New Caanan Darien + Rowayton - March/April 2024

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editorial

editorial director Cristin Marandino editor Eileen Murphy advisory editor Donna Moffly

art

senior art director Venera Alexandrova senior art director/status report Garvin Burke production director Tim Carr assistant art director Lisa Servidio

contributors editors

Megan Gagnon editor, athome Melinda Anderson editor, stamford Samantha Yanks editor, westport Elizabeth Hole editor, custom publishing

writers

Liz Barron, Tom Connor, Elizabeth Ginns Britten, Malia McKinnon Frame, Mary Kate Hogan, Elizabeth Hole, Elizabeth Keyser copy editors

Terry Christofferson, David Podgurski

digital audience development editor Kaitlin Madden digital marketing manager Rachel MacDonald digital assistant Lloyd Gabi digital assistant Jeffery Garay

business president Jonathan W. Moffly

editorial director Cristin Marandino business manager Elena V. Moffly cofounders John W. Moffly IV and Donna C. Moffly

sales + marketing

Gina Fusco publisher gina.fusco@moffly.com

Jonathan W. Moffly publisher, greenwich, athome, stamford, ocean house jonathan@moffly.com

Gabriella Mays publisher, westport•weston•wilton gabriella.mays@moffly.com

Hilary Hotchkiss acount executive hilary.hotchkiss@moffly.com

Morgan Howell acount executive morgan.howell@moffly.com

Kathleen Dyke partnership and big picture manager kathleen.godbold@moffly.com

Emily Klaeboe interim partnership and big picture manager Emily.klaboe@moffly.com

Lemuel Bandala sales assistant lemuel.bandala@moffly.com

Eillenn Bandala business assistant eillenn.bandala@moffly.com

editor’s letter

BEYOND THE FAÇADE

YFOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @NCDMAG

SCAN TO EXPLORE

ears ago, I served as the publicity chair for a local holiday house tour. The agenda for one of our first committee meetings was to narrow down the potential houses to feature on the tour. This process was more difficult than you might imagine as the homes being considered were each spectacular in their own right. How could we possibly narrow it down to five?

I felt similarly conflicted when reviewing homes to feature in this issue. From lavish estates to historical homesteads and midcentury moderns, we have an abundance of gorgeous homes to choose from. I’m sure I am not the only one who loves to drive around New Canaan, Darien and Rowayton admiring them from the outside, but unless you know the owner (or it’s featured on one of the house tours), you don’t always have an opportunity to see what’s happening on the inside.

I am thrilled to share with you a sneak peek into one of those hidden gems in this issue (page 62). When we first visited this impeccably restored antique, we knew we needed to share it with our readers. It

overflowed with character and charm, both in its décor and its charismatic owner. We had found our cover story!

In this issue, you’ll also find an insider’s look at what’s hot in the real estate market right now (page 74), including something that took us by surprise. (Hint: It has to do with the fastest growing sport in the nation.) We also take a look back at some of the top 2023 landscaping trends (page 82) in our area, which include an interesting mix of styles— from eco-friendly naturalistic to traditionally formal.

We hope you enjoy this peek beyond the façade of just a few of the beautiful homes in our area. If I had a thousand editorial pages to work with, I think I still would have had difficulty narrowing down which to feature. Fortunately, there’s always the next issue!

HOW

founder’s page

“The whole house looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa”

OF MESSING ABOUT WITH HOUSES

As Water Rat said to Mole in The Wind in the Willows: “Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats…or with boats. In or out of ’em, it doesn’t matter.”

Houses, too. People renovate them, decorate them, knock them down and build them up. Today more than ever—and bigger than ever.

Here are some examples, starting with my husband.

Jack’s first job out of college in 1949 was with Gunnison Homes, a pioneer in prefab houses kept very busy mass-producing them for returning G.I.s. Part of his duties was training crews, like the unseasoned construction workers putting up their first prefab when it was trucked in to Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. But coming back from lunch that day, he found that they’d somehow failed to plumb the first panel, so the whole house looked like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The front door opened with a crash, and it took the muscles of Hercules to close it.

Another time Jack accompanied his boss to the home of an irate woman who flipped down her baby’s diaper to expose a rather red rear end. The boss promptly announced: “Oh, waffle bottom!” Again. The furnace was in a crawl space under the living room floor, and apparently the toddler had sat down on the hot wrought-iron grate.

I think Jack was happy to end up in publishing.

Old Greenwich resident Marge Curtis recalls when she and Bob wanted a skylight in their bathroom ceiling. So they hired a carpenter who was cutting away with his buzz saw when she heard him say, “Uh-oh!” Uh-oh is right. He had carved a hole way too big for the skylight. Later they learned he was on drugs.

Janet Kirwan hired some college students from a reputable firm to paint her house while

she was on vacation. Upon return, she found the job half done and a note on the front door reading: “Sorry. My girlfriend and I decided to go to the Bahamas.”

On another occasion Janet got a bill for replacing shingles on her slate roof, and though a few needed help, she’d never hired anybody to do it. Mowing the lawn while listening to music on his headphones, her teenaged son had noticed some guys on the roof but had failed to mention it. As it turned out, they were meant to be at the house next door.

And Netty Schieferdecker said: “Did you ever hear about the time I took a shower with my electrician?” While redoing a bathroom, she’d asked him to step into the shower stall so she could show him some connection she was concerned about. His belt hooked on the handle that turned on the water, and they were both drenched.

Then there was the crew of Irishmen working on her house. Netty, who was born in the Netherlands, couldn’t understand a word they were saying, “but, of course, I have an accent, too,” she admits. In any case, she came home from shopping and found one of them fast asleep in a chair in the master bedroom—in just his underwear. While she was out, he’d decided to take a swim in their pool.

But one story says it all about today’s times. A nice builder I know was working on a house in Riverside when a nosey neighbor started asking him all kind of questions—like where he was putting the boundary stakes, etc. The next thing he knew, he looked up to see a drone buzzing over the property. Apparently not satisfied with his answers, Nosey Neighbor had sent it to check things out.

Ah, me. We all have colorful tales from the home front, especially in Fairfield County where real estate is king.

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

The only hospital in Connecticut ranked among the top 1% in the nation

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by eileen murphy

CARING FOR COMMUNITY

A NEW MOBILE FOOD PANTRY HELPS FILLING IN THE BLANKS

BRING FRESH FOOD TO FAMILIES IN NEED.

Back in May 2016 we interviewed a relatively new nonprofit called FILLING IN THE BLANKS (FITB). The organization was founded by New Canaan's SHAWNEE KNIGHT and TINA KRAMER Their mission was to help fight childhood hunger by providing weekend meals to children in need who qualified for government-funded lunch programs. In their third year of operation, they were serving five Stamford schools and proudly shared that they had packed 6,800 bags of food in their New Canaan distribution facility.

Fast forward to 2024. While FITB' mission is still very much the same, the impact they have had in the last eight years is immeasurable. In 2023, they delivered more than one million meals that were packed in their Norwalk headquarters, serving 6,500 children at 200-plus sites. Along with those staggering statistics, FITB' services have grown to include far more than providing weekend meals.

In addition to a major warehouse expansion, FITB also recently introduced a new mobile food pantry that allows them to bring fresh food directly to low-income neighborhoods. The mobile food pantry is something Knight and Kramer had dreamed about for a long time and, thanks to the generosity of television producer (and part-time Connecticut resident) Shonda Rhimes and the Rhimes Foundation, that dream became a reality this past fall.

Since launching the mobile food pantry initiative in October, Filling in the Blanks has held two community distribution events each month—one in Norwalk and one in Stamford. At a recent visit to one of these events,

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“the food that we send the kids home from school with is all shelf-stable. this complements that program with fresh food and allows us to provide more food for the whole family.”

I watched as volunteers packed bags with milk, vegetables and fruits for families who were lined up around the block. “The food that we send the kids home from school with is all shelf-stable,” says Knight. “This complements that program with fresh food and allows us to provide more food for the whole family.”

Even this new initiative is quickly surpassing what Knight and Kramer had imagined. They recently partnered with Stamford Health and Norwalk Hospital to educate families on free health and human services available, like the Husky Health Program and free flu shots and mammograms. “These events have really become a day out for the families, in a dignified way,” says Kramer, noting that donations from companies like Henkel and Cain Management (owners of local Dunkin' locations) have allowed them to distribute more than just fresh food.

