Stamford Magazine, July/August 2020

more inside FARM-FRESH FINDS • BEST BIKE ROUTE • CHILL-OUT GUIDE TO SUMMER IN STAMFORD plus How small businesses adapted to “the new normal” pg. 62 ...and 2020–21 SCHOOL GUIDE! after pg. 32

STAMFORD JULY/AUGUST 2020 | $5.95

W I N NERS from the biggest categories // STYLE + SHOPPING // FOOD + DRINK // SERVICES + TO DO’S // starts on pg. 36

Best of the GOLD COAST 175+ PEOPLE whose food, style and service make you LOVE this city

Best Jewelry Boutique R. HOLLANDER MASTER GOLDSMITH Russ Hollander owner

Best New Restaurant TACO DADDY Morgan Machette co-owner

Best Wedding DJ KUNJAN COLLECTIVE Kunjan Patel owner

Best Microbrewery HALF FULL BREWERY Conor Horrigan founder and chief hoptimist

Best Women’s Hairstyling NOBLE SALON Maureen Clark Newlove owner

121 Towne, Stamford CT (right next to Fairway) 203 . 541 . 5770 T H E DE V C OLLE C T IV E

TAC ODA D D YS TAM F O RD

T HANK YOU

for AL L your VOT E S & SUPPORT !

Best Creative Menu

Best New Restaurant

We could not have won these T WO without YOU!

The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s ... Simply the Best!

TO OUR VALUED CUSTOMERS,

W

e cannot wait to see you and serve you as soon as possible!

The passion and heart that we have consistently put into creating memorable events is being poured into learning all we can about how to gather again in a safe and celebratory way.

In these challenging and uncertain times, we want to reassure you that your safety is our number one priority.

Our preparedness plan will address the issues we are all pondering these days: testing those around us for the virus, proper ventilation, social distancing and spacing, as well as optimal timing of events.

As always, our staff will create a delicious and delightful experience while adhering to impeccable standards of service and sanitation.

Please be reassured, we are in constant communication with the offices of the Mayor and Governor, police chiefs, and fire departments. Our priorities are to stay as informed as possible and to go above and beyond all safety protocols.

We realize that, while it may be a difficult time to plan an event, we will move forward together.

We are beyond proud to be the recipients of Moffly Media’s Best of the Gold Coast award for Best Wine List and Best of Stamford for Best Steaks. This is a huge honor.

We have spent decades making sure our guests have only the best of everything, but we believe our true success is because we understand that being together is more precious than ever. We have always brought the highest quality food and service to our guests and we love bringing people together to celebrate life.

Stay safe!

JoAnn and Sal

contents JULY/AUG 2020 vol. 11 | no. 4

features

36

departments 14 EDITOR’S LETTER

by diane talbot sembrot

17 STATUS REPORT

BUZZ Farm-fresh groceries without the muddy boots at Mike’s Organic

36

BEST OF THE GOLD COAST CONNECTICUT

Make it a large, at Lorca Summer Chill-Out Guide, from ice cream to ice-cold beer

Anyone need some good news?

We have it—the results of our annual readers’ poll are in!

Look inside for the scoop on which Fairfield County businesses— restaurants, shops and services— got the most votes for bragging rights in 2020.

Bar kits to go Home workouts SHOP Home office upgrades

22

GO Get out the bike— here’s a pro’s favorite local route Car makeover

64

34 FINANCE FIX

Is a second home close to home right for you?

BEST OF STAMFORD Yeah, Fairfield County is great, but what about winners in the best town: Stamford? We have those too! We broke out the votes for local winners, so you don’t have to go far to enjoy the best of living, looking good, eating and drinking, raising a family and more right here. Stamford, here’s a whole lot of love, just for you.

71 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

EDUCATION GUIDE

2020-2021 EDUC ATION GUIDE

Evolving Education

Special pull-out section!

Experts weigh in on the evolution of education. after pg. 32

The changing roles of teachers, learners and leaders

PLUS!

TIPS FOR STUDENTS from education experts pg 40 THE SILVER LINING of distance learning pg 38 FRESH FINDS for fall school supplies! pg 26 A CUSTOM PUBLICATION PRODUCED BY

COV1_SG_EG_Cover_V1_blue.indd 1

6/10/20 12:10 PM

top: Table 104 bottom: Turning Point Coffee

on the c over : a few stamford-based gold coast winners russ holl ander by r andy matusow | morgan machet te by charisse cz aja | kunjan patel by awesnap conor horrigan is contributed | maureen cl ark newlove by olivier kpognon STAMFORD MAGAZINE JULY/AUG 2020, VOL. 11, NO. 4. // STAMFORD MAGAZINE is published bimonthly by Moffly Media, Inc., 205 Main St., Westport, CT 06880.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes (Form 3579) to STAMFORD MAGAZINE, P.O. BOX 9309, Big Sandy, TX 75755-9607. stamfordmag.com

6

PHOTOGRAPHY: COFFEE, CONTRIBUTED; TABLE 104 BY JULIE BIDWELL

72 POSTSCRIPT by d onna mof f ly

Home is where your healthcare is with Virtual Visits There’s promise in getting care anywhere Your place. Your time. Your peace of mind. Connecting to a primary care, urgent care or specialty doctor or clinician has never been easier. Whether you have allergies, cold/flu symptoms or need a follow-up appointment, Virtual Visits are a convenient way to get the care you need, wherever you are. It’s just one more way we’re here for you.

New and existing patients can start at

nuvancehealth.org/virtualvisits

© Nuvance Health

Health Quest Medical Practice | The Heart Center | Western Connecticut Medical Group

digital content & MORE

jul/aug 2020

STAMFORDMAG.com

COMING UP!

CELEBRATING THE SCENE STEALERS OF OUR CITY

WE ALL WIN!

SHARE THE NEWS!

Did your business win a Best Of for 2020? Get the word out!

Head to our Winners Circle for resources to help you share the good news and attract new fans. Go to: bestofgoldcoastct.com/winnerscircle.

JUMP ONLINE

Visit our directories for resources

DON’T MISS OUR LATEST ARTICLES ON LOCAL MASKS, WORKING FROM HOME, HOME GARDENS AND MORE!

JUST IN! Moffly Media launched Moffly Media Connect, a FREE e-newsletter filled with tips for local, small businesses.

Sign up: mofflymedia.com/newsletters.

Also, don’t miss Westport Magazine’s IGTV interviews with host Dave Briggs and local VIPs.

FOLLOW US ON:

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MASKS BY STEPHEN KEMPSON; WORKING FROM HOME BY ©PROSTOCK-STUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; GARDEN BY CAM GOULD; SMARTPHONE BY ©I380632883310 - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Find a complete directory of this year’s winners online. Head to bestofgoldcoastct.com for all the reasons to celebrate at your fingertips.

Lettuce Entertain You When We Can Entertain Again!

Connecticut 203.353.8000

marciaselden.com

New York 212.921.4100

Successful Real Estate Sales Demands Hard Work Your Choice of a Real Estate Professional is Easy 16 years of successful real estate experience $240,000,000 in sales ~ 30 annual transactions

vol. 11 | no. 4 | july/aug 2020 creative director

Amy Vischio–amy.vischio@moffly.com

editorial

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sales & marketing Gabriella Mays publisher, westport•weston•wilton gabriella.mays@moffly.com Jonathan Moffly publisher, athome, new canaan•darien, fairfield living jonathan.moffly@moffly.com Jennifer Frank account executive jennifer.frank@moffly.com Hilary Hotchkiss account executive hilary.hotchkiss@moffly.com Rick Johnson account executive rick.johnson@moffly.com Jennifer Petersen account executive jennifer.petersen@moffly.com Kathleen Godbold partnership and big picture manager kathleen.godbold@moffly.com Rachel Shorten events director rachel.shorten@moffly.com

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THE BEST ORTHOPEDICS

BY FAR IS RIGHT HERE. Hospital for Special Surgery and Stamford Health have teamed up to bring world-class orthopedic care closer to you.

Our team of experts remains dedicated to making safe, responsible musculoskeletal care available – wherever you are.

To learn more about our in-person and virtual appointment options, visit HSS.edu/StamfordHealth

HSS Stamford, 1 Blachley Rd, Stamford, CT 06902 Most major insurance plans accepted. New patients welcome.

editor’s letter

JULY/AUG 2020 / DIANE TALBOT SEMBROT

WELL, HELLO

WE WON! Not to brag, but…

Stamford magazine received Connecticut Press Club Awards for our work: publication editing section editing page design photography feature writing column writing —and even our “Best Of” feature from 2019!

See more at mofflymedia.com/awards.

stamfordmag.com

14

in or suggest I try a new dish on the menu. I am grateful for the enthusiasm behind, and dedication to, their profession. It’s that spark that makes telling local stories meaningful— my life’s work. As an editor, I am an expert in very little—but I am curious about others, and I get to meet and talk to Stamford folks who love what they do, whether it’s creating a bowl of pasta carbonara or racing a bike or brewing craft beer.

Sadly, we’re not out of the woods completely yet. Things are still unsettled, including for local businesses and those who depend on them. Some of the places are hurting...a lot.

Count Stamford magazine among you—we get it. And so take this issue as a joyous celebration of the places that our readers love around our city. I hope the Best Of readers’ poll is at least some support through this chapter of our collective story.

Have a look at the list of our readers’ go-to’s.

If you see something new, maybe give it a try.

Have an old favorite? Drop by or place an order. Did a fantastic place not make the list?

Go anyway. And if you can’t right now because things are tight, that’s OK, too. We have a lot more to learn, and deeply appreciate, about our interconnectedness as we share where we live and work. I’m trying to see it as clearly as I can.

Supporting those around us can be as easy, and as pleasant, as simply saying hello.

WILLIAM TAUFIC

F

inally! It’s summer. It’s the best time of year to go outside. Head out for a trail walk or an afternoon bike ride. Bring the kids to the park. Grab an iced coffee and chill out under a shady tree. As the sun sets, take a seat at a restaurant’s outdoor table and enjoy a tasty meal.

Obviously, this year is different—even bittersweet. We’re all far more aware of new guidelines that we should follow to keep one another safe. Wear a mask. Keep our distance.

I’m all for it, because then I get to enjoy the restaurants, shops and services around Stamford. In fact, I find myself appreciating these places even more than usual. It’s the natural result of not being able to visit them whenever I wanted—their doors were closed for a few months. Suddenly, it was clear how much I had taken for granted. I missed my fitness coaches. I missed picking up fresh bread (don’t tell my coaches). I missed haircuts—I didn’t get them often enough, but I missed knowing I could go. I missed grocerystore runs, vet visits, car washes, window shopping and people watching.

Mostly, I missed the people who made all the wheels turn in town. These aren’t just businesses. It’s personal. These are friends and neighbors who make them run—owners, managers, employees—who all have families.

For months, as everything was quiet, we were collectively worried about one another and the future of local restaurants and shops and the people who make a living from them. I’m grateful to those who greet me when I walk

Jewelry your grandchildren will fight over

Thank you for your sparkles & support

ANNIVERSARY & SPECIAL OCCASION JEWELRY FINE JEWELRY ON TREND JEWELRY

LOCAL JEWELRY BOUTIQUE

SELECTION OF JEWELRY BY LOCAL DESIGNER JEWELRY WEDDING RINGS/ENGAGEMENT

154 Bedford Street, Stamford, CT 06901 203.363.2200 ringart.com

buzz STATUS REPORT

by diane sembrot

CROP TALK MIKE’S ORGANIC GETS YOU FRESH-FROMTHE-FARM FOOD WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOME

left: Summer/fall CSAs bring weekly deliveries of local, fresh, organic market essentials to your home. below: Owner Mike Geller at his Stamford market location (available for shopping; see hours at mikesorganicdelivery .com).

