrubs sharply pruned into statuesque topiary. They’re complementing both modern houses and formal mansions but also providing a kind of architectural structure for disorderly rows of perennials and annuals.

Which is not to say the backyard is no longer the place to chill after long, hot, summer days.

Popular this year are plunge pools—small, shallow respites to soothe and restore sore bodies.

From Greenwich to Westport homeowners are heeding the call of the wild, staying true to tradition and taking care of themselves as well as their garden companions.

Where the Wild Things Are For decades Fairfield County homeowners have been obsessed with golf course–quality grounds. Blame can be laid on Thomas Jefferson, whose Monticello estate boasted one of the earliest American manicured lawns.

Since he set that style, cultivated grasses have dominated suburban yards as well.

In the past few years, however, a number of local landscape designers have convinced customers to go native instead.

Wesley Stout Design Associates, a New Canaan landscape design firm, has installed native and ornamental grasses both at the residential and the commercial level for environmental reasons: “It’s staggering the amount of water bluegrass turf grasses require,” founder Wes Stout says. “It takes a full swimming pool to water a typical yard for a week!”

For a large commercial property in the area, the firm removed every blade of traditional turf grass and replaced it with species like Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), a prairie grass admired for its cool-hued color during the summer months and reddish-bronze tones in autumn. (“Skipper” butterflies like it, to boot.)

It demands little watering, thereby aiding local reservoirs, and though it can grow up to three feet high by fall, lawns planted in the grass need to be cut back just several times a season.

Other designers confirm the trend’s rise. Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses in Greenwich has reported an uptick in orders for native seeds and plantings as well as perennial meadow garden material.

“People are using their spaces differently,” notes Maggie Bridge, a partner in the family firm that has been on the same North Street parcel since King George I of England bestowed it as a land grant in the 1600s. “Where traditionally you would see a giant lawn, we're now starting to see more requests for wildflower meadows and pollinator gardens.”

(Pollinators are plants that attract insects which, in turn, transfer pollen from one plant to another. Here in the Northeast, they include milkweed, sunflowers and wildflowers, sweet alyssum, black-eyed Susans and some zinnias and verbena, as well as many herbs.)

At the Chelsea Flower Show in London last May, Sandy Lindh of English Gardens & Designs in Greenwich took note of a turn toward the rewilding of formal English gardens and a more naturalistic approach to landscape design. Back in Greenwich, she found her customers requesting the same. Last year, her company installed some half-dozen pollinator gardens in addition to open meadows of wildflowers.

“I think [homeowners] are beginning to realize that we need to make space for nature and that having pollinator-friendly flower beds with no chemicals is the way to go,” Lindh says.

This spring she’s encouraging clients to reduce their lawn footage and expand their blooming plots.

Other options exist, however unnaturally.

For the father of three very active young boys, who was tired of patching the back lawn, Lindh tore it up and, in its place, laid a quarter-acre of Astroturf. It’s not beneficial for the bees— or some say even the knees. Yet it’s so lowmaintenance that perhaps we’ll see the rise of these truly “no mow” yards in the coming years?

Silent Spring In keeping with some landscape designers’ preference for electric leaf blowers and the “No Noise” ordinance that went into effect in the state last October, these wild lawnsubstitutes are, in effect, silencing commercial mowers to combat noise. They’re also helping reduce air pollution since big, multi-wing, gaspowered rigs operate outside of EPA emissions regulations.

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right and below Native grasses and gardens planted like full-of-life meadows are taking up space alongside—and sometimes even replacing— traditional manicured lawns.

PHOTOGRAPHY: GRASSES AND POOL BY NEIL LANDINO; BEES AND WILD FLOWERS © ALEKSANDR - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

below Insectattracting pollinators are all abuzz for spring and summer.

“People are using their spaces differently.

We're now starting to see more requests for wildflower meadows and pollinator gardens.”

Maggie Bridge,Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses in Greenwich

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“The appeal is socialization. With the heater on in cooler weather, you can get in there and wallow with your friends all year round."