January’s mobile food pantry events served 350 families in Stamford and 331 families in Norwalk. These are impressive numbers considering the program was in

its fourth month. As with most things Knight and Kramer set their minds to, it is a well-organized operation.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the generosity of FITB' supporters—particularly corporate sponsors, who provide the essential financial needs, but they also volunteer at private food-packing events for employees. The opportunity for people to be hands-on in FITB’ mission is something that really makes the nonprofit unique.

When Knight and Kramer initially had the idea for FITB, they were looking for an impactful way they could give back while also involving their children—so offering volunteer opportunities for kids of all ages has always been important to them. They are often hosting packing events for schools or community organizations. There is even a program called Food4Kids that allows smaller children to get involved from home, by decorating and packing snack bags to help supplement the meal bags FITB distributes at the schools.

There are other ways to support FITB

by the numbers

76% of teachers saw a decrease in academic performance due to the negative effects of food insecurity

1 of every 9 children in Connecticut lives in a household without constant access to food

30 million children rely on free or reducedprice lunches for their nutritional needs on an average school day

hunger symptoms headaches, irritability, nausea or disruptive behavior

beyond packing and distribution events— like the SOUPer Bowl Drive and Holiday Backpack programs, the Unite to Fight 5K Run/Walk (and Fun Run), plus the annual golf outing and Plates with a Purpose gala event (see page 56). As the FITB' website so perfectly says, “Childhood hunger is a problem we can tackle together!”

Visit fillingintheblanks.org for more information on their events, volunteer opportunities or to become a sponsor.

tina kramer , cofounder of filling in the blanks

Sports Camps & Summer Session

Academic instruction and sports camps for students in Pre Kindergarten through Grade 12.

bwick.org/summer

Italian Flair

LOCAL FOOD BLOGGER, TV PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL MEDIA SENSATION DEBUTS LINE OF APRONS

by elizabeth hole

Inspired by her Italian heritage, television host EREKA VETRINI ’s fondest memories revolve around food. She happily “watched, smelled and tasted everything” in the kitchen while her mother, grandmother and aunts were busy making homemade pasta and jarring tomatoes.

“I remember eating squid with pasta at the age of six, the mildly offensive smell of broccoli rabe with garlic cooking on the stove-top and the taste of my mother’s sauce, which I still can’t seem to replicate,” says Vetrini. “Everything was homemade, nothing came out of a can.”

Both of her parents were born and raised in Italy. After coming to America, they opened Gino’s Pizzeria and Restaurant in Bronxville, New York. “When they came to this country, they tried to assimilate,” she explains. “But the Italian food traditions stuck and were cherished.” Vetrini worked at the restaurant in high school, and her brother still owns and operates it today.

As a food blogger, on-air personality and mother of two living in Darien, Vetrini shares recipes like the ones she enjoyed growing

“when creating recipes, my goal is to use the italian food philosophy to develop simple recipes for busy parents. ”

—ereka vetrini

up—with a modern twist. She calls her cooking “short-form Italian,” because it allows for time-saving ingredients and methods.

With nearly two million followers on TikTok and Instagram, Vetrini’s loyal fans can’t get enough of her Italian recipes and helpful tips. Her one-pan salmon and orzo dish had 9.6 million views alone.

“When creating recipes, my goal is to use the Italian food philosophy to develop simple recipes for busy parents,” says Vetrini. “I have no problem using canned beans in my escarole and beans, even though I know my mother quietly disapproves.”

One savvy viewer asked why she didn’t wear an apron for cooking segments, and Vetrini thoughtfully considered the question.

“I couldn’t find a single apron that I found stylish and functional,” remembers Vetrini. “The traditional apron doesn’t jibe with how I feel when I’m cooking for my community, friends or family. The light bulb when on and I started to get to work.”

Vetrini responded to the fashion challenge by creating a line of contemporary aprons. The collection of Monarch wrap aprons, which come in five colors, are now available online at byereka.com.

“My goal was to create an apron that was not just stylish, but also comfortable, functional and could be adjusted to fit everyone’s unique body shape,” says Vetrini. “In my mind, a wrap apron of some type seemed to be the obvious answer. I also wanted more coverage up top, which is why I went with a halter neckline.”

The entrepreneurial route was a natural one for Vetrini. After graduating from Boston College (where she often cooked for roommates), she worked at General Electric Financial Service Company before moving

top: Ventrini’s Salad Nicoise is a crowd-pleaser and a great dish for holiday gatherings year-round. middle: Her lemon olive oil cake is a light, elegant treat. bottom: This one-pan baked chicken parmesan is perfect for a weeknight meal.

“my goal was to create an apron that was not just stylish, but also comfortable, functional and could be adjusted to fit everyone’s unique body shape.”

on to Estée Lauder and product marketing at Clinique. That’s when she did “something crazy and very out of character,” leading her career in a different direction.

“I auditioned for a new reality competition called The Apprentice, and I was asked to be a contestant,” says Vetrini. “After I was eliminated, technically ‘fired’ by Donald Trump, there were multiple opportunities in television. I was lucky enough to be hired to host a long-running HGTV show as well as a national talk show called In The Loop with I-Village.”

Vetrini first shared recipes on TikTok during the pandemic. It took some persuading from her daughter, but the platform suited her well. Her inaugural recipe for homemade ricotta gnudi and pesto garnered more than six million views.

Vetrini continues to focus on her apron line, with plans to expand the collection and introduce more kitchen items. A cookbook and updated website are also in the works.

No matter what Vetrini does next, it is sure to have her signature blend of “sometimes sweet and sometimes savory.”

Vetrini’s aprons can be purchased by visiting byereka.com. Use code Spring10 to get 10% off between now and March 31.

—ereka vetrini

Turning Setbacks Into Success

LOCAL AUTHOR TURNS TO WRITING FOR PERSONAL GROWTH AND ENDS UP WITH

FOUR BOOK DEALS AND A HULU SERIES by

liz barron

Finding a purpose in pain can be one of the most meaningful ways to heal and Darien-based author Carola Lovering did just that with her first novel Tell Me Lies

After graduating college with a degree in English, Lovering knew that she wanted to pursue a career in the literary world. After landing a job in public relations, she realized that she was yearning for something that would tap more into her creative side. She started to slowly build her writing portfolio and pivot toward copywriting.

But while her professional life was on the track, Lovering says she was struggling in “the wake of a toxic relationship from college that had recently ended.”

At the suggestion of a friend, Lovering began to channel her anger and confusion into her writing and quickly saw how cathartic it was to put unresolved feelings down on paper. “When I started writing, I knew that what I was doing just felt right, like nothing I had ever done before,” says Lovering. “I was more inspired than I’d ever been.”

After working on her first novel for several years, Lovering experienced the rejection many new authors face. But she persisted and eventually landed an agent, an editor and a book deal for Tell Me Lies. When the book was published in 2018, Lovering was still working another job and teaching yoga on the side. Once her agent asked her about a second

“when i started writing, i knew that what i was doing just felt right, like nothing i had ever done before.”

book, it hit her that this was something she could really do full time.

In August of 2019, Lovering received an email from Karah Preiss, cofounder of Belletrist (a popular online reading community turned production company), who said that she read and loved Tell Me Lies. Later that month, Lovering learned that Belletrist and Rebelle Media were interested in turning the book into a television series.

“That fall of 2019, Belletrist officially optioned

the book. They had a first-look deal with Hulu at the time, so that’s why the project went there,” recounts Lovering.

Her second book, Too Good to Be True, was released in 2021 and was soon followed by Can’t Look Away in 2022. Her latest novel, Bye, Baby, is set to be released in March 2024. This novel draws on Lovering’s personal experiences, but in a very different way than her debut novel.

The story is told from the dual perspectives of two friends as their friendship evolves and changes over time. It taps into all the layered aspects of female friendship, while keeping the reader on their toes with an interwoven element of deep-seeded drama and uncertainty. While this story is not based on any real-life relationship, Lovering is hopeful readers will be able relate, as many of us have had complicated friendships that have transformed as we have gotten older.