CSA FOOD SHOT, CONTRIBUTED BY MIKE’S ORGANIC; MIKE GELLER BY DIANE SEMBROT

T

he big supermarkets have a lot of stuff. Everything you could want to make strawberry pancakes for Sunday brunch and a meatball sandwich for Wednesday’s lunch. But there’s more to shopping than just filling up a cart, especially these days. And that’s why we checked in with Mike’s Organic. The Stamfordbased small business delivers organic food— fresh vegetables and fruit, meat and dairy— including dressings and seasonings, for healthful home cooking.

A summer/fall CSA package, for example, that runs from June 8 until December 28, brings to your home plenty of produce, eggs, meat and cheese for the omnivore-loving family. A sample of each week’s delivery includes a fruit-and-veggie basket, one dozen eggs; a selection of what’s available of pasture-raised beef, chicken, pork, lamb and

wild-caught fish; and a piece of cheddar, Parmigiano, ricotta, mozzarella, Camembert or other grass-fed cheese. (Yes, clients can modify meat, fish and cheese selection if they don’t eat certain kinds of these foods.) Shoppers can also add a few cans of Rise Coffee for a delicious morning perk.

Head to mikesorganicdelivery .com to see prices and to find recipes, including one for a Blueberry Peach Cobbler.

MIKE GELLER ON CSAs: “A CSA—community-supported agriculture—connects consumers and farmers through a share of produce that changes on a weekly basis, offering you the opportunity to eat with the seasons and support small, local farms in the process. Typically, CSAs will include a variety of vegetables, and sometimes fruit, that changes weekly depending upon what the farmer/farmers are picking.

JULY/AUGUST 2020 STAMFORD

17

buzz “As a general rule, I live by the adage ‘Know thy farmer.’

This applies to signing up for a CSA as well. If you have some information on the farm, what types of crops it grows and what its practices are, it will allow you to make a more informed decision about signing up.

“If there is ever a time to give a CSA a chance, it’s now!

Our farmers need us now more than ever. As many farms rely significantly on business from restaurants, farmers’ markets and other sources, a great way to support our farms right now is through a CSA. “This crisis has highlighted the importance of small, local farms. If planes stop flying or processing plants close, it is they that will feed us. Let us never forget that.”

See more about Mike’s Organic CSA on its website.

LET ’S GET COOKING

ZUCCHINI CARPACCIO INGREDIENTS 2 medium zucchini Salt 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced ½ the juice of a fresh lemon 2 to 3 tablespoons fruity olive oil 2 tablespoons toasted pine nuts or chopped almonds, and/or chopped fresh herbs 1 teaspoon raw honey, 1 tablespoon raisins or fresh Parmesan shavings (optional)

DIRECTIONS STEP 1 Slice zucchini lengthwise with a mandoline or chef’s knife as thinly as you can, and sprinkle lightly with salt. Place in a colander for 30 minutes to remove the excess moisture, tossing occasionally.

STEP 2 Dry on paper towels and arrange the zucchini in layers in a shallow serving dish, adding slices of garlic between the layers. Drizzle with lemon juice and marinate, refrigerated, for at least 15 minutes

PASTA WITH CHERRY TOMATOES & GOAT CHEESE

and up to an hour. If you have more than two layers, you may need to turn the zucchini upside down every 15 minutes to coat them evenly with the lemon juice.

INGREDIENTS

TO SERVE

2 pounds red and yellow cherry tomatoes 3 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 pound penne 6 ounces fresh goat cheese 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, torn into pieces Additional kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Arrange a few slices of zucchini on each plate. (Remove and discard garlic slices as you go.) Drizzle with olive oil and top with nuts and/or herbs. If you wish, add a few drops of runny honey, a few raisins or some Parmesan shavings.

stamfordmag.com

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DIRECTIONS STEP 1 Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. STEP 2 Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Halve each tomato and place cut side up in one flat layer on the baking sheets.

Drizzle the tomatoes with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sprinkle on the salt. Roast until the tomatoes are dried around the edges but still moist, about two hours.

STEP 3 Crumble the goat cheese into large chunks and refrigerate until ready to serve the pasta.

STEP 4 Cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to the package directions. Remove 1 cup of the cooking liquid and reserve. Drain the pasta well and return to the pot. Add the tomatoes, goat cheese, basil, reserved cooking liquid, and remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.

Toss well and season with salt and pepper.

Serve warm.

MARKET SHOT ABOVE BY DIANE SEMBROT; EGGS AND SOUP, CONTRIBUTED BY MIKE’S ORGANIC; ZUCCHINI ©ARUNSRI - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; GOAT CHEESE ©BIGACIS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; TOMATOES ©MATES - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

left: Home deliveries include the essentials, including farm-fresh eggs. below: The Stamford market is open for shopping (limited customers at a time, as of press time), and head online for ordering or to pick a recipe to try.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTES & SUPPORT. WE LOVE TO SERVE YOU! Osteria

Bar

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Our OUTDOOR SPACE and PRIVATE DINING ROOMS together with Chef and Beverage Director allows us to customize all your needs.

299 Long Ridge Rd | Stamford | (203) 388-8898 | table104stamford.com

buzz

COMPANY PERKS

This little coffee shop has a way of attracting big names.

above: The popular small shop expanded just as the quarantine hit; now, it is open for more coffee-loving customers to enjoy.

As of press time, it is open seven days a week in Stamford, with walk-up and online ordering and table service to its outdoor patio.

NEW BREW

Politicos Local and national politicians agree on good coffee—here, Mayor David Martin with U.S. Rep. Jim Himes.

PINT-SIZED LORCA COFFEE BAR EXPANDS, INCLUDING OUTDOOR SEATING

above: This summer, we need a pickme-up treat. Currently, our pick is the Colombia La Toma for its soothing and sweet almond taste.

couldn’t clink coffee mugs with the owners to celebrate the ambitious renovation together.

Like other independently owned businesses across Stamford, Lorca pushed on and adapted.

Now, the doors are open again.

The advantage of owning a small shop is being quick on one’s feet. Lorca loaded up their website (lorcacoffeebar .com), where shoppers could buy its favorite drinks in to-go bottles as well as plenty of other things, too. How about frozen empanadas, lentil soup or lemons—the other foods locals wanted or even needed: butter, milk and hard-to-find yeast.

(The shop even had pantry items available on Wednesdays, from 8 a.m. until the items sold out— check for updates online.) It also sells face coverings for adults ($10) and children ($8). While online, shoppers can order gift cards and leave a digital tip for the staff.

during renovation

Taste Makers Alton Brown, the host of Good Eats stopped by for a cup when he was in town.

after renovation

above: Lorca owner Leyla Dam Jenkins isn’t one to let things be—not when going bigger is better, as it is for her coffee shop and for her family.

stamfordmag.com

20

Beauty Queens Miss Connecticut Jamie Hughes displayed her royal status.

PHOTOGRAPHS: INTERIOR S BY JOE CHARLES @J0EBOT.; FOOD BY GARVIN BURKE; INSTAGRAM SHOTS FROM @LORCACOFFEEBAR

L

orca had just renovated the Stamford location of their popular coffee shop, by bumping out the walls for more space. But then it had to close down. It was a disappointing moment that its loyal patrons

THANK YOU FOR THE VOTES!

PLEASE JOIN US ANY DAY OF THE WEEK AT EITHER LOCATION AND BECOME PART OF THE BJ RYAN’S GROUP. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU.

BEST HAMBURGER

57 Main Street, Norwalk, CT 203.866.7926

BEST LIVE MUSIC SPOT 57 Main Street, Norwalk, CT 203.864.6964

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BEST RIBS/BARBEQUE 16 River Street, Norwalk, CT 203.853.7926

buzz ICED TEA

play it cool TREATS TO BEAT THE HEAT

ICED COFFEE

Too hot for your regular coffee order? Try a Nitro Cold Brew from Winfield Street Coffee (winfieldcoffee.com). This eye-opener is made from single-origin beans that have been brewed for sixteen hours and nitro kegged. If you want to chill out in a gentle way, consider the soothing organic lemongrass iced tea.

Stamford loves its coffee—here are just a few tasty stops…

1. Beanz 2. BonJo Coffee Roasters 3. Friends Café 4. The Granola Bar To Go 5. Humbled Coffeehouse 6. Lorca 7. Turning Point Coffee and Wine Bar 8. Verde Galerie Flower Shop & Café

Raise your pinky at Turning Point Coffee Roasters if you love the bean and the leaf alike.

Consider its seasonal iced-tea crafts, including the perfectly named London Fog made with Earl Grey tea with lavender, vanilla and milk, or strawberry-basil iced tea with a sweet hint of honey.

above: Turning Point’s strawberry-basil iced tea

SMOOTHIE

Suffering a post-workout energy lull or a midday/too-much-sun motivation dip? Zapped.

Got it. Maybe a Protein Blast from Makis? Try this blend of bananas, strawberries, almond milk, yogurt, protein and peanut butter. It also has frozen bowls and juices, like the Stress Buster with celery, carrots, pineapple and lettuce (but who’s stressed, right?).

above: BonJo’s Coldbrewed coffee on tap

Also refreshing…

Robeks Juice Press Nrgize Freshii

above: Protein Blast with banana, strawberry, almond milk, yogurt, protein and peanut butter.

stamfordmag.com

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above: Sunny Daes’ Vanilla soft serve

ICY TREAT

What, you think something good is just going to come to you? Of course! If you haven’t tried a Kona Ice yet, it’s time. The colorful, flavorful ice truck recently launched a new service: Kurbside Kona. You get to stay home and the sweet treat is delivered to you (your curb, to be exact).

As of press time, it will be stopping only at homes that placed an order—and the minimum is a very reasonable $20. In fact, it is offering only delivery and no money is exchanged (all contactless). Order up: kurbsidekona.com.

Other grab-and-go places to try all summer long…

Sunny Daes Gofer Ice Cream Cold Stone Creamery 16 Handles Dairy Queen Scoops & Smiles Fun Land Yogurt

above: Birthday Cake Remix: cake batter ice cream with brownie and hot fudge topped with rainbow sprinkles.

PHOTOGRAPHS: SOFT SERVE BY GARVIN BURKE; COLD STONE BY DAN DUCKIE; ICED COFFEE © PIYATO1@HOTMAIL.COM; ALL OTHERS, CONTRIBUTED

S U M M E R C H I L L- O U T G U I D E

S U M M E R C H I L L- O U T G U I D E : A D U L T S - O N L Y E D I T I O N

drinks to go BEER & MORE BEER

If Stamford were a beverage, what would it be? Maybe an ice-cold beer. That seems to be what Half Full Brewery (halffullbrewery .com) posited when it recently released its Cove blend. “Cove is a New England IPA that’s brewed exclusively with Nelson Sauvin hops for a white wine and fruity finish,” Half Full says. The brewery released formulas for neighborhoods across the city, bringing us together in a way.

ALL PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY BRAND

In May, locals were trying to get their glasses filled with Intellocktual 6: the 10% Triple IPA, made with Cashmere, Sabro, ElDora, Centennial hops and added CBD. The Lock City Brewing (lockcitybrewing.com) beer was dedicated to frontline workers fighting Covid-19. The business takes it name from Yale & Towne Manufacturing Company, which made locks and employed nearly a quarter of the locals, according to the brewery. It took up the area around Pacific, Henry, Canal and Market Streets before falling into history. At press time, its taproom was closed, but beerto-go pick up is available Monday through Sunday.