Sandy Lindh, English Gardens & Designs in Greenwich

this page Posh pools boast sun shelves, heating units for winter and plunge options for cold immersion therapy. opposite Flowers are the ultimate accessory in well-appointed vegetable gardens. greenwichmag.com stamfordmag.com

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PHOTOGRAPHY: GARDEN CONTRIBUTED; OPPOSITE PAGE: POOLS CONTRIBUTED

During the peak summer season, according to Stout, “the commercial lawn mower that’s going around your two-acre yard every week is the equivalent of something like 18 automobiles on the road.”

Like him, Heather O’Neill of Second Nature Landscape Design in Norwalk encourages clients to incorporate native grasses, pollinators and other thoughtful plantings on their properties. But she’s also keenly aware of Fairfield County sensibilities.

“Replacing a lawn either in part or whole with native and ornamental grasses is great on paper, but a lot of homeowners want green grass that looks like a putting green,” she says. “We're trying to do the best of both worlds.”

O’Neill also adds that native seed and plants can be more expensive than non-natives and remains skeptical of any immediate widespread adoption of battery-powered leaf blowers due to their perceived inefficiency compared to their gas or electric counterparts.

But on one thing homeowners throughout the county have needed no convincing—filling their properties with tons of flowers. Maybe it’s the lingering gloom hangover of the pandemic driving the trend, but bold, bright colors are widely believed to bring joy and signal hope.

If that’s the case, we’re in for a joyous, hopeful gardening season.

Rainbow Valley Late last fall, O’Neill’s crew planted thousands of bulbs on a three-acre property in backcountry Greenwich to appease the owner’s seemingly insatiable desire for continuous color.

From earliest spring to late in the fall, the property is lined with blooming borders, even down to the edge of a pond, and dotted with blossoming islands. The plantings have enticed legions of insects, amphibians and reptiles to feel at home, as well as at least one bald eagle O’Neill spotted on one of her regular visits to the property.

“Honeybees are swarming over the flowers,” she says, “and there are tons of fish and frogs and more snakes than I’ve ever seen in my life.

It’s as if St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland and they came to Greenwich!”

Flowers are also being mixed into vegetable gardens, bringing visual sustenance to the dinner table.

At Homefront Farmers in Redding, towering sunflowers line the edges of the handsome raised and fenced gardens the company constructs for clients. “We’ve always grown

a lot of native plants that we intermix into our vegetable gardens, but more people are asking for them today,” says Miranda Gould, Homefront’s director of client operations.

Dahlias, the large-headed, showy members of the family of flowers that includes sunflowers, chrysanthemums and zinnias, are the prima donnas of the gardens the company creates.

Blooming in late-summer and well into the fall, the blooms come in a range of sizes— “Café au Lait,” the Queen of the tubers, is a dinnerplate dahlia that can grow to ten inches in diameter!—and a prism-full of colors.

Dahlias have become so much in demand that orders for them are crashing supplier websites and blowing up availability to a degree perhaps not seen since tulip mania in 17thcentury Holland.

Hot Water All the while, swimming pools continue to be in high demand, with landscape designers scrambling to line up contractors who’ve been

booked for as long as a year in advance of construction. Driving demand has been a trend toward viewing them anew.

“Pools have become more for pleasure than just for swimming and diving,” says Roger Haggerty of Haggerty Pools in Norwalk. “We're doing a lot of shallower pools. Diving boards have pretty much become obsolete.”

Adapting to the latest trend, Haggerty is building sun shelves in the shallowest ends of existing traditional pools for sitting and chatting. And, along with other pool companies, they’re installing a whole other kind of hole in the ground for serious runners and athletes as well as for the owners of small properties. In what sounds like the opposite of entertainment, Soake plunge pools typically range between seven and 15 feet long and are equipped not only with heaters but also with chiller units that can plunge water temperatures to as low as 37 degrees. Cold-water immersion is believed to help muscles recover quickly from strenuous exercise, heat and stress—and fast.