Lovering is looking forward to an upcoming book signing for Bye, Baby at Darien’s Barrett Bookstore on March 5.

below: Darien author Carola Lovering's fourth novel Bye, Baby will be available on March 5.

—carola lovering

Spri ngTrends

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

BY HANNAH DEELY

STRIPES PASTELS CROPPED JACKETS

VESTS NEUTRALS JEWELRY

The Lineup

HERE’S HOW TO PUT A SPORTY STRIPE THIS SPRING

TWIST ON THE CLASSIC PREPPY

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

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

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

Sambae Leather Sneaker, $110; adidas.com

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

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

PHILLIP LIM

Pretty Pastels

LOVESHACKFANCY Cotton Blend

Tweed Jacket, $595, Greenwich; loveshackfancy.com

MANOLO BLAHNIK

Patent Leather

Slingback Pumps, $925, Norwalk; nordstrom.com

SOFTEN UP YOUR SEASONAL

TORY BURCH

OLIVER PEOPLES

Kienna Acetate Sunglasses, $440, Greenwich; oliverpeoples.com

WARDROBE WITH OUR PICKS THAT ARE AS SWEET AS SORBET

MONOGRAM MARY

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

ASHA BY ASHLEY MCCORMICK

Embroidered Linen Caftan, $495, Greenwich; ashabyadm.com

ULLA JOHNSON

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

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

shop

ARZANO

18K Yellow Gold

Pear Cut Diamond Ring, $3,630, Fairfield; hcreidjewelers.com

STEVEN FOX

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

Summer Stunners

ADD ANY OF THESE

SPLURGE WORTHY JEWELS AND A GLASS OF ROSÉ—TO YOUR SPRING

WARDROBE AND ENJOY EFFORTLESS STYLE ALL SEASON

Diamond “North Star”

Pendant, $3,300, Greenwich; shrevecrumpandlow.com

PETER SUCHY

Pink And Green

Tourmaline

Earrings, $1,940, Stamford; petersuchy jewelers.com

manfredijewels.com

GOSHWARA

18K Yellow Gold Prasiolite and Malachite Oval Ring, Greenwich; betteridge.com

$2,600,

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

VERDURA

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

JL ROCKS

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

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DAVID YURMAN

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

RUSS HOLLANDER MASTER GOLDSMITH

Aquamarine and Pear-Shaped Morganite

With Amethyst in Handmade 18K White Gold Earrings, $12,500, Stamford; (203) 363-2200

Simply Neutral

IF YOUR PHILOSOPHY IS THAT LESS IS MORE, THEN THESE  UNDERSTATED LOOKS ARE FOR YOU

HERMES

$3,200;

$290, Greenwich; sunglasshut.com

Leather Atlantis GM Bag, louisvuitton.com

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

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

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

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

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

MODERN MARVELS

When 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.

GREENWICH’S BRUCE MUSEUM ORGANIZES A DRIVING TOUR TO CELEBRATE CONNECTICUT’S RICH HISTORY IN MODERN ARCHITECTURE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

:

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

top

The

Hotel Marcel NEW HAVEN

by kim-marie galloway

A Gem in All Seasons

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

If 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

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

Experience the height of senior living.

“I enjoyed designing and customizing my apartment to truly make it feel like home.”

— Connie D., Resident

Distinctive Independent Living with options to make your home your own.

You’ll be at the height of luxury and ease in a maintenance-free home that can be customized to match your unique taste. Private outdoor spaces, fireplaces, stone countertops, high-end appliances, custom closets and fully monitored call systems are just a few of the many features that come standard in every home.

Our well-appointed, bright, spacious apartment homes are larger than any other community in Connecticut. Experience the best in senior living with our world-class amenities, engaging activities, gourmet cuisine and impeccable service.

To learn more or schedule a tour, call 203-439-6762 or visit MeadowRidge.com

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

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.

above: A homey vibe welcomes guests.

left: The stunning coastline

below: The Inn's fleet of cars lets guests cruise around in luxury.

BESPOKE SKIN CARE

Instead of associating facials with birthday gifts and special occasions, OVME medical aesthetics has a novel approach. The studio, which opened February 2023 in Darien Commons, invites guests to prioritize self-care— and their skin-care routines—with a VIP membership plan and regular visits.

OVME (pronounced “of me”) specializes in skin treatments, injectables and wellness, delivering customized plans for every client, and the concept is gaining popularity.

According to Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Bennett, customers appreciate OVME’s approach to “the art of skin science” and the patient-focused concept. People drawn to the studio and the rewards program typically “incorporate routine skin maintenance into their daily life.”

above: OVME VIP members can choose a monthly facial or chemical peel. below: VIPs also receive prority appointments.

OVME BRINGS A MEMBERSHIP MODEL TO MEDICAL AESTHETICS

by elizabeth hole

By signing up for membership ($99 per month), VIPs receive priority appointments and can choose from a monthly facial or chemical peel. Other benefits include a weekly B-12 shot, as well as 15% off services and products. Membership starts as a three-month commitment and then goes monthto-month from there.

Beyond the membership program, OVME offers a variety of additional skin treatments ranging from signature facials and dermaplaning to microneedling and laser resurfacing. One of the most popular is the hydrafacial—a “non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and hydrates the skin using a specialized device.” The hydrafacial, which works on all skin types, is even more in demand when the weather is cold and dry.

above: OVME offers complimentary skin consultations. above: The studio carries Revision, OVME and SkinMedica products.

In addition to facials and cosmetic injections, OVME offers wellness treatments such as IV Hydration, which helps increase energy, provide nutrients, improve hydration and enable the body to recover more quickly.

Founder and CEO Dr. Mark McKenna launched the concept in Atlanta in 2018 when he saw “an opportunity to bring a more patient-centric approach to medical aesthetics,” says Bennett. Growing up in a family of physicians, McKenna’s “call to care ran deep because his childhood heroes wore white lab coats.”

While OVME has nearly 30 locations nationwide, Darien is the first in Connecticut. The professionals on staff receive training by Dr. McKenna, who also serves as chief medical officer.

OVME caters to more than just members. Guests can come in for a complimentary skin consultation using state-of-the-art technology. A VISIA scan helps determine how much someone’s skin has aged, allowing for a more targeted skin care plan.

“We are always refining the art of skin science to focus on improved skin texture, reduced fine lines, unclogged pores, and increased hydration, improved skin elasticity, reduced hyperpigmentation, anti-aging and an overall healthier complexion,” says Bennett.

Visit ovme.com to set up a consultation and to “find your glow.”

VENERA ALEXANDROVA

With

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IS CONNECTICUT ONE OF THE NEXT BLUE ZONES?

by georgette yacoub

If drinking an elixir of bone broth, dehydrated pig blood, and celery juice while cold plunging in 39-degree spring and sea water could potentially extend your life, would you try it?

Chances are, you would, because the pursuit of longevity has become mainstream, with the global market expected to reach $183 billion by 2028.

But what if it was as easy as, say, living in Connecticut?

That’s what NowPatient’s newest index—inspired by the 2023 Netflix series "Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones"—suggests, as it aims to predict the next ten states to become Blue Zones.

Blue Zones are where some of the world’s oldest people live, characterized by lower chronic disease and significantly longer life expectancies. Currently, there are five Blue Zones globally, located in Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica and Loma Linda, California.

According to the index, Connecticut is the eighth most likely state to become the next Blue Zone.

So we asked an expert for his take.

“We have to remember that Blue Zones are something researchers have been looking at for years, but the man who popularized it wasn’t a researcher, but a journalist,” says Andrew Garritson, vice president of education at the Nutritional Coaching Institute and founder of Argentum, a quality information control organization.

“By nature, his job is to capture attention. So when we see one of the Power 9 criteria for a Blue Zone being ‘Wine at 5’, we should be skeptical,” he says.

Research is pretty well established around alcohol consumption being associated with all-cause mortality, he adds, so to claim that ‘moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers’ is misleading.

“It’s correlation, not causation,” he says. “That said, everything is a trade-off. Moderate alcohol consumption can be the mechanism indicating that a community is more socially fulfilled—and social fulfillment and belonging has been shown to increase longevity.”