WATERING HOLES THAT WILL WET YOUR WHISTLE

BAR KITS TO GO! Local restaurants have quickly figured out how to participate and support

our entertainment efforts at home. They created bar kits to go, so we could play bartender. Read on for a taste of what a few places are bundling up. If your favorite restaurant or bar isn’t listed, be sure to check with them directly—things are changing quickly these days. Even for the places listed below, do yourself a favor and check the websites for updates, additional offerings and order details. Here’s to better days! bartaco Relax into the beachy escapism of bartaco’s MARG KIT FOR FOUR, available for takeout. It packages up everything you need to make four margaritas, including bottled bartaco ‘bonfire’ margarita spirits—Libélula Joven Tequila and Combier Liqueur d’Orange—with a container of shaken lime and agave simple syrup. Just add glasses. Other options are available. Since bartaco is known for its upscale tacos, liked Spiced Chicken Verde and Baja Fish, maybe add a few? Place order at bartaco .com and pick up in Stamford.

Bruxelles Brasserie Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, make it yours. Bruxelles Brasserie is setting a home scene with GIN BOWLS TO GO (bruxellessono .com) Each comes with a bottle of European craft gin and premium tonics. Play it cool and ice your glass, pour and enjoy. The Cocktail Menu has other gin-based options named just for our times, including “Have Courage” (Bols Genever, a Dutch gin, and Q Grapefruit Tonic Water) and “Calming Tea” (Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin from Ireland and Fevertree Elderflower Tonic Water).

It also offers food packages for families and for date night, as well as a la carte menu choices.

Pick up nearby in Norwalk.

above: The Barcelona Gintonic

Barcelona Wine Bar Barcelona Wine Bar (barcelonawinebar.com) created three cocktail kits with infusions and juices of its most popular mixed drinks. At only $8, you add your own spirits. Each recipe uses a specialty vermouth/ aperitivo, which are also available from Barcelona Wine Bar. Each kit makes four drinks and comes with a recipe card for easy mixing at home. Try the GIN TONIC KIT FOR ONE or have a social-distance fun making MIMOSAS with the HOUSE-MADE MIXERS. At $4 why pick between GUAVA-LEMON-LAVENDER and ORANGE-PEACH-GRAPEFRUIT? Get both. Order online and pick up locally in Stamford.

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Match What goes with your favorite dish no matter what it is?

Wine. Hence the reason you’ll want to check the many choices listed at Match (matchsono.com)—it will keep your finger scrolling. And look for amazing deals on wines, too. Match also packages up its owne Cocktail Jars To Go, like WHITE SANGRIA FOR 1 with Chardonnay, pineapple and orange juices, and ESPRESSO MARTINI WITH VODKA, with Kalua and Creme de Cacao.

Pick up in close by South Norwalk.

South End Along with tummy-filling options like roasted organic chicken and spiced blue fin tuna, South End (southendnewcanaan.com), just over the town border, is offering DIY BEVERAGE PACKAGES. Good luck choosing; consider the PATIO SIPPER, which has El Jimador tequila, SE mixer, club soda and grapefruit to make such a pretty cocktail, and the BOOTLEGGER PINEAPPLE BASIL HIGHBALL is as fun to say as it is snappy to sip. Recently, it even raffled off the MINT JULEP KIT with copper mugs and all. The restaurant also has food kits, like fried chicken dinner with corn bread, mashed potatoes and coleslaw. Order availability and pickup times online.

buzz

HOME BODY

We checked in with a local fitness expert for advice on HOW TO KEEP IT SIMPLE BUT EFFECTIVE

G

TRY HIIT

NO EXCUSES Recognize ahead of time where you could be likely to make excuses for yourself, because it’s something we all do. Find the best time of day to schedule exercise and make it a daily priority so that it becomes part of your routine. And if you fall short, don’t beat yourself up; just start again tomorrow. Some exercise is always better than nothing.

CREATE SPACE Choose a place in your home and designate it as your personal fitness zone. It can even be your basement or garage. As long as you have a place to go and comfortably move, you’re more likely to go back to the same place each day.

VISUALIZING HELPS Using visualization before you even start moving can be helpful with motivation. Think about yourself exercising daily and the benefits you’re looking to achieve. If you see yourself as successful, the chances of it happening are greater.

SET YOUR TIMING

2minutes 0/30 daily stamfordmag.com

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Guttuso’s favorite workout is a HIIT(high-intensity interval training) format. This type of training includes cardio and strength training, requires little to no equipment and can be performed at any fitness level.

It is a fun and effective format that burns calories even after your workout is over. Whatever form of exercise appeals to you, Guttuso reminds us to strive for progress, not perfection, and to “pick up a weight, drink enough water and just keep moving.”

AT HOME Eight rounds of each exercise, 20 seconds of an all-out effort, 10 seconds rest Jump rope

• • Squat jumps • Burpees • Mountain climbers Jumping jacks

WORKOUT EQUIPMENT AT HOME BY ©PAUCHI /STOCK.ADOBE.COM; WOMAN WORKING OUT BY ©SNAPTITUDE /STOCK.ADOBE.COM

yms may have just opened up again (with restrictions, of course), but that doesn’t mean working out at home has to stop. Here, we checked in with Martha Guttuso, a certified personal trainer, who has been leading online classes for those looking for a major sweat fest while in quarantine. “Just bring your body,” she says. “Your mind will follow.” Here’s what Guttuso suggests in order to get the most out of that at-home workout session. liz barron

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shop by megan gagnon

OFFICE SPACE B

y now you know the importance of a proper work-from-home setup; that magical space free of productivity pitfalls and interrupting family members, expertly designed and ready for a video call at a moment’s notice. If you’re stuck on that last part, start fresh with sleek desk and build from there. Add a stylish chair with on-trend caning and a cushy seat, a modern toolbox that serves up organization with a splash of color and a classic lamp that will bring some warm metallic brass to the mix.

1

KEEP IT TOGETHER Elin toolbox by Most Modest; $100 each.

Design Within Reach, Stamford; dwr.com

2

Hoxton brass table lamp

by Currey & Company; price upon request. Schwartz Design Showroom, Stamford; schwartzdesignshowroom.com

DESK TO IMPRESS Parker desk by Safavieh; $349. Stamford; safaviehhome.com

4

SITTING PRETTY Alexa desk chair

by Lillian August; $548. Stamford; lillianaugust.com

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IMAGES COURTESY OF DESIGNERS/BRANDS

3

BRIGHT IDEA

r e s tor at i v e “A haven for relaxation” Town & Country Magazine

winvianfarm.com

go ROLL WITH IT

BIKES HAVE COME A LONG WAY— JULIE GABAY BREAKS DOWN THE OPTIONS by diane sembrot

R

THE WORTH OF WHEELS Quality-built bicycles found at bicycle stores start at about $400 and can go to $15,000+ depending on what the bike is made of and the components. Once you’ve decided what kind of bike you want, it’s important to work with a good, reliable bike shop to determine the proper size and model for your lifestyle. The time is now, get out and ride.

ROAD WARRIOR: A Specialized S-Works Roubaix Road Bike

KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE

Debunking the jargon on the most popular bike styles

HYBRID BIKES

MOUNTAIN BIKES

ROAD BIKES

ELECTRIC BIKES

Upright handlebars best for casual riding around the neighborhood or bike paths, short-distance commuting, and errands around town.

The hybrid bike is mainly ridden on paved roads, but because it has slightly wider tires, in can handle some hard-packed dirt roads or paths.

There are different variations of road bikes, but these lightweight bikes are mainly meant for riding on the road at faster speeds.

They have curved handlebars and usually the tire is thinner than a hybrid bike. New to the market in the past few years are 'gravel' type bikes. These are generally road-type bikes meant for traveling on gravel. Gravel bikes have a wider tire than your average road bike and some even have suspension within the design of the frame that helps smooth the ride out a bit. stamfordmag.com

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These bikes are designed for use on mountain trails, single track, fire roads, and other unpaved surfaces. They have a flat handlebar, knobby wide tires and suspension. Hardtail mountain bikes have front suspension only, and dual- or full-suspension mountain bikes use suspension in the front and the rear.

These are all the rage right now! Electric bicycles are bikes with a battery-powered assist that comes via pedaling.

When you pedal a small motor engages and gives you a boost.

Most electric bikes allow you to decide how much assistance you would like by selecting a riding mode: economy, touring, sport, turbo. It's like riding really hilly terrain with the same effort as riding flat terrain.

Electric bike pricing starts at about $1,999.

CONTRIBUTED

eady to hit the road? Great, but leave the car behind.

This summer we may not be traveling as much as we used to, and we might even be at home more than we had planned. But we can still get out and about with a day ride on our bikes. They’re not just for kids, Julie Gabay and the routes around Stamford and surrounding towns will prove it. With fewer cars on the road, this might just be the best summer for a new pastime or even sport.

To get things going smoothly, we checked in with a pro.: Julie Gabay, president of PACIFIC CYCLING & TRIATHLON, in Stamford (pacificsbr.com). Read on for her thoughts on great bikes, so you enjoy your summertime rides.

“Riding outdoors is a wonderful way to get exercise, reduce stress, and see the world,” she says. “There are a few things to consider before you go to your local bike shop that can make the process much easier and ensure you make the right choice.” For starters, she says that there are many different purposes for cycling, and that why you want to ride—what you want to get out of it—will guide you to the right bike for you. “To simplify the process, think about where you are going to ride and what type of riding you want to do. Will you ride around the neighborhood and beach communities with the family? Do you want to explore the less-traveled gravel roads in our area? Is your goal to begin to train for completion?”

M O F F LY M E D I A

GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

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THE HIGH ROAD BLACKBRIDGE MOTORS can reimagine and build your dream car by t om c onnor

I

f you can afford to retire at 35, you can probably do whatever you want as a second act. Which is what SCOTT GILBERT did four years ago when he opened BLACKBRIDGE MOTORS, a high-end auto repair and restoration shop in a former warehouse in South Norwalk.

The New Canaan resident spent ten years at Goldman Sachs in Manhattan before leaving in 2016.

“I left to do this,” says Gilbert, 39. “It wasn’t an afterthought.

That job involved a lot of computer work and thinking, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But there’s a different level of satisfaction that comes from

working with your hands and building something.”

Growing up outside of Philadelphia, Gilbert tinkered with cars as a teenager.

“I liked the freedom a car gave me,” he says. “But I also liked the

complexity around it as a machine.

I always gravitated toward cars, for reasons that I probably can’t really explain to this day.”

That passion led him to start up Blackbridge Motors (“Black” connotes the seriousness of

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the work, “bridge” the linkage between old school aesthetics and new world technology and engineering.) His business model was simple enough: Identify a need, then find a way to satisfy it.

Fairfield County is high-octane automobile country, with enough car fanciers and collectors— in New Canaan especially—to support an enterprise devoted to repairing and restoring them.

Gilbert has sponsored events for Caffeine & Carburetors, the gathering of auto enthusiasts that meets six times each year at Zumbach’s on Pine Street.