“We’ve always grown a lot of native plants that we intermix into our vegetable gardens, but more people are asking for them today.“ Miranda Gould, Homefront Farmers in Redding

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower For all the talk of wild meadows and explosions of color, Fairfield County is still home to some of the most exquisite examples of formal, classical architecture in New England, and on a grand scale. Landscape designers here are as attuned to gardens that reflect these places as they are to horticultural trends.

As such, reports of the demise of boxwood, prompted perhaps by a blight in recent years,

has been clearly exaggerated (with a nod to Hartford’s Mark Twain).

Sandy Lindh uses sharpened, finely crafted British pruning shears to handcut evergreen shrubs and trees towards a range of goals: screen properties from neighbors; frame gardens overflowing with flowers; maintain allees of hornbeam and linden trees; and shape boxwood into stunning topiary.

When well-maintained, borders and walls of these evergreens provide a sense of tradition and dignity befitting the grand mansions and estate homes that dot Fairfield County’s Gold Coast and backcountry. They work to marry the wild and the tamed, giving large properties a sense of enclosure and focus.

As with other landscape designers working the grounds of formal homes, Lindh favors boxwood-lined gardens close to the main entrances and around foundations.

“For big mansions in backcountry Greenwich, you might have topiary hedging leading the way

above Blooming in never-ending cycles of pretty, meadow-like gardens feel like being surrounded by a field of flowers in the English countryside. opposite Estate homes maintain a sense of tradition with a more formal focus.

to the main entrance,” she says. “They don’t have to be boxwood—they can be hornbeam or linden trees–to lead the eye to a courtyard or fountain or formal garden in front.”

Behind stately homes like these, Lindh also creates topiary courtyards that can be more whimsical, with boxwood shaped into spirals, balls or animals.

And yet boxwood borders and boundaries also fit more contemporary abodes, too. For its clients in modern farmhouse-style houses, Putnam Landscape Associates, a design and high-end property maintenance firm in Weston, installs boxwoods to deliver clean lines and define uncluttered flower beds.

“It’s not necessarily an English garden effect,” says Grant Putnam, who cofounded the company while still in high school, “but more of a modern design with fewer elements than in the past.”

In many cases, that calls for tiers of boxwoods to add structure and accentuate the architecture of a contemporary house. “There’s nothing like boxwood to achieve those ends,” Putnam says.

“It’s a timeless plant.”

Showcased within boxwood borders this spring are perennial cultivars that have been bred to bloom more than once a season and to maintain staying power. “The new cultivars of plants, like hydrangeas, are superior genetically to past versions,” says Putnam. “They’re real bloomers, rather than once-and-done, that rebloom later in the season.”

Other plants popular at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses in Greenwich this season include the European hornbeam (carpinus betulus), a short-trunk tree than can be planted close together and pruned like a hedge.

“Hornbeams’ sleek lines look great outside modern homes but they also work in English gardens and in traditional spaces,” says Maggie Bridge.

With a little luck and a stretch of good weather, the bulbs planted last fall are emerging from the warming earth and the new pollinator plants are sprouting light-green leaves. We’ve brought back out the patio furniture and stacked the firepit with seasoned or kiln-dried hardwood.

Listen! The opening act of the outdoor concert season, The Fabulous Spring Peepers, is warming up. Now, after a winter spent mainly indoors, let’s gather family and friends outside G to take in all that nature has to offer.

PHOTOGRAPHY: CONTRIBUTED; OPPOSITE PAGE: © YOLS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Because they don’t overwhelm a backyard in the way traditional pools can, plunges can be tucked into a corner of a property, leaving space for gardens. They range from a third to half the cost of a standard swimming pool and can convert to hot tubs at the end of summer for year-round use.

“The appeal is socialization,” observes Lindh.

“With the heater on in cooler weather, you can get in there and wallow with friends all year round!”

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“For big mansions in backcountry Greenwich, you might have topiary hedging leading the way to the main entrance.

They don’t have to be boxwood—they can be hornbeams or linden trees—to lead the eye to a courtyard or fountain or formal garden in front.”