“So the physical trade-off of alcohol consumption can be offset by the social benefits that come from the environment it’s consumed in,” says Garritson.

In the new index citing Connecticut as a promising Blue Zone candidate, researchers looked at mental health, diet, exercise, religion, plant-based diets, sleep and life expectancy.

When asked for his take, Garritson largely agreed with the criteria observed to increase longevity. “It’s not necessarily about religion ... per se,” says Garritson. “Religion might be the mechanism that shows you're plugged into a social community.”

He adds that recent research showed that there was decreased all-cause mortality with a plant-based diet, but notes that people who follow

plant-based diets can be at higher risk of nutrient deficiencies, which can lead to sickness.

“The key is to eat complete sources of protein in a plant-based diet, which requires a more mindful food selection,” he says.

So, does Connecticut have a shot at becoming the next Blue Zone? Yes, but the criteria for getting there might need a bit of a deeper dive.

WHEN IT COMES

TO DIRECT, NO-NONSENSE, SCIENCE-BASED FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES, ANDREW GARRITSON DRILLS IT DOWN TO THESE FIVE HABITS:

Having a strong sense of purpose Strength training 3 to 5 times per week

Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep

Drinking at least half your bodyweight in ounces of water per day

Managing obesity

Andrew Garritson has helped more than 2,000 people lose 40,000+ pounds of fat, gain 4,600+ pounds of lean body mass, and eliminate 100+ medications You can connect with him on LinkedIn.

MASTERING THE MOVE

OVERWHELMED BY THE IDEA OF LISTING YOUR HOUSE THIS SPRING? GET THINGS STARTED WITH THESE EXPERT TIPS elizabeth ginns britten

In the Northeast, after a long, cold winter, spring is a season of fresh beginnings. And for the real estate market, spring is generally viewed as the best time to buy a house. So if you've been considering putting your house on the market, now is the time to get your current home organized and start shopping around for your next dream home.

The idea of moving can be overwhelming, and many people don’t know where to begin. Enter The Settler, a full-service concierge movemanagement and organizational company. The Settler is the brainchild of Darien resident Jackie Randall, who recently joined forces with New Canaan's Bridget Urgo (formerly of B.Organized Home), to create a singular, all-encompassing, one-stop solution to move management and home organization. Whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, moving down the street or across the country, The Settler’s owners say they understand why people feel overwhelmed and truly believe the process of moving can be a stress-free reset and refresh. Here are some helpful tips they shared for simplifying and mastering your move:

1

CLEANSE

Parting with your belongings can be emotional and difficult, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Decluttering doesn’t mean getting rid of everything though; it’s about making intentional choices to keep what adds value and purpose to your life. The Settler recommends being truly honest with yourself and starting in small increments. “Spend 15 to 30 minutes in each room and get rid of anything that no longer serves you and that will not have a spot in your new home,” Urgo says, adding that it costs money to pack up, move and unpack items. So if you aren’t going to use something— just get rid of it off the bat.

2 CATEGORIZE

After you’ve streamlined your belongings, the next step is to categorize by room or destination. Think about the layout of your new place and where items will live. Will you move seasonal items to the attic or certain toys from a bedroom to a playroom? The Settler also recommends color-coding packing tape for each room for easy identification (green for kitchen, blue for bathroom, yellow for bedroom, etc.), and taking inventory of each box. Mapping out the process ahead of time should make unpacking a breeze.

3

SHOWCASE WITH STORAGE SOLUTIONS

After cleansing and categorizing, the next step is to utilize storage solutions—baskets, containers, drawer dividers/organizers, etc.— to make the most of your space. The Settler says that storage solutions don’t have to be boring— there are lots of options that blend functionality with flair.

4

RELISH THE RESULTS

The final step is the best part— enjoying your hard work! Making your home look perfect for listing or making a new space feel like a home can be a journey, but if you start early and use the simple tips above, there is a stress-free path to creating a meaningful and purposeful home that reflects who you are and what’s important to you. Life is busy and hectic enough; moving doesn’t have to be.

above: Sit down and make a step-by-step packing plan.

left: When packing things away, inventory what's in each box.

home

1

Folded

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5

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SOHO HOME

Garret

7 INDUSTRY WEST

Pim console table; $1,995. industrywest.com

3

Laurent

“terracotta is definetly the new blush. it’s warm, earthy and rich. it adds history and complements warmer wood tones.

—michelle morgan harrison, morgan harrison home

FLAT VERNACULAR

wallpaper in Peach Melba; $65 per yard. flatvernacular.com

POTTERY BARN

Halldale terracotta vase collection; starting at $29.50. Westport; potterybarn.com

OYOY

Maki plant box in Nutmeg; $178. oyoy.us

Rue Yves Saint

Westport; shopterrain.com

candles; starting at $68. Bungalow, Westport; bungalowdecor.com

armchair in Velvet Antique Rose; $2,995. sohohome.com

Welcome

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...

home BALL CHANGE

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

2 PARK EUN-KOOK KoKo table; $7,680. 1stdibs.com

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

4 AND OBJECTS Leckford Stool; $4,084. andobjects.com

5 NOIR Cooper mirror in metal with brass finish; $2,085 Beehive, Fairfield; thebeehive fairfield.com

6 TROY LIGHTING Miela floor lamp by Loft & Thought; $990. Chloe Winston Lighting Design, Norwalk, 203-9578686; chloewinston lighting.com

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

MODERN BOBBIN DETAILS ADD A PLAYFUL POP

—alexis varbero, owner + ceo, schwartz design showrooms

“modern bobbin designs seamlessly intertwine the essence of traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary twist, skillfully reimagining its form across diverse categories in unexpectedly innovative ways.”

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.

Our core services include:

■ Estate planning and administration

■ Estate, income and gift tax planning

■ Wealth protection planning

■ Trust formation and management

■ Philanthropic giving

■ Generational wealth transfer

■ Probate and estate settlement

■ International estate and tax planning

■ Executor and trustee services

■ Business succession planning

■ Residential and commercial real estate services

■ Corporate and finance services

■ Trusts and estates litigation and tax controversy

■ Business litigation, arbitration and dispute resolution

For a private consultation, please contact one of our attorneys by visiting our website at www.cl-law.com.

www.cl-law.com

Our Mission

The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure.

To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved. Breast Cancer

To learn more visit breastcanceralliance.org

48 Maple Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830 info@breastcanceralliance.org

Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director

STAMFORD GREENWICH WEST HARTFORD NAPLES BONITA SPRINGS PALM BEACH GARDENS

COOL TOOLS

5

SPRING CLEANING NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD

2 blurring

3

Interiors, New Canaan; cobblecourt.com

STEAMERY

“we aimed to design our new redon toilet brush holder in a way that complements an array of bathroom designs. it’s an attractive cleaning tool that redefines form and function, blurring the lines between beauty and domestic chores.”

1 7

Pilo 2 fabric shaver; $65. Williams Sonoma, Westport; williamssonoma.com

HAWKINS NEW YORK

Lurex sponges; $6 for set of three. hawkinsnewyork.com

NORMANN

COPENHAGEN x OLE JENSEN

Dustban + broom; $35. aplusrstore.com

CURIO

The ionic palm brush; $38. curiohomegoods.com

ALESSI

Handheld vacuum cleaner; $240. us.alessi.com

GARRETT WADE

Better whisk broom; $15.95. garrettwade.com

CB2

Squeegee in brass or black metal; $39.95. cb2.com

ANDRÉE JARDIN

French standing broom sweep set; $189. Pottery Barn, Westport; potterybarn.com

—keyana pratt, pigeon and poodle

BIG APPLE VIBES

JOSIE AND TONY’S BRINGS A TIMELESS NYC DINING EXPERIENCE TO SOUTH NORWALK

by elizabeth keyser • photography by venera alexandrova

Scan here for more great places to EAT

If dining is theater, then Josie and Tony’s set designer deserves a Tony Award. In the evening, this Sardi’s-esque restaurant glows with tabletop lamps resting on white tablecloths. Hirschfeld-inspired black-and-white caricatures line the wall above the banquette. Along with a NYC-throwback feel, Josie and Tony’s brings the membership dining club model to SoNo. Membership is already full with 50 people, though more may open up. (Nonmembers can make a reservation or walk in at a less busy time.)