“You get a sense of scale when you go to one of these shows,” he

HEADSHOT BY ALEXANDER MAZZEI; CAR PHOTOS BY JOE ADAMS

above: New Canaan resident Scott Gilbert opened Blackbridge Motors four years ago in South Norwalk. below: Gilbert driving his vintage Chevy pickup truck

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GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

go

above: Blackbridge can totally restore or recreate classic shells around completely modern technology.

says. “New Canaan is a relatively small town in comparison to, say, Greenwich, but the turnout is exceptional. The cars are a very important part of a lot of people’s lives.”

Gilbert has called the service Blackbridge Motors provides “an expensive ticket,” and that’s an

understatement. Labor—for jobs ranging from brake repair and belt replacement to ground-up rebuilds and restorations—runs $150 an hour, with full restoration projects requiring as many 3,000 hours.

“It takes that,” he notes. “We take classic and vintage automobiles and make them modern. Our tag

line is ‘Build Better Machines.’

It’s not just fixing cars—it’s re-engineering them.”

Basically, what Gilbert’s crew does is restore or re-create classic shells around completely modern, technologically sophisticated and reliable systems, including new engines and electronics. If a

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part can’t be found in the global marketplace, the crew makes it.

“The DNA of these cars is authentic—it’s just upgraded,” he insists. “You get the car you love to look at without sacrificing anything. That, I think, is what is resonating with our customers.”

Out in the cavernous, 12,000-square-foot main workspace, flags from the foreign countries of origin for many of the cars hang from the rafters.

Some dozen and a half vehicles sit parked in various stages of completion. Among them are a 1951 French-made Simca convertible, a French-made automobile, for a collector in Weston; a two-tone 1961 Nash Metropolitan; a rare 1974 2002 Turbo (only 1600 were produced); and several British-made Land Rover Defenders, one stripped to its bare frame.

Four years ago, Blackbridge Motors occupied just 2,500 square feet of the warehouse. Today, total rented space is approaching 25,000 square feet. And from a couple of mechanics, including Gilbert himself, the team of highly experienced and vetted employees numbers 20, including two whose only job is reupholstery. And then there are the classics he himself owns and drives.

Scott Gilbert lives with his wife, Noel, and their two young children on the West side of town, next door (read “garage”) to his other, vintage family of cars: a Land Rover Defender; a 1952 Chevy pickup truck with 600 horsepower and a 2015 Chevy pickup truck; a 1952 Daimler SP250 sports car; a 1987 Porsche 911.

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fınance fıx

MONEY / BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

MAKE YOUR MOVE

Ryan Raveis

A

s summer heats up and you yearn to escape the surreal season of Covid-19, perhaps it’s time to consider buying a vacation home —here, in Connecticut. Fun fact: Many Fairfield County residents are purchasing second homes in the Nutmeg state, sometimes in their very own town.

“If I were to buy a summer house, now would be the time to do it. Interest rates are as low as they’ve ever been, and housing prices—particularly on a summer home on the Fairfield beach and the Westport beach—are very affordable right now,” says Ryan Raveis, co-president of William Raveis Inc. Beware, though. Inventory is going fast; you might need to elbow your way through a line of New Yorkers at a showing, cash in hand.

“The Connecticut shoreline is seeing a lot, a lot, a lot of activity,” Raveis says. “For both buying and

for rentals, we are having lines at the door twenty people deep.”

There are two main reasons to buy a vacation home, either because it’s in a place you know and love or to rent it out as an investment, says Raveis. Both apply now, and they need not be exclusive.

People tend to rent in a vacation area before they buy, all the better to get to know it.

If you live in Fairfield County, you already know Connecticut.

You know about our parks and woods, our beaches and boating, our golf and shopping—in short, many of the things you seek out on vacation. And everything in our state falls within a three-hour drive, which experts say is the ideal maximum drive time to reach a summer vacation home.

An added bonus: That proximity also means you’re close enough to check on the property if trouble arises, and it can be a lifesaver if disaster strikes and you need to get home.

“If I love a little bit of space, lawn, privacy and community, Connecticut becomes very appealing. And if I love the shoreline…I have a couple of friends who have beach houses on Fairfield Beach and live no further than ten miles away. They use it as an escape,” says Raveis.

Thousands of New Yorkers came to Connecticut back in March in search of a spacious place to hunker down during

the pandemic. Many landed in Connecticut-shoreline properties normally not inhabited until summertime. They worked from home, played outside and, as the weather warmed, so too did their appreciation for our little state and its coastline. Says Raveis, “There were people willing to spend $25,000 to $30,000 a month for a 3,000-square-foot house in a town like Fairfield.”

Many of those same renters stayed put. Gov. Ned Lamont reported in May that phones were “ringing off the hook” from New Yorkers interested in moving to Connecticut. He said they realized that telecommuting to their New York job did not have to happen from a home in New York City.

These potential buyers are not meandering through twenty open houses before making a decision. Says Raveis, they do their homework online, research virtual open houses and narrow their visits to five or six properties. And when they show up, they act.

During the pandemic, mortgage rates fell to the lowest on record, according to mortgage corporation Freddie Mac. Mortgages are still hovering around 3.25 percent. While the stock market may rise and fall like a summertime roller coaster, real estate is holding steady. Says Raveis, a summer vacation home nearby could be “a great way to diversify your assets and protect your nest egg.” S

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO FINANCING YOUR MOVE

// Before you go house shopping, have a mortgage broker or loan officer prequalify you for a loan. He or she will tally your monthly obligations and income; pull your credit report; lay out your interest rate, loan amount and repayment options; and hand you a certified preapproval. If you plan to rent out the property, have a real estate agent estimate your rental income as well as your carrying costs, including taxes, insurance, mortgage payments, homeowners association fees, utility costs and more. //

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PHOTOGRAPH OF RYAN RAVEIS BY KYLE NORTON; CALCULATIONS BY © PHILIP STEURY - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

IS NOW THE TIME TO CONSIDER BUYING/RENTING A VACATION HOME?

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CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING

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Serving Stamford and the surrounding communities since 2007.

Outdoor Patio | Inside Dining | Curbside Pickup

We welcome wedding announcements together with candid photographs. Weddings should have a current Stamford family connection and must be submitted within three months of the wedding day. Regretfully, we are unable to run every wedding submitted.

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celebrating

THE BEST Cheers all around! Congratulations to the winners of our annual readers’ poll. These are the places you told us were your favorites for drinks, food, shopping and services. You know who else wins? You do! Just turn the page to review the complete results of all the votes, then head out to try or revisit these places for yourself. You may even discover a new favorite eatery, bar, shop, salon, fitness studio and more.

Who’s ready to celebrate the love?

FOOD + DRINK

SHOP + STYLE

SERVICES + TO-DO’S

PG. 38

PG. 48

PG. 56

a note about the new normal: In the time of COVID, we have done our best to deliver these results even as our winners are experiencing immense transition. If a winner has closed, we have simply removed it from the list. This list is accurate, to the best of our ability, as of June 19. We suggest you check winners’s websites for the most up-to-date information about business hours.

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FOOD+ DRINK

Local restaurants and bars for deliciously good times

TACO DADDY

WINNER OF NEW RESTAURANT

When life is just too serious, there’s a place you can go to decompress: Taco Daddy. It’s a fun and welcoming vibe, and you’ll feel like you’re with friends from the get-go. The menu turns tacos on their head, with new twists (like red curry duck or chicken bolognese) as well as burgers, bowls and small bites. Leave room for creative cocktails and sweet treats, too.

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READERS’ PICKS

W

hen our readers get hungry or thirsty, they know exactly where they want to go—look, we have the actual list of their favorite places. From high cuisine and world-class wine to burgers and beer, there’s a tasty choice for everyone. Dig in.

Favorite toppings, like guacamole and jalapeños, add extra flavor

GOLDEN ADVICE

RESTAURANTS Best Service Table 104 299 Long Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-388-8898; table104stamford.com Creative Menu The Whelk 575 Riverside Ave., Westport, 203-557-0902; thewhelkwestport.com

TACO DADDY BY MORGAN MACHETTE; FLIPSIDE BURGERS & BAR, CONTRIBUTED

Hotel Restaurant Artisan Southport 275 Old Post Rd., Southport, 203-307-4222; artisansouthport.com New Restaurant Taco Daddy 121 Towne St., Stamford, 203-541-5770; tacodaddystamford.com Outdoor Dining Prime Restaurant 78 Southfield Ave., Stamford, 203-817-0700; restaurantprime.com Special Occasion/Date Night Tavern at GrayBarns 194 Perry Ave., Norwalk, 203-580-1900 tavernatgraybarns.com

REGIONAL SPECIALTIES

Indian Coromandel Cuisine of India 68 Broad St., Stamford, 203-964-1010 | 25 Old Kings Hwy. N., Darien, 203-662-1213; see all locations at coromandelcuisine.com

American Flipside Burgers & Bar 1125 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-8233; flipsiderestaurant.com

Italian Café Silvium 371 Shippan Ave., Stamford, 203-324-1651; cafesilviumct.com

Asian Fusion Mecha Noodle Bar 151 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-801-7577 | 116 Washington St., S. Norwalk, 203-2958718 | 1215 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-8222; mechanoodlebar.com

Japanese Sakura 680 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-222-0802; sakurarestaurant.com

Chinese The Little Kitchen of Westport 423 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-454-5540; littlekitchenwestport.com

Latin American + Mexican Bodega Taco Bar 980 Post Rd., Darien, 203-655-8500 | 1700 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-9590; bodegatacobar.com

French Chez Vous Bistro 188 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-504-8770; chezvousbistro.com

Mediterranean Mediterraneo 366 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-629-4747 | 353 Main Ave., Norwalk, 203-229-0000; zhospitalitygroup.com

Greek Kouzina Taverna 223 Main St., Stamford, 203-588-0110; kouzinataverna.com

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3 creative twists on the All-American burger from Flipside, winner of best American food.

1 MAC ’ N’ CHEESE BURGER Can’t decide how to satisfy a big hunger? This favorite combines two American favorites: a burger and mac ’n’ cheese. Flipside adds bacon and fresh pico to this grilled six-ounce ground sirloin.

2 CHIP & DIP BURGER Everything is right with Flipside Burgers & Bar’s layering of Swiss cheese, caramelized onions, potato chips and French onion dip with your burger (or grilled chicken if you prefer). This hearty choice has lots of flavor.

3 GOAT BURGER Here’s a great twist on a cheeseburger—it’s goat cheese with sundried tomatoes, caramelized onions, balsamic glaze and honey. Just add french fries or onion rings and a cold beer for a filling meal.

M O F F LY M E D I A

C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

READERS’ PICKS The Whelk’s Kohlrabi and radish with trout roe and brown butter

THE WHELK WINNER OF CREATIVE MENU

“The Whelk is coastal Connecticut cuisine. A mixture of locally sourced seafood, meats and vegetables that are on-trend and seasonally inspired.”

BILL TAIBE, executive chef and owner

WHO’S HUNGRY? EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT SURE WHAT’S FOR DINNER, YOU’RE IN LUCK. LOCAL RESTAURANTS HAVE PLENTY OF CREATIVE DISHES YOU’VE NEVER TASTED BEFORE AS WELL AS NEW TWISTS ON YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITES.

BODEGA TACO BAR WINNER OF BEST LATIN AMERICAN + MEXICAN CUISINE

“Bodega is open for curbside pickup and patio dining in Fairfield and Darien serving freshly made tacos, guac, sides and hand-crafted Margaritas. Additionally, the truck is out and about, serving fresh food from our Guac on the Block menu.”

Tacos, chips with guacamole and salsa and plenty of other fresh-made options from Bodega.