Sandy Lindh, English Gardens & Designs in Greenwich

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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4.4.2024

Peterson Business Award Dinner

TO BENEFIT GREENWICH LIBRARY

HONORING

Ray Dalio

Founder, CIO Mentor, and Member of the Bridgewater Board Bridgewater Associates, LP

PRESENTED BY

The Honorable Ned Lamont Governor of Connecticut

Thursday, April 4, 2024 Greenwich Hyatt Regency Hotel Tickets available now at: www.greenwichlibrary.org/peterson For additional information, please contact: Lisa Mandel, Director of Development, Greenwich Library lmandel@greenwichlibrary.org 203.622.7957

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calendar MARCH 2024

CAVALIER GALLERIES, 405 Greenwich Ave., 869-3664. cavaliergalleries .com CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY PRINTMAKING, 299 West Ave., Norwalk, 899-7999. contemprints.org CLAY ART CENTER, 40 Beech St., Port Chester, NY, 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport, 372-3521. discoverymuseum.org FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER, 370 Beach Rd., Fairfield, 259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org FLINN GALLERY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7947. flinngallery.com GERTRUDE G. WHITE GALLERY, YWCA, 259 E. Putnam Ave., 869-6501. ywcagreenwich.org Wellfleet Still Life with Mirror, 1969, by Jane Piper, oil on canvas, 44 x 48 in.

Taylor | Graham Gallery The Taylor | Graham Gallery will exhibit works by Jane Piper (1916–1991), one of America’s premier female abstractionists of the late 1950s into the 1980s. Many of her works begin with a still life or landscape and are a means to explore structure in space and light, allowing white to play many roles in the composition. Piper is a distinct and important pillar for the women who shaped the avant-garde movement of the mid- to late-20th century. The gallery offers a vast collection of American and European paintings, sculpture and works on paper raging from the 19th through the 21st centuries.

80 Greenwich Avenue. taylorandgraham.com

ART & ANTIQUES ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-0198.

Tues.–Sun. aldrichart.org AMY SIMON FINE ART, 1869 Post Rd. East, Westport, 259-1500. amysimonfineart.com

BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org CANFIN GALLERY, 39 Main St., Tarrytown, NY, 914-332-4554. canfingallery.com

( for more events visit greenwichmag.com )

CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS, Girdle Ridge Rd., Katonah, NY, 914-232-1252. Caramoor is a destination for exceptional music, captivating programs, spectacular gardens and grounds, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. caramoor.org

GREENWICH ARTS COUNCIL, 299 Greenwich Ave., 862-6750. greenwichartscouncil.org GREENWICH ART SOCIETY, 299 Greenwich Ave. 2nd fl., 629-1533. A studio school that offers a visual arts education program for kids and adults. greenwichartsociety.org GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 47 Strickland Rd., 869-6899. greenwichhistory.org KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, Rte. 22 at Jay St., Katonah, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org KENISE BARNES FINE ART, 1947 Palmer Ave., Larchmont, NY, 914-834-8077. kbfa.com

LOCKWOOD-MATHEWS MANSION MUSEUM, 295 West Ave., Norwalk, 838-9799. lockwoodmathews mansion.com LOFT ARTISTS ASSOCIATION, 575 Pacific St., Stamford, 247-2027. loftartists.org MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org NEUBERGER MUSEUM OF ART, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase, NY, 914-251-6100. neuberger.org PELHAM ART CENTER, 155 Fifth Ave., Pelham, NY, 914-738-2525 ext. 113. pelhamartcenter.org ROWAYTON ARTS CENTER, 145 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, 866-2744. rowaytonarts.org SAMUEL OWEN GALLERY, 382 Greenwich Ave., 325-1924. samuelowen.org SILVERMINE GUILD ARTS CENTER, 1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan, 966-9700. silvermineart.org SANDRA MORGAN INTERIORS & ART PRIVÉ, 135 East Putnam Ave., 2nd flr., Greenwich, 629-8121. sandramorganinteriors.com SORELLE GALLERY Bedford Square 19 Church Lane Westport, 920-1900. sorellegallery.com SOROKIN GALLERY, 96 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, 856-9048. sorokingallery.com STAMFORD ART ASSOCIATION, 39 Franklin St., Stamford, 325-1139. stamfordartassociation.org »