Josie and Tony's attracts a casually stylish crowd with its sophisticated dining room and NYC vibes. The menu includes elevated Italian dishes and timeless cocktails.

It feels like a party filled with sophisticated, casually fashionable folks. Service is attentive and professional, and food is seriously good elevated Italian. This place is fun, luxurious and expensive. It’s great for people-watching. And it has attitude.

Owner and sommelier Josh Mesnick has a background in theater and restaurant management. He moved from New York City to Connecticut during the pandemic. When he took over the space on North Main, the former Bruccolini and Pasta Nostra, Mesnick kept the legendary Joe Bruno’s chefs and created a smart, focused menu. Table-side Caesar Salad is showered with 48-month aged parmesan. Zucchini blossoms, golden, translucent and crunchy, let the flavor of the flower come through the ricotta and herb filling. It’s perfectly fine to have the After-Dinner Salad—arugula, endive, fennel and olives tossed in lemony dressing—before dinner or with your entrée.

Braciola is the sleeper hit of the menu, pounded filets of beef rolled with guanciale, parmesan and breadcrumbs, simmered in red-wine tomato sauce, rich with brunoised

carrots, onions and celery, and served with soft polenta. Four house-made pastas include a novel ravioli stuffed with black sea bass and potatoes, topped with caramelized onions and English pea puree. The Spaghetti and Meatballs—springy housemade pasta and large, tender, herb-filled meatballs—sings.

The long bar (which, according to the website, “closes whenever we feel like it”) fills as the evening grows, serving cocktails, including a smooth, citrusy tequila-based Amari Coast, and Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey on draft (“You got a problem with that?” the menu states). Mesnick’s wine list focuses on Italy and includes a couple of Super Tuscans by the glass and a splurge-worthy bottle of Domaine Romanee Conti.

Like any really great Broadway show, you want to experience Josie and Tony’s again and again. Afterward, we can’t stop thinking and talking about it. We want to go back. We’re craving the braciola already. Josie and Tony’s is a hit!

Buon appetito! In February, Josie and Tony’s began making Arthur Avenue-style sandwiches for lunch takeout.

JOSIE & TONY'S

20 N. Main Street, South Norwalk josieandtonys.com

HOURS

Wednesday–Saturday, starting at 4:00 p.m.

Sunday, starting at 4:00 p.m.

left: The artichoke is slow-braised to perfection. above: A sweet and spicy sauce pairs well with halibut. right: Pastas are made in-house, including the seabass ravioli.

Taste the Goodness

GRACE FARMS is offering up some seriously buzz-worthy coffee and tea—and we’re not talking about the caffeine by

For coffee and tea lovers, there’s a way to savor your favorite beverages and learn more about them, while socializing with others and supporting a great cause in the process. Grace Farms in New Canaan offers a menu of coffee and tea tastings, a fun and educational alternative to meeting a friend for a cocktail. The Grace Farms Foundation, with its award-winning glass-enclosed River Building set on an eighty-acre nature preserve, welcomes guests for tastings with Frank Kwei, tea master and coffee aficionado. You can also choose to attend an afternoon tea and enjoy the ethically and sustainably sourced tea along with English and Japanese-inspired bites made by pastry chef Leah Jones.

top: The stunning cultural and humanitarian center left: Cofounder of Grace Farms Foods Adam Thatcher with Grace Farms CEO and founder, Sharon Prince in Darjeeling, India middle: Tea has been a way of welcoming people to Grace Farms since its opening. right: Frank Kwei, Grace Farms’ tea master and coffee aficionado

For the tea tastings, groups gather in the glass pavilion to sample five or six teas ranging from green to black to herbal, plus a special treat of tea brought back from the staff’s visits to the tea gardens in Darjeeling, India. There’s also a new Wellness & Tea series on Saturday, an event combining yoga, music and tea.

At coffee tastings, you’ll sample varieties brewed in different ways to taste the difference between single-origin coffees from Colombia, Ethiopia and Indonesia, and brewing methods and roast levels. This is blended with a conversation about sourcing, the difference of organic vs. non-organic and why Fair Trade is important.

What’s the connection between coffee and tea and the Foundation? “It’s about connecting that cup to the people on the other side of the world who make the coffee or tea,” says Adam Thatcher, cofounder of Grace Farms Foods, a certified B Corp that provides premium teas and coffee with all profits going to Grace Farms Foundation’s mission to end forced labor worldwide.

There are 28 million people globally living in forced labor, whether it’s coercion, threats, no pay or travel documents withheld. This issue is being addressed by

Grace Farms Foods on several levels, starting with the fact that they source coffees exclusively from only women-led co-ops in Ethiopia, Colombia and Indonesia; and it’s the first and only U.S. tea company to partner with Fairtrade International, the gold standard.

“With our coffee and tea, we are walking the walk,” says Adam, referring to the product standards. “For us, it’s around gender equity, Fair Trade, making it organic and sustainable.” Follow up is key as well. “It doesn’t end at a certification for us,” he explains. “We travel to meet the farmers in Colombia and India to ensure that the expectation of fair, equitable, sustainable work practices are being met on the ground.”

These coffees and teas are also excellent quality. Some businesses are getting involved by providing Grace Farms coffees and teas to their employees and hosting tastings. World Economic Forum, JP Morgan and UBS are all partnering with Grace Farms.

You can purchase the coffees and teas to enjoy at home at Mike’s Organic, Walter Stewart’s Market and Double L Market as well as online at Amazon or sharegracefarms.com. For more information or to sign up for a tasting, visit gracefarms.org.

above: More than fifteen organic teas are offered at Grace Farms. top right: The beautiful packaging is compostable with plastic-free pyramid sachets. bottom right: Grace Farms collection of coffee is sourced exclusively from women-led co-ops. below: The Grace Farms team in Colombia meeting with coffee farmers

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

APRIL 20 24

25

THURSDAY 6: 00-9:00PM

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

Spring Luncheon

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.

Monday, April 8, 2024

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

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

COMMUNITY IMPACT

AWARD RECIPIENT:

Danielle Eason

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

Virtual Program Begins at 12:15 p.m.

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

AM

people&PLACES

Caring Cuisine

Filling in the Blanks celebrated its 4th Annual “Plates With Purpose” gala event at The Loading Dock in Stamford. The fundraiser helps support the organization’s mission of fighting childhood hunger by providing weekend meals for kids in need. Chefs Luke Venner of Elm, Jeff Taibe of Taproot, Julio Genao of Prime, Hannah Gorman of Revel with DinnerThyme and Peter Mamadjanian of Abigail Kirsch created an incredible coursed meal for gala attendees, with specialty cocktails and entertainment. See page 15 for more on FITB. »

FILLING IN THE BLANKS / The Loading Dock

1 Jessica Birmingham, Kelly Hancock, Lauren Erickson, Barbara Rosen, Jamie Buschmann, Philippa Doyle 2 Virginia Johnson, Michael Johnson, Peter Murphy, Susan Mirza, Roseann Conheeney, John Cristadoro 3 Greg Leischner, Bernadette Bucchere, Liz Weikes, Kevin Eisenberg, Mark Beatini 4 Filling in the Blanks founders Tina Kramer and Shawnee Knight, with Jake Mazza (center) 5 Kara Bonitatibus, Rick Sharma, Norwalk Mayor Harry W. Rillings, Meredith Landis 6 Donna and Joe Hoffman 7 Chef Luke Venner of Elm and Chef Julio Genao of Prime 8 Jody and David Neaderl 9 Ashley and Patrick Dowling

people

All Fired Up

For 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.

LIGHT A FIRE / Westport Country Playhouse

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

and

Keogh,

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

Scott Gottleib 20 Pam

Cathy Laporta, Kim Pugh, Robyn and Adam Whittingham, Rose and Bob Folds

Wby eileen murphy

hen Jennifer Gulden and John Luther were planning their wedding, they agreed it was important to keep things “simple, meaningful and from New Canaan.” The bride and groom are both long-time residents of New Canaan, but their paths didn’t cross until they connected on Match in 2019. They have been inseperable ever since

The couple was married at the First Presbyterian Church of New Canaan—a special place for the bride, as the church community rallied around her and her daughters when her husband died unexpectedly seven years ago. Ceremony music was provided by New Canaan’s Nick Depuy. The wedding rings are from Manfredi and Brad & Vandy Reh jewelers.