MARIO FONTANA, owner

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WHELK BY CHEF ANTHONY KOSTELIS; TAIBE HEADSHOT BY DAVID CURTIS; BODEGA FOOD BY NOAH FECKS; OPPOSITE PAGE; PRIME BY JULIE BIDWELL

GOLD COAST

PRIME RESTAURANT

T

WINNER OF OUTDOOR DINING + OUTDOOR BAR

here may be nothing more relaxing than enjoying freshly prepared spicy tuna rolls or a medium-rare boneless ribeye with a glass of wine—all with a water view. It was worth the wait to get the all clear. Meanwhile, Prime Restaurant had served up dishes to go with online ordering, making it easy to pick up your food curbside. Be sure to take a long, lingering look at the views and feel that breeze off the water as you enjoy a expertly prepared meal that will transport you from the everyday.

Enjoy summer warm breezes at Prime Restaurant waterside location.

M O F F LY M E D I A

GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

READERS’ PICKS

MEDITERRANEO WINNER OF BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD

S

above: Frutti di mare below: Jumbo sea scallops, on point.

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CONTRIBUTED

eafood— grilled, tossed in salads, topped with sauce, paired with spinach, in soup—is the heart of Mediterraneo. You see it in every part of the restaurant, with its dark glossy wood and deep sea blue wall color and dots of lights like stars in an evening sky. On the menu, of course, there are plenty of options, but Mediterranean food is at its best with mussels, octopus, fish and other fresh catches from the sea—just add rice, broth or a bed of greens and present it elegantly. Be sure to try dessert.

M O F F LY M E D I A

READERS’ PICKS

Spanish Valencia Luncheria 164 Main St., Norwalk, 203-846-8009; valencialuncheria.com

Frozen Yogurt 16 Handles 219 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-817-0707 | 1300 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-9841; 16handles.com

Thai Rainbow Thai 5 Bridge Sq., Westport, 203-557-9000; rainbowthaict.com

Ribs/Barbecue Walrus Alley 90 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-333-2733; walrusalley.com

Hamburgers Shake Shack 1340 Post Rd., Darien, 203-614-1411 | 1849 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-682-6570; shakeshack.com

COMFORT FOOD

OPPOSITE: PHOTOGRAPHS, CONTRIBUTED BY MEDITERRANEO; CONROY, CONTRIBUTED; OCTOPUS BY MORGAN IONE YEAGER; ELM STREET DINER BREAKFASTS BY @CHEATDAYEATS

Pizza Letizia’s Pizza 666 Main Ave., Norwalk, 203-847-6022; letiziaspizza.com

Bagels Liz Sue Bagels 63 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-323-4611 | 120 New Canaan Ave., Norwalk, 203-849-1322; lizsuebagelsinc.com Breakfast Food Elm Street Diner 463 Elm St., Stamford, 203-325-1141; elmstreetdiner.com

Seafood The Restaurant at Rowayton Seafood 89 Rowayton Ave., Rowayton, 203-866-4488; rowaytonseafood.com

Hot Dogs Super Duper Weenie 306 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-334-3647; superduperweenie.com

Steak The Capital Grille 230 Tresser Blvd., Stamford, 203-967-0000; thecapitalgrille.com

Ice Cream/Gelato Milkcraft 1215 Post Rd., Fairfield, 475-888-9091; milkcraftca.com

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GOLDEN ADVICE

Elm Street Diner, winner of best breakfast food, on breaking traditions.

1 STRAWBERRY FIELDS Open for takeout, an Elm Street Diner breakfast is worth getting up early for. They do it big. Take, for example, Greek Yogurt French Toast with granola, honey and a field of fresh berries.

Sushi OKO 6 Wilton Rd., Westport, 203-557-8404; okokitchen.com

2 WHO’S CHICKEN? Here’s an eye-opener: Jumbo pieces of fried chicken stacked atop French toast with cinnamon and sugar, ready to be doused with Vermont maple syrup.

THE RESTAURANT WINNER OF BEST SEAFOOD

“We can’t wait for our guests to try the amazing seafood we are preparing for our summer menu. One of my favorite appetizers is the Charred Octopus.

One bite and it transports you to seaside dining. A chilled Rosé is the perfect complement.”

3 LET’S MAKE WAFFLES New on the summer menu: charred octopus with white beans, chorizo,. charred pepper sauce and chive oil

KEVIN CONROY owner JULY/AUGUST 2020 STAMFORD

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Waffles can be topped with maple syrup, like always, or they can have fresh blueberries. Just wait for the butter to melt into the squares before digging in.

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GOLDEN ADVICE

Give your favorite juices from Green & Tonic the boozy home treatment.

Tapas Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar 222 Summer St., Stamford, 203-348-4800 | 515 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-854-5600 | 4180 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-255-0800; barcelonawinebar.com

Deli Gaetano’s Deli 1713 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-955-1852; gaetanosdelis.com

CASUAL SPOTS Brunch + Café/Bistro Terrain Garden Cafe 561 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-226-2732; shopterrain.com Coffee Shop Lorca 125 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-504-2847; lorcacoffeebar.com

Diner Orem’s Diner 167 Danbury Rd., Wilton, 203-762-7370; oremsdiner.com

Juice Bar Green & Tonic 7 Strickland Rd., Cos Cob, 203-869-1376 | 85 Railroad Ave., Greenwich, 203-622-1479 | 1098 Post Rd., Darien, 203-656-1036 | 5 Burtis Ave., New Canaan, 203-920-1395 | 17 Jesup Rd., Westport, 203-557-6392; greenandtonic.com

Family-Friendly Restaurant Chips Family Restaurant 525 Tunxis Hill Cut Off, Fairfield, 203-332-3370 | see all locations at chipsrestaurants.com

Lunch Spot Valencia Luncheria 164 Main St., Norwalk, 203-846-8009; valencialuncheria.com

Food Truck The Tasty Yolk 1916 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-726-6520 | 999 Brookside Dr., Fairfield, 203-5269745 | storefront, 2992 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, 203-545-9311; thetastyyolk.com

Vegetarian The Lime Restaurant 168 Main St., Norwalk, 203-846-9240; limerestaurant.com

1 GREEN

A tasty pick-me-up duo: cortados and alfajores

Salads, bowls, wraps and more are for pick up or delivery—but also check out the bottled juices to stock up at home. Jungle Juice is made of delicious greens—and G&T suggests adding some white rum, coconut water, jalapeño and a bit of cucumber.

LORCA

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“Being part of the Stamford community has brought me so much joy. Walking into our local restaurants and over to Mill River Park and bumping into a bunch of our regular customers to chat about life will never get old, and it’s what’s fulfilled me most about opening Lorca.”

ORANGE Take your Tumeric Tonic straight— or try G&T’s recipe: adding white rum and seltzer water. Pour over ice and use an orange slice as a garnish for your cocktail.

3 PINK This starts with tequila, then adds in G&T’s Melon cooler, lime juice, agave, sea salt and mint freshly picked from the home garden.

Recipes at greenandtonic.com.

LEYLA JENKINS owner stamfordmag.com

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LORCA BY GARVIN BURKE; ALL OTHERS, CONTRIBUTED

WINNER OF COFFEE SHOP

THE TASTY YOLK

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WINNER OF BEST FOOD TRUCK

ere’s the great thing about The Tasty Yolk: You can pick up food from the truck or from the Fairfield location. Head to its website to choose and you’ll see the specials offered for each. Here, for example, are the made-in-shop buttermilk pancakes with wild berry sauce, citrus mascarpone, crumbled bacon and Vermont maple syrup (ask for The Berry Tasty). On the run, try an egg sandwich, like The Banker—brisket, two eggs, spicy aioli and Swiss. Be sure to grab a few napkins, too.

A stack of buttermilk pancakes with berry sauce and bacon bits

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READERS’ PICKS

MARKETS + MORE

Pan-seared salmon with snow peas and asparagus

Bakery + Cupcakes + Desserts DiMare Pastry Shop 1245 East Putnam Ave., Riverside, 203-637-4781 | 12 Largo Dr. S., Stamford, 203-967-2253; dimarepastry.com Butcher Shop + Liquor Store + Wine Shop Stew Leonard’s 100 Westport Ave., Norwalk, 203-847-7214; stewleonards.com Candy Store Saugatuck Sweets 575 Riverside Ave., Westport, 203-642-4615 | 28 Reef Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-8550 Caterer Marcia Selden Catering & Events 65 Research Dr., Stamford, 203-353-8000; marciaselden.com Chocolate Shop Le Rouge Chocolates by Aarti 190 Main St., Westport, 203-293-6106; lerougebyaarti.com Fish Market Superior Seafood 999 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-557-0844; westportsuperiorseafood.com Gourmet Grocery Palmer’s Market 264 Heights Rd., Darien, 203-655-2077; palmersdarien.com Gourmet To-Go The Pantry 1580 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-259-0400; thepantry.net

MARCIA SELDEN

WINNER OF BEST CATERER

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hen it comes to the food and drinks presented by caterer Marcia Selden, bring on the close up. Everything is always in place, and the promise made by the artful presentation is followed up with the fulfillment of great taste. The ingredients are top quality. Marcia Selden has proven over the years that they can handle any party, big or intimate. Getting the big picture and every detail, the team even introduced Party in a Box catered meals for parties to enjoy at home.

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Health Food The Organic Market 285 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-227-9007; organicmarketct.com

FOOD PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MARCIA SELDEN CATERING & EVENT PLANNING

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READERS’ PICKS

Personal Chef Services A Dash of Salt 971 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-354-8174; adashofsaltcatering.com

BAR BOASTS Beer Selection + Sports Bar/ Big Game Day The Blind Rhino 15 N. Main St., Norwalk, 203-956-7243 |3425 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, 203-362-5001; theblindrhino.com Girls’ Night Out Barcelona Restaurant & Wine Bar 222 Summer St., Stamford, 203-348-4800 | 515 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-854-5600 | 4180 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-255-0800; barcelonawinebar.com

Happy Hour Troupe429 3 Wall St., Norwalk; troupe429.com

Pub Tigín Irish Pub 175 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-353-8444; tiginirishpub.com

Margaritas + Restaurant Bar bartaco 222 Summer St., Stamford, 203-323-8226 | 20 Wilton Rd., Westport, 203-222-8226; bartaco.com

Singles Scene (Under 35) Sign of the Whale 6 Harbor Point Rd., Stamford, 203-883-8282; signofthewhalect.com

Martinis Washington Prime 141 Washington St., Norwalk, 203-857-1314 washingtonprimect.com

Singles Scene (Over 35) The Gray Goose Cafe 246 Old Post Rd., Southport, 203-292-8779; thegraygoosecafe.com

Microbrewery Half Full Brewery 43 Homestead Ave., Stamford, 203-658-3631; halffullbrewery.com

Wine List The Water’s Edge at Giovanni’s 2748 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-325-9979; watersedgeatgiovannis.com

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GOLDEN ADVICE

Two picks from Half Full Brewery, winner of best microbrewery, for summer.

1 RISE & GRIND Half Full Brewery paired up with Rise Nitro RISE Brewing Co. to serve up this new and unique beverage brewed with organic coffee and malt. It has 90 mg of caffeine for blastoff in cans to go (available for delivery).

Outdoor Bar Prime Restaurant 78 Southfield Ave., Stamford, 203-817-0700; restaurantprime.com

WASHINGTON PRIME WINNER OF BEST MARTINIS

MARTINI AND BEER, CONTRIBUTED

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hen it comes to high summer, everyone just wants to chill out.