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Saturday, April 27, 2024 • Riverside Yacht Club 6:00 p.m. Cocktails and Silent Auction 7:00 p.m. Dinner, Program, Live Auction and Dancing Co-Chairs: Connie Anne Harris and Lauren E. Walsh

Exceptional Service Honoree Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland 61st Superintendent, United States Military Academy at West Point

2024 Humanitarian Honoree

2024 Lifetime Service Honoree

Suzanne Packer

Chief James J. Heavy

To purchase tickets, sponsorships and journal acknowledgments please visit redcross.org/mnynball

Metro New York North Chapter 440101-07b 1/24

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calendar STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org TAYLOR GRAHAM GALLERY, 80 Greenwich Aveue, Greenwich, 489-3163. taylorandgraham.com

YALE CENTER FOR BRITISH ART, 1080 Chapel St., New Haven, 432-2800. britishart.yale.edu

AVON THEATRE FILM CENTER, 272 Bedford St., Stamford, 661-0321. avontheatre.org

YALE UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY, 1111 Chapel St.,New Haven, 432-0611. artgallery.yale.edu

CURTAIN CALL, The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford, 329-8207. curtaincallinc.com

UCONN STAMFORD ART GALLERY, One University Pl., Stamford, 251-8400. artgallery.stamford.uconn.edu

CONCERTS, FILM & THEATER

WESTPORT ARTS CENTER, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport, 226-7070. westportartscenter.org

ARENA AT HARBOR YARD, 600 Main St., Bridgeport, 345-2300. websterbankarena.com

DOWNTOWN CABARET THEATRE, 263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, 576-1636. dtcab.com

LECTURES, TOURS & WORKSHOPS FAIRFIELD THEATRE COMPANY, On StageOne, 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, 259-1036. fairfieldtheatre.org GOODSPEED OPERA HOUSE, 6 Main St., East Haddam, 860-873-8668. goodspeed.org GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary.org

Planned Parenthood

Cecily Strong

On Monday, April 8, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) will hold its annual Spring Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency (1800 East Putnam Avenue, Old Greenwich) beginning at 11:00 and virtually at 12:15. Famous for her role in Saturday Night Live, featured speaker Cecily Strong, who once worked for Planned Parenthood, now produces and stars in the Apple TV comedy Schmigadoon. She will be interviewed by Samantha Bee. The Community Impact Award wlll go to Danielle Eason. Cochairing the event are Susan Beyman, Keri Cameron, Jane Carlin, Lindy Lilien and Mini Nunna. To register or make a donation, go to ppsne.org/luncheon, contact 203-752-2813 or email special.events@ppsne.org.

( for more events visit greenwichmag.com )

JACOB BURNS FILM CENTER, 364 Manville Rd., Pleasantville, NY, 914-773-7663. burnsfilmcenter.org LONG WHARF THEATRE, 222 Sargent Dr., New Haven, 787-4282. longwharf.com RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 438-9269. ridgefieldplayhouse.org RIDGEFIELD THEATER BARN, 37 Halpin Ln., Ridgefield, 431-9850. ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org SHUBERT THEATER, 247 College St., New Haven, 800-228-6622. shubert.com

Photograph by Marie Hansen

Greenwich Historical Society

The Greenwich Historical Society is proud to present six prominent women photographers whose iconic work for LIFE magazine was integral to Henry Luce’s vision for an “American Century.” The exhibition features more than seventy images by Margaret Bourke-White, Marie Hansen, Martha Holmes, Lisa Larsen, Nina Leen and Hansel Mieth, who were among the few women photographers employed by LIFE between the late 1930s and the early 1970s. This special exhibit is on view from Wednesday, March 6, through Sunday, July 7.