The reception was hosted at the home of the bride’s sister, M.E. O’Connor, and flowers were provided by the couple’s friend Mary Stichter of The Cutting Garden. The evening was catered by another local friend, Dave Hart of From the Hart catering, with additional favorite dishes from the three restaurants the couple owns—Gates, Taproot and RoadRunner. Forever Sweet Bakery created beautiful wedding cupcakes and the band Pimpinella (regulars at Gates) performed. It truly was simple, meaningful and local.

1 Jennifer Gulden and John Luther 2 Mothers of the bride and groom, Valerie Luther and Barbara Wentzel, light a candle at the wedding. 3 The bride with her sister M.E. O’Connor. 4 A toast from the bride and groom 5 The Luther Family 6 Guests received honey from the hosts’ bees. 7 Izzy Kaufman on the dance floor. 8 Eileen O’Neil, Trip Nabor, Kyleigh Luther, Jay Luther, Jennifer Gulden, M.E. O’Connor 9 A relaxing moment for the newlyweds. 10 The bride and groom surrounded by their families.

JENNIFER GULDEN & JOHN LUTHER III

An unexpected anthology of worldly travels makes this historic house an extraordinary home

by malia mckinnon frame // photographer hulya kolabas

above left: Arched doorways are one of the special features of this home; a modern Lucite chandelier from France dominates the foyer.

above right: Special vignettes like this painting by artist Giselle Landers and books on top of a silk-covered bench make the home sing. opposite: Cat O’Neal at home in her living room.

“We bought the house for the back yard,” laughs owner Cat O’Neal, who is effortlessly arranging a gorgeous floral bouquet while simultaneously being interviewed. A stone’s throw from Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House, O’Neal’s 1751 home is steeped in rich history. It was originally built as a center-chimney Colonial with a front door facing the street, until subsequent owners removed the chimney and created a central hall converting it to a Federal style home. Today, many authentic architectural details remain, including the sunburst panel above the front door, elegant moldings and paneling throughout.

As is the mindset of many antique homeowners, O’Neal, who moved in with her family in 2012, wanted to preserve the bones of the home yet create an element of delight and surprise. Mainstays like the 300-yearold wide-board pine floors and front-entryway Greek Revival period

moldings were a good base, but O’Neal took the beauty of the house to the next level. She updated the kitchen, adding a new marble countertop and backsplash and refinished the floors, staining them gray. A new marble floor was installed in the entry as well as new tile and wallpaper in the butler’s pantry. All of the bathrooms were redone, and window mullions were painted black before it was even a trend. “The first seven months were a labor of love,” admits O’Neal, who oversaw the entire project. When it came to the décor, the idea was to showcase all the possessions she had spent her life amassing, but also to mix and match antique treasures with modern finds. “Everything doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy. While I did buy a few pieces for this house, I used many things I inherited from my family or that I found on my extensive travels. My mom always told me to buy what you like, and not worry about where it will go. Somehow

An antique table with a marble top presents an interesting sketch found up in Paris. The oversized Japanese ginger jars underneath date back to World War II..

above: The living room is bright and airy and features an accent wall painted in a different color. left: A view from the living room into the kitchen, which is filled with natural light.

right: The larger of the framed artwork is a lithograph by Pierre Bonnard originally published by Ambroise Vollard, a famous French art dealer from the 1800s.

this worked for me, and everything came together,” she explains.

Though it’s true the back yard could easily be the subject of a separate magazine feature with its sprawling gardens, pool and pool house, what O’Neal has done with the home’s interior is a serendipitous surprise behind a classic architectural façade. Walking in, you are immediately immersed in a warm, inviting space chock-full of curios, fine art and antique porcelains from all corners of the globe. Usually, expansive collections like this belong to older folks who have spent decades traveling and acquiring, but the youthful O’Neal has managed what many of us cannot: to synergize dynasties, continents and art genres into an eclectic design scheme that is both interesting and aesthetically inspirational. “When I started decorating

this house, I wanted it to be a mix of love, passion, history, travel and culture, all rolled into one,” she says.

Perhaps her own background influenced this concept. O’Neal hails from Arkansas and New Orleans, and, like many southerners, possesses that inherent “come on over anytime” hospitality. “There was always a party going on at my house growing up. My parents were big entertainers, so I started learning how to have a party when I was nine and my mom handed me a copy of Betty Crocker’s Party for Children,” she says.

O’Neal recalls her youth experiencing the southern way of entertaining, characterized by charm and constant hosting. “I grew up in old-worldsouthern culture, where my parents had friends over constantly. We lived

above: The updated kitchen is painted in soothing gray tones and is the main gathering place for the family. opposite: A custom round table and a set of curved back dining chairs sourced from France fit this cozy nook perfectly.

among a lot of antiques and were always using our silver sets and crystal, even for casual get-togethers,” she says. O’Neal has inherited this passion for hosting and is known for her spectacular parties and ability to create an incredible ambiance. It’s no wonder she is managing director and chief innovation officer of a business communications and production agency that works with some of the biggest Fortune 500 companies in the world. Hosting friends and family was a priority for what she wanted in a home and how she wanted to live in it. While she’d always envisioned herself in a big white house at the end of a long driveway, when she saw this antique gem that sits close to the street, she knew it was meant to be: “I really fell in love with this home’s Old-World vibe and interesting spaces that told a story, and I knew I could tell my own story here.”

O’Neal designed and sourced the home’s artwork and furnishings herself, although she collaborated with other designers over the years. Her friend Anjali Pollack, of Anjali Pollack Designs, has been a fixture in her life since O’Neal lived in New York, and was consulted on color, paper

—cat o’neal

and fabric. Christine Keane, owner of Found Design in New Canaan, has been a great source for styling and finding a variety of vintage pieces.

O’Neal’s fingerprints are in every room of the home, starting with the kitchen. This hive of activity is painted a peaceful Bedford Gray and opens onto a circular dining area with traditional windows arched at the top to maximize views of the garden and old stone walls. A custom round concrete table fits the space perfectly and is surrounded by a set of curved-back dining chairs purchased from an antique store in France. Over the table, O’Neal suspended six glass Juliska pendants of varying styles and heights to create the feel of a lighting installation. A plinth currently features a barnacle-encrusted vessel sourced from Bali, and to keep us guessing she changes out whatever art object is on display. Her collection of Roger Muhl French landscape paintings is sprinkled around this room and other areas of the home.

In the adjacent living room, O’Neal made an impact by painting one accent wall a taupey cocoa and the other three a pale oak, a trick she

above left: A black lacquered étagère purchased from New York’s Mecox Gardens sets the stage for O’Neal’s extensive Blue Willow collection. above right: A carriage clock bought in London sits above a bar cart opposite page: Chippendale chairs with lion’s-paw feet steal the show in the dining room.

above: An oversized Japanese oil painting bought at auction hangs over a saffron-colored velvet sofa. below, left to right: A Roger Muhl painting and Eiffel Tower lithograph by Chagall occupy a corner with an antique secretary. A corner of the formal library mixes English antiques, vintage paintings and modern accessories for an eclectic vibe. Pops of turquoise on the back of custom bookshelves elevate this formal space. opposite: The dramatic foyer is accented by a pair of Walnut Os de Mouton chairs and a modern Lucite chandelier.

learned when Oprah magazine photographed her first apartment in New York. “I came home during the shoot, and they had painted one of my walls aubergine! I ended up keeping it because it added so much drama to the room,” she says. In addition, two paintings of very different styles hang on opposing walls and make a striking impression. One is a modern saturated chalk and watercolor, and the other is a mauve and periwinkle oil painting by French Master Gabriel Godard, another of O’Neal’s favorite artists. A contemporary Lucite console displays a horse sculpture from Bliss Studios, a lithograph of Cat’s mother and a chunky piece of coral, creating a stylish vignette in one corner. Other items of interest include a spectacular Moroccan mirror, a metal sculpture by an artist from the Netherlands and a pair of armchairs covered in a creamand-tangerine French silk fabric that was the inspiration for the room’s design. A tortoise-shell coffee table, brown velvet sofa and a hand-loomed

sisal rug offer guests a comfortable place to sit, and a built-in bookcase showcasing all white books and accessories neutralizes this colorful space.