Take the slow lane and sip your favorite martini— possibly the coolest drink ever—at Washington Prime. This is the kind of place to linger outdoors on a nice day, where you can people watch, enjoy a meal—maybe starting with Pt. Judith Calamari, followed by Shrimp Scampi, Mahi Mahi, or a Prime Filet Mignon with charred asparagus. All of the options at this upscale restaurant are winners.

Just don’t skip the martinis.

Cucumber Basil Martini with Tito’s vodka

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2 STAM VEGAS Welcome to Fabulous Stam Vegas. The sour IPA, in collaboration with Lock City Brewing, is a hazy, juicy beer with tropical fruit and lemon flavors—sweet and snappy, just like its namesake.

STYLE+ SHOP

Dress the part, live the part, love the part: fashion, home, weddings

left: Tom Ford charcoal gray striped wool and silk peak lapel suit with silver cottonand-silk dress shirt and silver tie; plus, Tom Ford Eyewear black polarized sunglasses middle: Salvatore Ferragamo leather shoes right: Kiton floral sleeveless sheath dress and silk-blend floral jacket

MITCHELLS/RICHARDS

WINNER OF GALA BLACK TIE ATTIRE + MEN’S FASHION + MEN’S SHOES

Part of feeling your best is looking your best. The fashion-savvy pros at Mitchells and Richards help keep Fairfield County in the world’s best designer styles, from head to toe. Feel good in your clothes, with great cuts and luxurious fabrics, knowing you’re making the best impression, from business meetings to date night. stamfordmag.com

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hether making an impression at a meeting, soaking up the sun at home or cheering the newlyweds, you have plenty of stylish options to prep your closet and home.

Be your true self, live fully and celebrate love beautifully.

MARILYNN LIPTON BLOTNER co-owner

SOLEIL TOILE WINNER OF BEST LINGERIE + SWIMWEAR

FASHION Accessories + Jeans + Teen Fashion Apricot Lane 1499 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-9888; apricotlaneboutique.com Children’s Clothes Groove 420 Post Rd. W., Westport, 203-557-8111 | 115 Elm St., New Canaan, 203-920-1700; shopgroove.net

PHOTOS: OPPOSITE PAGE BY SERGIO KURHAJEC: PORTRAIT CONTRIBUTED

Cocktail Attire Katie Fong 60 Lewis St., Greenwich, 203-717-1660; katiefong.com Consignment Roundabout 48 West Putnam Ave., Greenwich, 203-552-0787 | 606 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-227-4334; roundaboutcouture.com Department Store + Women’s Fashion Saks Fifth Avenue The Collective, 200 Greenwich Ave. | The Vault, 205 Greenwich Ave., 203-862-5300 | Saks Greenwich Shoe, 20 E. Elm St., Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

JEWELRY

Designer Boutique B Chic 78 Old Ridgefield Rd., Wilton, 203-210-7037

Anniversary & Special Occasion Jewelry Henry C. Reid 1591 Post Road, Fairfield, 203-255-0447; hcreidjewelers.com

Eyewear Warby Parker 344 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-433-7701 | The SoNo Collection, 100 N. Water St., South Norwalk, 203-648-9689; warbyparker.com

Designer Jewelry Lux Bond & Green 136 Main St., Westport, 203-227-1300; lbgreen.com Estate Jewelry Peter Suchy 1137 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-327-0024; petersuchyjewelers.com

Gala Black Tie Attire + Men’s Fashion + Men’s Shoes Mitchells/Richards 359 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-622-0551 670 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-227-5165; shop.mitchellstores.com

Everyday Jewelry Apricot Lane 1499 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-9888; apricotlaneboutique.com

Lingerie + Swimwear Soleil Toile 44 Elm St., New Canaan, 203-966-2887 | 14 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-454-8688; soleiltoile.com

Fine Jewelry Betteridge 239 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-869-0124; betteridge.com

Women’s Shoes Nordstrom The SoNo Collection, 100 N. Water St., South Norwalk, 203-642-2634; shop.nordstrom.com

Local Jewelry Boutique R. Hollander Master Goldsmith 154 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-363-2200; ringart.com

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“This summer is all about easy pieces, covers in which you can lounge at the beach or relax at home.

We are excited to now have an e-commerce site where you can shop from home and even call our associates for advice.”

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MANFREDI JEWELS WINNER OF BEST MEN’S + WOMEN’S WATCHES

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The time is always right to up your watch game, and Manfredi Jewels has you covered.

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ith its iconic yellow awning, Manfredi Jewels has long been a go-to for gorgeous arm candy. We asked manager Robert Weintraub what’s hot in the watch world for both the ladies and gents.

“For men, steel sport watches continue to be in demand as well as modern recreations of classic iconic watches from the 1960s and 70s,” he says. “The Chronomaster El Primero A384 Revival by Zenith is a faithful reproduction of the very first Zenith watch from 1969 to feature the El Primero high-frequency automatic chronograph caliber.

And The Laureato by GirrardPerregaux has a history dating back to 1975. Its timeless design appeals to today’s current tastes for an elegant sport watch with an integrated bracelet. It is available in many dial colors and sizes.”

And for the ladies? “The Serpenti Seduttori by Bulgari is a fantastic new addition to its line,” says Robert. “It combines the iconic Serpenti shape with a chic link bracelet that not only looks great, but is one of the most comfortable watch bracelets on the market today. It’s available in steel, steel/rose gold, rose gold, yellow gold, both with and without diamonds.” He also points out another hot newcomer, the Marine Dame by Breguet. “This stainless steel version of the watch features a marble blue lacquer dial that is made using a unique process that creates a one-of-a-kind image on each watch dial.”

M O F F LY M E D I A

READERS’ PICKS A 2.51 carat emerald cut in a special-blend rose gold engagement ring hand-forged in shop in Fairfield.

HENRY C. REID & SON JEWELERS WINNER OF BEST ANNIVERSARY & SPECIAL OCCASION JEWELRY

“We’re thrilled to be honored by the readers for a Best of the Gold Coast. During these unprecedented times, we’re very grateful to our customers who continue to inspire us to create memorable, hand-crafted jewelry pieces that transcend time.

While taste and trends can change, anniversaries and special occasions are important reminders of the past and give hope for the future.”

GREG FRENCH, president

SHINING MOMENT

GREG FRENCH BY KYLE NORTON; ALL OTHER IMAGES, CONTRIBUTED

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL, WHETHER IN A BOLD WATCH OR A GRACEFUL RING, IS ALWAYS A WINNING LOOK. THESE THREE “BEST OF” JEWELERS HELP BRIGHTEN UP YOUR DAY.

LUX BOND & GREEN WINNER OF DESIGNER JEWELRY

Round Diamond ring, 2.00 cts., with a tapered diamond shank, in platinum, $34,350.

“Our talented gemologists and designers’ recommendations and your approvals make the experience exceptional—and have done so, with one family guiding the team, since 1898. Quality, value and selection top our list as we create your gorgeous jewelry with the most brilliant diamonds and unique designs.”

JOHN GREEN, owner JULY/AUGUST 2020 STAMFORD

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SERENA & LILY WINNER OF BEST FURNITURE + LINENS + RUGS

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ny time, but especially these days, we can appreciate the soothing qualities of Serena & Lily’s home items. From soft rugs underfoot to a silky pillow under our head at night, there’s always a calming ease that comes with their luxurious bedding, furniture and decor. Plus, we love the fresh take on the ever-popular coastal vibe that suits today’s style. It’s time to sit back and relax in pure comfort at home.

SPLURGE WINNER OF BEST HOME ACCESSORIES BOUTIQUE

“We have lots of fun things for summer, but one of the most popular is the Swig insulateddrinkware collection.

They keep beverages cold for up to twenty-four hours, and they’re dishwashersafe.”

SONIA MALLOY owner

The Soho duvet cover in Fog and White, with sheet set and shams, and white Riviera backless bench, Stonebridge rug and Soho Sconce

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READERS’ PICKS

Men’s + Women’s Watches Manfredi Jewels 121 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 866-610-0705 | 72 Elm St., New Canaan, 203-966-8705; manfredijewels.com

Baby Store She La La 120 Main St., New Canaan, 203-594-9798 | 281 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-557-8365; shopshelala.com

On Trend Jewelry + Selection of Local Designers JL Rocks 292 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-454-4541; jlrocks.com

Bookstore Barrett Bookstore 6 Corbin Dr., Darien, 203-655-2712; barrettbookstore.com

HOME Antiques/Vintage Store Fairfield County Antique and Design Center 39 Knight St., Norwalk 203-826-8575; fairfieldantiqueanddesign.com

OPPOSITE PAGE: SPLURGE BY JULIE BIDWELL; SERENA AND LILY, CONTRIBUTED; THIS PAGE; CAMCHE AND COHEN BY JEN GOLDBERG PRIVATE PORTRAITS; JL ROCKS RINGS BY HEATHER DESMOND; CHLOE WINSTON LIGHTING, CONTRIBUTED

Appliances Aitoro 401 Westport Ave., Norwalk, 203-847-2471; aitoro.com

Furniture + Linens + Rugs Serena & Lily 35 Elm St., Westport, 203-635-8000; serenaandlily.com Home Accessories Boutique Splurge 39 Lewis St., Greenwich, 203-869-7600; splurgegifts.com Lighting Chloe Winston Lighting Design 68 Water St., Norwalk, 203-663-3768; chloewinstonlighting.com

China Hoagland’s of Greenwich 175 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 888-640-9577; hoaglands.com

Luxury Imports Bungalow 4 Sconset Sq., Westport, 203-227-4406; bungalowdecor.com

Contemporary Furnishings Crate & Barrel 1200 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-222-9500; crateandbarrel.com

JL ROCKS FINE JEWELRY WINNER OF BEST ON-TREND JEWELRY + SELECTION BY LOCAL DESIGNERS

Ring stack from The City Of Lights Collection— available in 14K yellow, white and rose gold and five ring styles— inspired by Parisian landmarks

“I was inspired on a trip to Paris, meandering through the streets in the Left Bank, lunching close to Parisian beauties in crowded cafes.

I felt a lightness and carefree spirit, where less was more. I collaborated with JL Rocks to capture the simple yet sophisticated flair that is both stylish and unassuming—the feeling I get from the City of Lights.”

WENDE COHEN, owner of Bungalow, on her collaboration with Jamie Camche, owner of JL Rocks JULY/AUGUST 2020 STAMFORD

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GOLDEN ADVICE

Bright ideas from Chloe Winston, winner of best lighting.

1 STRIKING “We love to find fixtures that have movement, mixed metals and unique glass,” says Candace Pereira of Tempest by Corbett Lighting.

This lighting features eye-catching javelins, glass shades and a satin silver-leaf finish.”

2 SOOTHING “We would love to see this sconce in a fancy powder room, over a wet bar or scattered down a long corridor,“ says Candace about this mixed-metal camellia flower in Corbett’s Magic Garden collection.