STAMFORD CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, 325-4466. stamfordcenterforthearts.org WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE, 25 Powers Ct., Westport, 227-4177. westportplayhouse.org ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-0198. aldrichart.org AUDUBON GREENWICH, 613 Riversville Rd., 869-5272. greenwich.audubon.org

AUX DÉLICES, 231 Acosta St., Stamford, 326-4540, ext. 108. auxdelicesfoods.com BOWMAN OBSERVATORY PUBLIC NIGHT, NE of Milbank/East Elm St. rotary on the grounds of Julian Curtiss School, 869-6786, ext. 338 BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org CLAY ART CENTER, 40 Beech St., Port Chester, NY, 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org »

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SaveTHE DATE

Please join the Alzheimer’s Association for an evening of dinner, dancing and storytelling as we highlight our impact in the community, celebrate a new era of treatment and recognize those affected by the disease.

11th Annual

Celebrating Hope Friday, April 26th, 2024 6:30 - 11:00 PM

Delamar Greenwich Harbor 500 Steamboat Rd, Greenwich

For tickets, sponsorship and additional information, visit celebratinghope.givesmart.com.

For information & resources, visit alz.org/ct or call our 24/7 Helpline: 800.272.3900.

Event Chairs Tim & Kelly Helstein

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24 2:06 PM

Spring Luncheon

Monday, April 8, 2024 Join Us In-Person or Virtually to Support the Essential Health Care Services at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England

Featuring Cecily Strong in Conversation with Samantha Bee Cecily Strong is best known as a standout former Saturday Night Live cast member, but prior to finding success in the entertainment industry, Cecily worked for Planned Parenthood.

COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD RECIPIENT:

Danielle Eason

Emmy-winning comedian, writer, television personality and last year’s featured speaker Samantha Bee returns to the luncheon to facilitate this exciting conversation!

In-Person Registration Begins at 11:00 a.m.

Virtual Program Begins at 12:15 p.m.

HYATT REGENCY GREENWICH,

For more information, please visit ppsne.org/luncheon, contact 203-752-2813, or email special.events@ppsne.org

1800 E. Putnam Ave, Old Greenwich, CT Spring Luncheon Ad.indd 1

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s e t a D e h t Save 2024Spring for Abilils Gala April 27 Greenwich Country Club

The Golf Scramble May 22

Dancing Stars of Greenwich September 21

The Griff

End-of-year Giving December

Sunshine Fund Golf Outing June 3

Abilis Walk/Run October 2024

Rolling Hills Country Club

A year to remember!

For sponsorship information please contact:

Jennifer Flatow | Director of Development | flatow@abilis.us Rebecca Muskus | Events Manager | muskus@abilis.us

Advancing abilities for people with special needs since 1951 MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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calendar Gertrude White Gallery

CONNECTICUT CERAMICS STUDY CIRCLE, Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Dr. 869-0376. ctcsc.org FAIRFIELD MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER, 370 Beach Rd., Fairfield, 259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org GREENWICH BOTANICAL CENTER, 130 Bible St., 869-9242. gecgreenwich.org GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary.org KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, 26 Bedford Rd., Chappaqua, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org

Cherry Blossoms by Carol Dixon

Airlift Benefit Join Us!

John F. Kennedy International Airport New York, NY

Celebrate all the ways we can improve health around the world.

Cocktails – Dinner – Dancing

This March the Gertrude White Gallery (located on the lower level of the YWCA of Greenwich) is pleased to host local artist Carol Dixon. With more than thirty solo artist exhibitions, Dixon’s works have appeared in numerous galleries, museums, corporate headquarters, art centers, libraries and private collections. She is currently teaching courses at the Greenwich Art Society Studio. Prior to that, she taught AP Art History and Studio Art at Greenwich Academy.

259 East Putnam Avenue. »

2024 DESTINATION: COLOMBIA

THURSDAY APRIL 11 6 P.M.

Sponsored by

AMERICARES.ORG/AIRLIFT2024 greenwichmag.com

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APRIL 4, 2024

@ THE LOADING DOCK STAMFORD 6 – 10PM Join us for cocktails, dinner and live music by

For tickets and sponsorship opportunities P2Phelps.org/RNR Help us fulfill our vision of thriving, hunger-free homes.