The foyer is a designer’s dream, with lilac grasscloth covering an accent wall and a beautiful Swedish clock anchoring the space. An antique table with a marble top presents an interesting sketch picked up in Paris, and a floral vase with handles was a flea market find. Five oversized Japanese ginger jars sit underneath the table that were “buried somewhere in Japan during World War II and later recovered,” notes O’Neal. A pair of Walnut Os de Mouton armchairs covered in linen and backed in velvet flank either side of the powder room that has just been re-zhuzhed with a stunning Gracie chinoiserie wallpaper. A modern Lucite chandelier from the ’50s that O’Neal found in Paris shines down on a pair of whitewashed chairs covered in a luxe purple velvet. Walking down the hallway, the owner’s spirited design juxtaposition is also at play. A yellow and black

modern painting by Robert Flack hangs over an English demilune table inches away from an oil painting of an English aristocrat from the 1800s. Worlds collide here, and it has a powerful effect.

The dining room is another star of the home. Chippendale chairs with lion’s-paw feet and a carriage clock bought in London steal the show. An antique bar cart sits underneath a French barometer, and a black lacquered open étagère purchased from New York’s Mecox Gardens sets the stage for O’Neal’s extensive Blue Willow pottery collection. “When I lived in London, I started my blue-and-white obsession, and it hasn’t stopped,” she says. A Japanese gold-leaf screen acquired at auction is framed by a pair of geometric modern alabaster sconces.

Even small areas that might go unnoticed in most homes make a splash. The butler’s pantry features Cowtan & Tout Treasure Flower grasscloth and lacquered blue-gray cabinets. The ceiling is papered in gold leaf and punctuated by a sunburst Circa flush-mount light fixture. Moroccan candleholders and an assortment of silver trays and bowls, family heirlooms, accessorize the bar. An equestrian orange-and-black lithograph by Andre Brasilier was bought at New York’s Adelson Galleries.

The library is most reminiscent of antiquity. Your eye is immediately

drawn to an oversized Japanese oil painting bought at auction that hangs over a saffron-colored velvet sofa. A set of fabulous Louis XVI bench stools covered in maroon border either side of the original stone fireplace. Two bergères covered in a chocolate leather offer party seating, and another Muhl painting and an Eiffel Tower lithograph by Chagall occupy a corner where an antique secretary resides. A marble coffee table boasts large picture books, a signed sculpture, and a collection of old tortoise snuff boxes and card cases collected from European adventures. An impressive marble bust of Caesar sits under an ancient oil painting of Christ. The surprise in this room comes in the pops of turquoise, both in the paint on the back of the custom bookshelves, in pillows and in the lining of a mink throw blanket, made from one of O’Neal’s mother’s coats.

While the home is immaculately furnished, the narrative is far from over. “I constantly change things out and am adding new chapters all the time. I really love that I have a home where I can combine and share all my life experiences, while also keeping my door open 24/7 for anyone to drop by.” As I walk out the door, she gifts me the pretty flower arrangement, and I can’t help but think hers is the best story of all.

—cat o’neal

opposite: Barnacle, a British short-hair cat who answers to his nickname “Barney,” surveys the neighborhood from the front door. above left to right: A colorful painting hangs over an antique bench in the entry. This whimsical floral vase was a flea market find. right: Gracie hand-painted chinoiserie wallpaper makes a statement in the powder room.

STATE OF REAL ESTATE

by

LAST YEAR SAW A STEADY FLOW OF REAL ESTATE ACTIVITY IN OUR TOWNS— EVEN AMIDST RISING INTEREST RATES AND A SCARCITY OF INVENTORY

Immaculately maintained properties with beautiful homes, coupled with easy access to beaches, parks, quaint downtowns and New York City, Lower Fairfield County continued to see a flurry of activity in the real estate market last year. And while total sales were down, the market was anything but slow, with strong demand from buyers who knew what they wanted and sellers who knew what their properties were worth. New Canaan, Darien and Rowayton all saw a rise in median sales price, with New Canaan topping the list at $2.1 million. We sat down with the experts to gain an inside look at the last 12 months and get a glimpse into the future.

newcanaandarienmag.com

liz barron

STEVE ROSSI

above: 26 Searles Road, Darien. Listed & sold by Bruce Baker, William Pitt Sotheby’s. $6.5M sale price

From luxury homes to increased rental opportunities, Lower Fairfield County is very attractive to those looking to relocate

One realtor says she is seeing more of a demand for personal space, with clients moving away from the giant open-concept family room/kitchen.

this spread: 26 Searles Road, Darien. Listed & sold by Bruce Baker, William Pitt Sotheby’s. $6.5M sale price

he 2023 real estate market saw a dip in its buyer pool for the first time since 2020. Once completely oversaturated with demand, many chose to stay put while waiting for sky-high mortgage rates to come down. While the appeal of suburban coastal

living in southern Fairfield County remains as alluring as ever, the thought of paying so much more for a mortgage was a pill too tough to swallow for many prospective buyers this year. “There is clearly greater hesitation to purchase a new home with mortgage-backed financing, and fewer refinancing

deals are getting done,” says Meg Schwanhausser (William Raveis). “When you think about it, what a homeowner may have spent three years ago on overall carrying costs at a 2.5 percent rate is now multiples of that because of rate hikes—which is significant.”

The number of homes sold

STEVE ROSSI

STATE OF REAL ESTATE

in Darien, New Canaan and Rowayton were all lower over the past 12 months than during the previous year, but list prices continued to rise due to scarcity in inventory. “The lack of equilibrium in our local market has been primarily caused by two factors. The combination of potential sellers having belowmarket rates on their existing mortgage and, in most cases, properties trading well above listing prices, has kept people in a ‘let’s wait and see what happens” mindset,’” says Gillian DePalo (William Raveis). “Other than people who must sell due to life events, potential sellers have been less inclined to trade up or downsize, given higher rates and prices making the transition less financially attractive.”

The multiple offer craze that began during 2020 has dwindled, but agents still saw numerous bids on homes that were well-priced and -marketed. “Through the fall we continued to see homes, mostly under $3 million, receive multiple offers,” says Courtney Haidinger (Houlihan Lawrence). “We were seeing homes priced around $1 million in the late summer still receive ten-plus offers in many cases. As the fall market progressed, that number lowered to an average of about four to five offers.”

THE MULTIPLE OFFER CRAZE THAT BEGAN DURING 2020 HAS DWINDLED FROM ITS PEAK, BUT AGENTS STILL SAW NUMEROUS BIDS ON HOMES THAT WERE WELL-PRICED AND MARKETED.

Properties sold in 2023

Median sales price

Median sales price rose by

from the previous year

Average number of days on the market decreased to 39 from 46

STEVE ROSSI; MARCOTT STUDIOS

above:Realtors are noticing that buyers now want more separation between the kitchen and other spaces, with a bar or a sitting area acting as a divider. below: Outdoor amenities and gorgeous views like this one will always be in high demand with buyers.

Higher interest rates had buyers concerned

he Fed increased interest rates numerous times in 2023 and by July they had reached 5.5%, the highest level in over two decades. “The rising rate environment created a stalemate in the market, as homeowners looking to downsize became reluctant to give up their low rate and pay six to seven percent,” says Peter Stuart (Houlihan Lawrence). While buyers and sellers were both affected by these staggering numbers, Doug Milne (Houlihan Lawrence) notes that the rise in rates has impacted the first-time homebuyer the most. “We got used to rates at or near three percent.

That rate has not been seen since the end of WWII. We have seen rates in my career as high as 17 percent,” says Milne. “Those fortunate firsttime buyers that acted between 2020 and 2022 have locked in historically low rates.” It’s now clear that these low-interest costs were an anomaly, but many potential buyers had started to assume that they were the new norm.

The good news is that 2024 is looking up, with rates having recently dropped and experts predicting that they will continue to fall throughout the year. “Most economists are forecasting several more reductions by year end, many saying rates will fall to approximately 4.25 percent by summer 2024,” says Amanda Spatola (Houlihan Lawrence). “Sellers are reaching out about getting their homes ready for the market and buyers are checking back in.”