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READERS’ PICKS

Outdoor Furniture Terrain 561 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-226-2750; shopterrain.com

Golf Equipment Golf Galaxy 595 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, 203-855-0500; golfgalaxy.com

Wedding Cakes Sweet Lisa’s Exquisite Cakes 3 Field Rd., Cos Cob, 203-869-9545; sweetlisas.com

Wedding Photographer Melani Lust Photography 203-454-5878; melanilustphotography.com

Toy Store HobbyTown 847 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-256-0773; hobbytown.com

Sports Gear REI 189 Connecticut Ave., Norwalk, 203-838-1938; rei.com

Wedding Deejay Kunjan Collective 652 Glenbrook Rd., Stamford; 855-881-7700; kunjancollective.com

Wedding Planner Ashley Douglass Events Greenwich, 917-748-6281; ashleydouglassevents.com

WEDDINGS

Wedding Floral Design McArdle’s 48 Arch St., Greenwich, 203-661-5600; mcardles.com

FITNESS GEAR Bicycle Shop Cycle Dynamics 971 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-226-3790; cycledynamics.com Fitness Wear lululemon 151 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-622-5046 | 69 Main St., Westport, 203-227-1378; shop.lululemon.com

Bridal Gowns + Bridesmaid Dress Boutique Marietta C. Designs 436 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich; mariettac.com

Wedding Reception Venue Inn at Longshore 260 Compo Rd. S., Westport, 203-226-3316; innatlongshore.com

Wedding Gifts Hoagland’s of Greenwich 175 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 888-640-9577; hoaglands.com

Menswear Mitchells/Richards 359 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-622-0551 670 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-227-5165; shop.mitchellstores.com

Wedding Invitations/ Stationery MK & T Design and Print 250 Westport Ave., Norwalk, 203-295-8211; mkatdesign.com

The inns waterviews, sunsets and rolling lawns create a romantic setting.

Wedding Registry Williams-Sonoma Bedford Square, 25 Church Ln., Westport, 203-221-1065; williams-sonoma.com Wedding + Engagement Rings Betteridge 239 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-869-0124; betteridge.com

INN AT LONGSHORE WINNER OF BEST WEDDING RECEPTION VENUE

“The Inn at Longshore is the perfect ‘Destination Location’ at your doorstep. Just one hour from New York City, it offers the best views of the water, incredible food and impeccable service.

The Inn hosts one event at a time, so the focus is on you and your guests.”

CHRISTINE HUSSEY director of sales and marketing stamfordmag.com

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INN AT LONGSHORE BY JOANNA FISHER PHOTOGRAPHY|CONNECTICUT

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GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

GOLDEN ADVICE

Truly dazzling beauties: 8.06 carat Asscher-cut diamond ring, 3.06 carat emerald-cut diamond ring, and 6.45 carat oval-cut diamond engagement ring

Timelessly beautiful flowers by Sweet Lisa’s Exquisite Cakes, winner of best wedding cakes.

BETTERIDGE WINNER OF BEST WEDDING & ENGAGEMENT RINGS + FINE JEWELRY

For five generations the Betteridge family has been putting a smile on the faces of brides. From intricate and delicate to stunning and bold, the rings that come out of the Betteridge workshop are as unique and beautiful as the women who wear them.

1 WHITE ROSES All of the artwork on Sweet Lisa’s cakes is done by cake designers, so if you’re not sure what you want for your cake, talk to them. Maybe it starts with your favorite flower, such as a pure white rose for new beginnings and everlasting love.

LOVE STORY WEDDING MEMORIES LAST A LIFETIME. THE EXPERTS CAN HELP YOU CREATE ONE OF THE BIGGEST MOMENTS OF YOUR LIFE, DOWN TO THE SMALLEST DETAIL.

MCARDLE’S CAKE 2 BY MICHELLE-LANGE-PHOTOGRAPHY; ALL OTHER IMAGES, CONTRIBUTED

WINNER OF BEST WEDDING FLORAL DESIGN

“McArdle’s gives a classic white-and-ivory bridal bouquet a modern update with sunny peach garden roses and wisps of wildflowers and jasmine vine, infusing the silhouette with carefree and effortless charm.”

CAITLIN CLONAN creative director

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2 PINK ROSES Roses are associated with romance in many ways.

Pink roses are said to symbolize gratitude, grace and joy. Sweet Lisa’s added pink roses as delicate and soft as a bride’s blush.

SERVICES +TO DO’S Add it to the To-Do List, and call on these handy helpers

NOBLE SALON

WINNER OF WOMEN’S HAIRSTYLING

Put down the scissors. Because of social distancing, we all had to take drastic measures, like maybe trim out-of-control bangs. But when Noble opened its doors, we once again turned to its professionals for a cut, maybe some highlights and a relaxing blow dry. Because the stylists work on hair all day, every day, they can fix even the worst home-styled bangs. stamfordmag.com

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OPPOSITE PAGE, SALON BY RONALD GLASSMAN; THIS PAGE: CELLPHONE HAND ROBOT - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; BARBELLS ©DJMILIC - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; JUMP ROPE ©NEW AFRICA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; SNEAKERS ©2DMOLIER - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

ou do not have to do everything yourself. Really. You have options, like plenty of local pros who will help you look and feel your best, keep the car running, take care of the kids and pamper the pooch. Your time is yours again.

PAMPERING Blow Out/Updo + Waxing Hair 39 South Pine Creek Rd., Fairfield, 203-255-1041; blog.cthair.com Color The Color Cafe 23 Benedict Pl., Greenwich, 203-769-1929; colorcafestudio.com Day Spa + Facial Versailles Medical Spa 106 Noroton Ave., Darien, 203-344-7687; versaillesmedicalspa.com Kids’ Haircuts Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids 1568 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-557-8700; sharkeyscutsforkids.com Makeup Application Lindsey Trop Weddings 203-550-3769; lindseytropweddings.com

Makeup Boutique Sephora 75 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-422-2191 | 100 Greyrock Pl., Stamford, 203-388-3824 | The SoNo Collection, 100 N. Water St., Norwalk, 203-842-5990; sephora.com

Women’s Hairstyling Noble Salon 848 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-322-8483; noblesalon.com

FITNESS

Mani/Pedi To and From 975 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-769-1171; toandfromnails.com

Barre The Bar Method 800 Post Rd., Darien, 203-202-7975 | 85 Mill Plain Rd., Ste. V, Fairfield, 203-259-8825; barmethod.com

Massage Massage Mavens 203-340-2518; massagemavens.com

Crossfit Crossfit Stamford 75 Selleck St., Stamford, 203-569-2906; crossfitstamford.com

Men’s Hairstyling H Salon 2060 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-255-0798; hsaloncolorcutdesign.com Spray Tan Zen Bronze 1081 East Putnam Ave., Riverside, 203-990-0209 | 179 Post Rd. W., Westport, 203-940-0667; zenbronze.com

Dance Fitness Blanks Studio 6 Lewis St., Greenwich, 818-669-5177; blanksstudios.com

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GOLDENE ADesVtreIaCming

Liv , classes fitness t home ra good fo he go. or on t

1 THE BAR METHOD No, the screen is not frozen— you actually have to keep holding that pose. When not in studio, try a leg-shaking streaming class at home or on the road. See sample classes online.

2 CLUB PILATES Try out a thirty-minute intro session online. All of the instructors have hundreds of hours of training.

3 UPPER DECK FITNESS Livestream a class, so you never miss a session, no matter where you are. Plus, it’s membership-free and a virtual coach will even keep an eye on your form.

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GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

READERS’ PICKS

Fitness Club Upper Deck Fitness 72 Camp Ave., Stamford | 8 Post Rd. W., Westport, 203-309-6231; upperdeckfitness.com Gym Orangetheory Fitness 1101 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-883-9518 | 364 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-309-2669 | 205 Main St., Norwalk, 203-883-6070 | 645 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-883-9262 | 525 Tunxis Hill Cut Off, Fairfield, 203-883-8220; orangetheoryfitness.com

ORANGETHEORY FITNESS WINNER OF BEST GYM

O

rangetheory Fitness wants to help you reach your fitness goals through coached small-group classes.

During quarantine, those classes got really small— like, solo at home. Yet, the club provided daily video workouts. Just like in-studio sessions, the coaches explained and demonstrated the workout: a mix of strength, power and endurance training through running, rowing, and weights or bands. You could even get heart-rate data for the class or when you did your own thing (say, a mind-clearing morning run).

OTF may get results based off science and technology, but their response to the COVID crisis also showed a lot of heart, which made us miss the in-person classes even more.

Indoor Cycling JoyRide Cycling + Fitness 25 Old Kings Hwy. N. (Goodwives Shopping Center), Darien, 203-202-9712 | 1200 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-349-5454 | 62 Danbury Rd., Ridgefield, 203-403-6874; joyridestudio.com Kids’ Fitness/ Sports Training Chelsea Piers Connecticut 1 Blachley Rd., Stamford, 203-989-1200; chelseapiersct.com Outdoor Sports Greenwich Community Sailing 203-698-0599; greenwichsailing.com Pilates Club Pilates 70 Main St., New Canaan, 203-405-8050 | 1063 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-4394670 | 427 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-990-1011 | 85 Mill Plain Rd., Sportsplex, Fairfield, 203-659-0090; clubpilates.com Yoga Stamford Yoga Center 13 Spring St., 2nd Fl., Stamford, 203-274-5235; stamfordyogacenter.com

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M O F F LY M E D I A

READERS’ PICKS

ERRANDS

Car Wash Splash Car Wash 203-324-5400; see all locations at splashcarwashes.com Dog Groomer/Pet Spa All Fur Paws 209 Bruce Park Ave., Greenwich, 203-542-5181; allfurpawsct.com

ORANGETHEORY FITNESS, CONTRIBUTED; HAND AND CELLPHONE ©PROSTOCK-STUDIO - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; JOYRIDE BY DAVE DELLINGER: DOG © WWW.SVETOGRAPHY.COM/ADOBESTOCK.COM ; GONZALEZ, CONTRIBUTED

Dry Cleaners Sanda’s Cleaners 59 E. Putnam Ave., Cos Cob, 203-992-1515 | 78 Pine St., New Canaan, 203-966-3962 | 178 Heights Rd., Darien,

Florist Nielsen’s Florist 1405 Post Rd., Darien, 203-655-2541; nielsensflorist.com

Pet Supplies/Pet Clothing Earth Animal 925 Post Rd.,E., Westport, 203-222-7173; earthanimal.com

Garden Center Designs by Lee 129 Interlaken Rd., Stamford, 203-322-2206 and 203-322-4744 designsbylee.com

Shoe Repair Westfair Shoe Repair 1783 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-259-5587 Storage Facility Westy Self Storage 80 Brownhouse Rd., Stamford, 203-961-8000 | 50 Keeler Ave., Norwalk, 203-899-1234 | 65 Danbury Rd., Wilton, 203-762-7600 | 2070 Kings Hwy., Fairfield, 203-256-2777; westy.com

Livery Service Hoyt Livery, Inc. 21 Cross St., New Canaan, 203-966-5466; hoytlivery.com

JOYRIDE WINNER OF BEST INDOOR CYCLING

C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

Local Hotel Delamar Southport 275 Old Post Rd., Southport, 203-259-2800; delamar.com/southport

203-656-3539 | 160 Rowayton Ave., Norwalk, 203-866-1500; ​ sandascleaners.com

Auto Repair Shop Pray Body Shop 336 Elm St., Stamford, 203-359-3025; praybodyshop.com

GOLD COAST

Rhodie Lorenz, co-owner of JoyRide Cycling + Fitness Studio, and longtime fitness instructor Mo Prester

GOLDEN ADVICE

Watch out for your dog’s paws when summer heats up streets and fields.

ALL FUR PAWS

“JoyRide’s indoor cycling classes offer a fiftyminute calorie-torching, high-intensity workout that combines rhythm riding and athletic drills. Our instructors inspire riders to join the team effort and work harder in and out of the saddle than they could work alone.

The group energy in the darkness, set to amazing playlists, ensures that you will have the best sweat while enjoying the ride.”