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calendar KIDS’ STUFF MAR C H 2 0 2 4 ALDRICH MUSEUM, 258 Main St., Ridgefield, 438-4519. aldrichart.org

AUDUBON GREENWICH, 613 Riversville Rd., 869-5272. greenwich.audubon.org AUX DÉLICES, (cooking classes), 23 Acosta St., Stamford, 326-4540 ext. 108. auxdelicesfoods.com BEARDSLEY ZOO, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport, 394-6565. beardsleyzoo.org

EARTHPLACE, 10 Woodside Lane, Westport, 227-7253. earthplace.org

MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org

STAMFORD MUSEUM & NATURE CENTER, 39 Scofieldtown Rd., Stamford, 977-6521. stamfordmuseum.org

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREENWICH, 4 Horseneck Lane, 869-3224. bgcg.org

GREENWICH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, 39 Strickland St., 869-6899. hstg.org

BRUCE MUSEUM, 1 Museum Dr., 869-0376. brucemuseum.org

GREENWICH LIBRARY, 101 W. Putnam Ave., 622-7900. greenwichlibrary.org

DISCOVERY MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM, 4450 Park Ave., Bridgeport, 372-3521. discoverymuseum.org

IMAX THEATER AT MARITIME AQUARIUM, 10 N. Water St., S. Norwalk, 852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org

RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE, 80 East Ridge, Ridgefield, 438-5795. ridgefieldplayhouse.org

WESTPORT ARTS CENTER, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport, 222-7070. westportartscenter.org

DOWNTOWN CABARET THEATRE, 263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport, 576-1636. dtcab.com

KATONAH MUSEUM OF ART, Rte. 22 at Jay St., Katonah, NY, 914-232-9555. katonahmuseum.org

STAMFORD CENTER FOR THE ARTS, Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, 325-4466. palacestamford.org

WESTPORT COUNTRY PLAYHOUSE, 25 Powers Ct., Westport, 227-4177. westportplayhouse.org G

NEW CANAAN NATURE CENTER, 144 Oenoke Ridge, New Canaan, 966-9577. newcanaannature.org

STEPPING STONES MUSEUM FOR CHILDREN, 303 West Ave., Mathews Park, Norwalk, 899-0606. steppingstonesmuseum.org

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FEATURING JANE PAULEY Journalist & Advocate

JOIN US APRIL 11, 2024 5:30 PM • GREENWICH COUNTRY CLUB Join us for our 26th annual celebration to illuminate the change you’ve sparked! Come together for cocktails and conversation, hear stories of the lives you’ve touched and be inspired by our keynote speaker, legendary broadcast journalist Jane Pauley.

HONORING CHARLOTTE SUHLER 2024 Anne S. Leonhardt Award Recipient Proceeds benefit The Fund for Women & Girls Programs – including our new Black Maternal Health Initiative and the emme coalition.

Scan Code to RSVP

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FOR TICKETS, VISIT: FCCFOUNDATION.ORG/FWG24

2/7/24 1:45 PM

Scan here to buy tickets, become a sponsor, or join the auction!

APRIL THURSDAY

25

6:00-9:00PM

2 0 2 4 Abigail Kirsch at the Loading Dock 375 Fairfield Avenue, Stamford, CT 06902

Cocktails & Dinner | Live & Silent Auctions Celebrating 40 years of service to our community!

Buy tickets, become a sponsor, or join the auction at opendoorsct.givesmart.com Contact us at 203-866-1057 or events@opendoorsct.org

@OpenDoorsCT

JOIN THE CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY AS WE:

REGISTER NOW: WWW.GIVE.HOPEFORHAITI.COM/HIKE greenwichmag.com

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advertisers index ART & ANTIQUES Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture .......................................................................................12 Taylor/Graham Gallery ................................................................................................41