The low-risk buyer who can be flexible at closing continues to appeal

to sellers

ate the rate, but marry the house,” advises DePalo.

“Getting your foot in the door of that perfect home is a lot harder these days than potentially refinancing could be in the future.” Many had hoped that bigger mortgages would mean lower home prices, but the lack of inventory, once again, drove record-high list prices and, for those in need of buying a home in 2023, that meant paying up.

The emotional strain of losing out on a house that you’ve fallen in love with is exhausting and, for that reason, many potential buyers decided to put their hunts on hold. High rates, high prices and little to choose from left realtors looking for

unique ways to help their clients win bids. “The bottom line is that in this market, you really have to be prepared in multiple ways to make a compelling offer, stand by that offer, listen to all the advice your agent gives you and ultimately win a bid here,” says Haidinger. “We still see many cash offers in our market, but many buyers waive their mortgage contingencies to remain competitive. Typically, our sellers accept an offer based on the highest purchase price, and the cleanest and best terms.” Even the most motivated clients had less buying power in 2023. “Taking risk off the seller was the name of the game, says Spatola. “And flexibility is key—be flexible on close, inclusions and exclusions, etc. And of course a great offer price doesn’t hurt.”

above: 255 South Avenue, New Canaan. Listed & sold by Immy Cognetta & Kelly DeFrancesco, William Raveis. $4.46M sale price

STATE OF REAL ESTATE

larger buyer pool and less competition in no way meant those buyers were desperate.

They were even more discerning and less willing to accept ‘you get what you get, and don’t get upset,’” says Lynley Middleberg (William Pitt Sotheby’s).

“Homeowners who are currently considering selling can still realize maximum value for their properties due to the current

supply and demand dynamics, but we do expect to approach a more normalized market this year in 2024, one more closely aligned with the market conditions prior to the pandemic.” Sophisticated consumers continued to seek homes with the best curb appeal in 2023. Amidst the peak of Covid, staging, photography and presentation might have been less crucial, but today’s buyers aren’t willing to pay for something that’s not up to par. “Curb appeal and attention to every detail in a home allows a potential buyer to

Sophisticated buyers seek curb appeal

envision themselves living there, says Haidinger. While sellers stand to profit significantly from median house prices maintaining their all-time-high status, they still need to consider what the buy side will look like for them. And, according to Schwanhausser, it might not be worth it for sellers that would have to trade in their comfortable monthly cost for higher costs because of the rates. “Even in a seller’s market, it is sometimes hard to justify selling,” she says.

Properties sold in 2023

Median sales price

Median sales price rose by from the previous year

Average number of days on the market decreased to 61 from 65

below: 225 Tokeneke Road, Darien.Listed & Sold by Ariana O’Malley, Kate Balanoff and Hannah Burge, Houlihan Laurence. $2.725M sale price

he combination of a lack of availability and buyers being hesitant to get locked into high interest rates created yet another influx of those looking to rent in 2023. New Canaan still has the most to offer in the rental space market, but Darien Commons, located across from the Noroton Heights train station, contributed significantly to leasing opportunities by providing the town with 122 residential units and 120,000

More options meant more short-term solutions

square feet of retail space. The 2023 completion of the first phase of The Corbin District in downtown Darien also created room for 38 additional apartments in three buildings and approximately 28,000 square feet of retail space. “I have never seen tenant demand like this before in my 35 years in the real estate business,” says David Genovese, founder of Baywater Properties. “It is extraordinary, and says to me that the future is very bright for Darien and the surrounding suburbs.” Rowayton continued to draw in crowds from all over for beachside rentals and those

looking for a quaint vacationtype feel. According to Stuart, summer rentals are still in demand. “I just signed a lease for July, which is likely the earliest I have ever consummated a rental agreement,” he says. “A lot of young people moved south during Covid but are keen to come back for the summer, so well-priced summer rentals still go quickly.” Prices have come down a bit from the peak in 2021, which DePalo says is good news for would-be sellers who were hesitant to cash-in on a potentially high-selling price because of the absence of anywhere to go.

From near and far, both buyers and renters love Fairfield County

airfield County and the appeal of smaller towns will always draw in crowds from New York City, particularly for those with young children. But there has also been a steady flow of buyers moving from the West Coast and, interestingly, Westchester. “After the city, the numbertwo town from which new New Canaan Public School students hailed from this year was Rye, New York,” says DePalo. “We have seen a large migration from many Westchester towns over the past two years. These buyers have cited Connecticut’s more favorable tax rates and our great schools as the most

Properties sold in 2023

Median sales price

Median sales price rose by

from the previous year

Average number of days on the market decreased to 41 from 46

important determining factors for them.” Another unpredicted trend Genovese has seen in the rental market is grandparents seeking to relocate to live nearer to their grandchildren and adult children. “My sense is that these families were not able to see their grandchildren during the pandemic, and they decided to not risk having that experience again,” he notes.

In-town or inter-town movement remained popular among those looking to downsize and sell large homes with sizable properties that they no longer needed. These residents were looking for condos and apartments that would allow them optimum proximity to town and or the beach. “Walkability and closeness to the community will always be important,” says Middleberg. “[And] as many companies are starting to require employees back to the office, at least in a hybrid model, commute time is factoring back into the equation.”

Realtors have noticed a trend this year where wealthy buyers are searching for smaller luxury homes that still provide them with maximum amenitites. above: Celanese House 565 Oenoke Ridge Road, New Canaan. Listed by Hannelore Kaplan and Melissa Rwambuya, William Raveis. $4.7M listing price

MICHAEL BIONDI

STATE OF REAL ESTATE

hile more space and land once appealed to the majority of those looking for southern Connecticut living, DePalo notes that smaller luxury homes, wellness amenities and maximizing outdoor space topped the list of trends for 2023. “In a surprising turn, many buyers put significant investments into improving homes much smaller than what one might naturally think of as typical luxury home square footage,” she says. “Today’s buyers continue to skew more toward using their disposable income for lifestyle choices versus buying the biggest home they can afford.” With the rise of popularity in pickleball it’s no surprise that having an at-home court would be appealing to buyers of all ages. “The trend winner of 2023 was by far the dedicated pickleball court with Zillow reporting a 64 percent increase in homes mentioning ‘pickleball’ in their description,” adds DePalo.

Thoughts about “the ideal” home layout are always evolving. Last year it seemed that many buyers were looking for first-floor bedrooms with full baths. Pools, outdoor kitchens, patios, screened in porches and built-in firepits continued to top wish lists.

Cathy Thomas (Houlihan Lawrence) adds that she is seeing more of a demand for personal space, with clients moving away from the giant family room/kitchen layout. Buyers are wanting more separation between the two, with spaces like a bar or a sitting area acting as a divider. She is also seeing more of a demand for prep kitchens. “This allows the mess of entertaining to stay behind the scenes so that the

Home amenities drive highly soughtafter luxury living

primary kitchen can be a true entertaining space,” she says. Making the most meaningful use out of space has become a top priority for nearly all buyers, regardless of the size of the home.

are appealing to buyers of all ages—with one realtor saying the 2023 trend

is a dedicated pickleball

“TODAY’S BUYERS CONTINUE TO SKEW MORE TOWARD USING THEIR DISPOSABLE INCOME FOR LIFESTYLE CHOICES VERSUS BUYING THE BIGGEST HOME THEY CAN AFFORD.”

Gillian

DePalo (William Raveis)

Paddle and pickleball courts

winner

court.

by tom connor

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 fl owers are signaling all creatures—including us—back to nature. Here, local landscape experts share just how our gardens grow in 2024.

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

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.

“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

below Insectattracting pollinators are all abuzz for spring and summer.

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 © ALEKSANDRSTOCK.ADOBE.COM

“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.

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

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!”

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

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 to take in all that nature has to offer.

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.

“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

postscript

PHOTOBOMB

This majestic creature appeared out of nowhere on the day we were shooting our cover story. He seemed unbothered by our presence—or our attempts to get his attention. He simply lined up for his shot, posed perfectly for the camera and disappeared as quickly (and as quietly) as he had arrived.

newcanaandarienmag.com

photograph by venera alexandrova