COMING UP AT THE PLAYHOUSE

BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT Amy Aidinis Hirsch ....................................................................................................... 27 California Closets.......................................................................................................... 11 Riverside Fence ............................................................................................................ 35 SBP Homes ......................................................................................................... Cover 3 Yankee Builders ........................................................................................................... 39 BUSINESS & FINANCE Private Staff Group .......................................................................................................10 Westy Self Storage .......................................................................................................61 EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT Abilis 2024 Events........................................................................................................94 A-List Awards ............................................................................................................... 65 Alzheimer’s Association Celebrating Hope ...............................................................89 American Red Cross-Greater NY Chapter Red & White Ball ....................................86 AmeriCares Airlift Benefit ...........................................................................................88 Fairfield County Community Foundation Fund for Women & Girls Evening ............ 93 Greenwich Library Dinner ...........................................................................................84 Greenwich Restaurant Week....................................................................................... 56 Hope for Haiti Hike for Haiti ........................................................................................88 Near & Far Aid Formula for Aid ...................................................................................94 Open Doors Shelter Gala ............................................................................................. 92 Person-to-Person Rock n’ Raise Benefit .....................................................................91 Planned Parenthood of Southern New England Spring Luncheon ..........................90 Ridgefield Playhouse ................................................................................................... 95 Westport Playhouse .................................................................................................... 53

MAR 20 @ 7:30PM 2X GRAMMY NOMINATED JAZZ VOCAL SUPERGROUP

EDUCATION Brunswick School ........................................................................................................15 FASHION & JEWELRY Betteridge Jewelers ........................................................................................... Cover 4 Famille ...........................................................................................................................17 FOOD & LODGING Chatham Bars Inn .........................................................................................................18 Winvian .........................................................................................................................43 HEALTH & BEAUTY Hospital for Special Surgery ........................................................................................ 3 Illume Fertility ..............................................................................................................43 Nichols, MD .................................................................................................................. 8 Riverside Orthodontics ................................................................................................12 Orthopaedic & Neurosurgery Specialists (ONS) ....................................................... 29 WCHN/Nuvance Health ...............................................................................................21

APR 4 @ 8PM

APR 9 @ 7:30PM

FROM THE PRODUCERS OF THE GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA

LANDSCAPING, NURSERY & FLORISTS Glorious Garden Tours/English Garden & Designs ....................................................41 Homestead Farmers dba Homefront Farmers ......................................................... 33 LEGAL Cummings & Lockwood-Greenwich ............................................................................10 NON PROFITS Girls with Impact .......................................................................................................... 55 REAL ESTATE GRW Team/Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties .............. 7 Compass, Inc. ............................................................................................................... 9 Houlihan Lawrence Corp. ..................................................................................... 13, 33 John’s Island Real Estate Company ............................................................................61 Greenwich Connecticut Properties LLC..................................................................... 49 Sotheby’s International-Greenwich......................................................... Cover 2, 1, 37 William Raveis ............................................................................................................ 4, 5

APR 20 @ 8PM

MISCELLANEOUS Best of the Gold Coast Contest .................................................................................. 75 Bob Capazzo Photography ..........................................................................................61 Greenwich Photo Contest ........................................................................................... 49

MAY 7 @ 7:30PM

203.438.5795 • RIDGEFIELDPLAYHOUSE.ORG

MARCH 2024 GREENWICH

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postscript ph ot o g r a ph by me li s s a m c ca nn s a nta ng e l o

LUCKY DOG T

hey say that on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone is Irish. And lucky for us (see what we did there?) our favorite Postscript model, Daisy, agrees.

Though the Greenwich pup always seems to be a bit serious, she happily plays along when mom Melissa busts out the costume box. Here’s hoping that on March 17 all your beer is green and all your clovers four-leafed. G

Have a photo that captures a moment in Greenwich? Send it to us at editor@greenwichmag.com for a chance to win $100. Please write “photo submission” in the subject line. greenwichmag.com

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SBP HOMES - CONNECTICUT 289 SELLECK STREET STAMFORD, CT 06902 TEL: 203-323-2200

SBP HOMES - PALM BEACH 202 PHIPPS PLAZA PALM BEACH, FL 33480 TEL: 561-469-2998

GREENWICH SOUTHAMPTON SOUTH FLORIDA NEW YORK CITY SBPHOMES .COM

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