“If you can’t hold your hand on tarmac or artificial grass for seven seconds, then it’s too hot for your doggy’s paws— they may get burned.

This ‘Seven Second Rule’ is so important.

Dog’s paws get burned quickly when temperatures are high.”

RHODIE LORENZ

JEIDE GONZALEZ

co-owner

of All Fur Paws

Winner of Dog Groomer/ Pet Spa

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M O F F LY M E D I A

C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

READERS’ PICKS

CARNEGIE PREP WINNER OF BEST COLLEGE PREP COURSES

LYNN CARNEGIE founder and CEO

“Summer, this year in particular, is an ideal time for students to commit to thoroughly preparing for the fall test dates, especially rising seniors whose spring tests were cancelled and rising juniors who have yet to make the SAT vs. ACT decision. Students generally have much more time than during the school year, to both focus on test prep and begin work on their college applications and essays, and, of course, figure out what it is that drives their passion!”

Tailor Ted the Tailor 2 Church St., Greenwich, 203-869-5699

College Prep Courses Carnegie Prep 203-352-3500; carnegieprep.com

Veterinarian Spot On Veterinary Hospital & Hotel 184 Selleck St., Stamford, 203-973-7768; spotonvet.com

Cooking Classes AMG Catering & Events 196 Danbury Rd., Wilton, 203-227-5535; amgcatering.com

TRY IT / TUNE IN Art Classes Silvermine Arts Center 1037 Silvermine Rd., New Canaan, 203-966-9700; silvermineart.org Art Gallery Rene Soto Gallery 1 Wall St, Norwalk, 203-609-5024; renesotogallery.com Children’s Music Lessons + Music Lessons Fairfield |Trumbull School of Music 338 Commerce Dr., Fairfield, 203-690-1888; ftsmusic.org

GOLDEN ADVICE

Can small parties be fun? Of course!

Just get creative with art.

HANDS ON POTTERY Pottery to go (curbside or free delivery) and Zoom birthday parties, Hands On Pottery kept the fun of painting pottery going. Kits include everything you need to help little ones celebrate with friends or just enjoy a rainy day.

Museum Maritime Aquarium 10 North Water St., Norwalk, 203-852-0700; maritimeaquarium.org Museum for Children Stepping Stones Museum for Children 303 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-899-0606; steppingstonesmuseum.org

Language Classes Alliance Française of Greenwich 299 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-629-1340; afgreenwich.org

Nanny/Babysitting Services Nannies As Needed see all locations at nanniesasneeded.com

Live Music Spot + Performing Arts Venue Fairfield Theatre Company 70 Sanford St., Fairfield, 203-259-1036; fairfieldtheatre.org

Performing Arts Norwalk Symphony 125 East Ave., Norwalk, 203-956-6771; norwalksymphony.org Radio Station AM - Local WSHU 1260 wshu.org

Local Cover Band Tangled Vine tangledvine.com

Radio Station FM - Local WEBE 108 webe108.com

Local Rock Band The Straightjackets thestraightjacketsband.com

Radio Station Personality The Anna & Raven Show/Star 99.9 star999.com

Children’s Parties Hands On Pottery 15 Tokeneke Rd., Darien, 203-656-3995 | 1700 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-319-1273; hopct.com

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PORTRAIT OF LYNN © MEREDITH EVES FLYNN; ALL POTTERY, CONTRIBUTED BY HANDS ON POTTERY

GOLD COAST

M O F F LY M E D I A

EDITORS’ PICKS

GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

FROM THE EDITORS

YALE NEW HAVEN HEALTH ON INSTAGRAM @ YALENEWHAVENHEALTH; STAMFORD HEALTH BY RICH FREEDA; NUVANCE HEALTH/NORWALK ON INSTAGRAM @NUVANCEHEALTH; HARTFORD HEALTHCARE/ ST. VINCENT’S MEDICAL CENTER ON INSTAGRAM @ HARTFORD_HEALTHCARE

OUR READERS CAST THEIR VOTES FOR RESTAURANTS, BARS, SHOPS, SALONS, GYMS AND MORE ACROSS FAIRFIELD COUNTY—WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE LOCAL HOSPITALS THAT WERE THE FRONT LINES DURING THIS COVID-19 HEALTH CRISIS. HERE’S OUR WAY OF SAYING: YOU’RE THE BEST!

YALE NEW HAVEN HEALTH/GREENWICH HOSPITAL

STAMFORD HEALTH

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2

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

VIRTUAL VISITS

When every moment counts, as it does during the COVID-19 crisis, Yale New Haven Health EMS providers were able to get to people, and provide care, quickly.

They include the pediatric and neonatal, SkyHealth and the adult Critical Care teams. The health system, including Greenwich Hospital and Bridgeport Hospital, treated and discharged more than 3,000 COVID-19 patients since the surge hit locally from mid-March through mid-June.

It also set up a dedicated digital space for COVID-related information, including testing, visitor restrictions, prevention methods, support for caregivers, clinical resources and more. In a time like this, information and guidance helped not only patients, but the community at large. When care is critical, they can respond fast. ynhhs.org

On the front line of the COVID-19 crisis, Stamford Health doctors and nurses helped patients battle a new virus; and its scientists prepared nasopharyngeal swabs for a new molecular SARS CoV-2 test, tested COVID-19 samples, and prepared clinical lab testing to help inform diagnosis and treatment decisions. As part of the clinical trial, the hospital was first in the state to treat patients with convalescent plasma. Despite the extraordinary pressure of the health crisis, the hospital still found ways to treat other health conditions—it used telemedicine, “Stamford Health On Call Care,” to take care of common concerns, such as food poisoning and tick bites without a trip to the hospital. Patients can remain at home and still get proper and timely care. stamfordhealth.org

NUVANCE HEALTH/ NORWALK

3

4

COMMUNICATION

CONVALESCENT PLASMA DONATIONS

Having treated and released Connecticut’s first COVID-19 patient at Danbury Hospital, Nuvance Health immediately began alerting their communities about safety and prevention via its social media channels. As the pandemic spread and hospitals were running low on essential supplies, Nuvance’s fleet of seven hospitals shifted distribution of personal protective equipment and other critically needed supplies where they needed them most.

Thanks to an efficient supply chain team, they quickly moved to find new ways to get supplies to first responders—fast. Locally, Norwalk Hospital offers drive-through testing, virtual and in-person visits. Thanks to a decrease in infection rates, all Nuvance hospitals have been cleared to resume more procedures, surgeries and routine healthcare. nuvancehealth.org

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HARTFORD HEALTHCARE/ ST. VINCENT’S MEDICAL CENTER

As the world eagerly awaits a vaccine for COVID-19, hospitals are hard at work on a promising therapy that uses blood from recovered coronavirus patients.

St. Vincent’s is one of the area hospitals involved in Convalescent Plasma Therapy. The treatment was authorized for emergency use by the FDA for seriously ill patients. It provides patients antibodies that the immune system uses to fight off the virus.

Though research on the efficacy is ongoing, anecdotal evidence is very encouraging. One plasma donation can treat up to four patients. We are all waiting to see what the fall months bring in terms of a resurgence and this groundbreaking therapy may just allow us to breathe a little easier. stvincents.org

M O F F LY M E D I A

C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

C O P I N G W I T H C O R O N AV I R U S 1

THE NEW NORMAL A FEW BEST OF WINNERS ON ADAPTING TO THE DEMANDS OF THE PANDEMIC by diane sembrot

E

ven as the Best of the Gold Coast CT votes were filling up the editors’ in-boxes—revealing that locals loved certain restaurants, shops and services—some of those cherished businesses were faced with a new reality.

They had to adapt swiftly to a set of rules that seemed to change on a whim, courtesy of a oncein-a-century pandemic. We checked in with a few of our Best Of winners to ask how they pivoted to these strange days.

3

CARNEGIE PREP

We have been offering one-on-one tutoring remotely for years, so we were able to seamlessly pivot all of our services to online learning, including our courses and practice tests. Our tutors, teachers and staff have gone above and beyond to reimagine the collaborative learning environment, maintaining our commitment to individualized feedback.

Students can meet in an interactive virtual classroom, work in small groups, and receive personalized attention with the convenience of being anywhere in the world.

—Lynn Carnegie, founder and CEO, carnegieprep.com

2

WATERS EDGE AT GIOVANNI’S

We have always butchered our own meats on premise.

We believe that hand butchering meats to order creates a superb tasting cut of beef, veal or lamb. When COVID-19 began, we started selling these hand-cut steaks and chops.

This allowed our customers to experience hand-cut meats at home on their grills.

—Stacy Lindsey, art director, watersedgeatgiovannis.com.

CHLOE WINSTON

4

In these last few months, we’ve realized how lucky we are to have worked for many years with both local and remote customers by phone and FaceTime to help them with their lighting design and selections. We didn’t realize at the time we were preparing for the future.

Working in this way is second nature for us. Of course, we much prefer showing off the beauty of all we have to offer in person, but when that is not possible, we handhold our customers virtually.

—Candace Pereira, owner, chloewinstonlighting.com

THE PERFECT PAIR

I was able to keep my store up and running by recently launching a new website where I showcase all of my new items. I am offering a discount off all items and free shipping, and I do free door-to-door delivery to people in lower Fairfield County.

—Carrie Bocian, owner, theperfectpairct.com

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PHOTOGRAPHS: PENCIL ©VITALYZORKIN - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; GRILLED MEATS ©KUCHERAV - STOCK.ADOBE.COM OPPOSITE PAGE; SWEET LISA CAKE FROM THEIR INSTAGRAM FEED; COFFEE STAINS ©BREAKINGTHEWALLS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

GOLD COAST

M O F F LY M E D I A

C O P I N G W I T H C O R O N AV I R U S

SWEET LISA’S EXQUISITE CAKES 5

We are doing our best to maintain our personalized service during this unusual time in our history.

We are doing more communication via the internet and have adapted our product line into smaller orders for our clients who still realize how important it is to celebrate the special moments in life even during hard times.

—Lisa Maronian, owner, sweetlisas.com

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UPPER DECK FITNESS

As a business that addresses our clients’ unmet needs, the pandemic presented an opportunity to deliver. We realized that it would not be enough to simply replicate the service we provide in an at-home environment. Our clients wanted their sense of community and the interaction that comes along with it, which we’ve successfully been able to deliver through our virtual gym.

— Suzanne Palazzo, owner, upperdeckfitness.com

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JOYRIDE

Three things come to mind. First, offering multiple daily online classes through ZOOM, Forte and Instagram LIVE. Also, ‘Rhodie’s Leaders in JOY’ series on IGTV highlighting local leaders in our community and their tools for creating joy during challenging times. Finally, staying connected through weekly Zoom staff and instructor happy hours.

—Rhodie Lorenz, cofounder joyridestudio.com

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8

APRICOT LANE

We closed in March and reopened on May 20. We post on Instagram and Facebook every day. We did videos several times a week showing our product. We also sent emails. We offered FaceTime appointments and curbside pickup. For two months we tried to stay in touch with our customers. Since we opened, we are having a good reaction from our customers, which I am grateful for. We require masks, very high levels of cleaning, etc.

—Diane Holtz, owner of the Fairfield location, apricotlaneboutique.com

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SOLEIL TOILE

We have created a safe and clean environment in our stores and are excited to now have an e-commerce site where you can shop from home and even call our associates for advice. Items can be picked up curbside, shipped or delivered locally.

–Stacey Schumer, co-owner, soleiltoile.com

JL ROCKS

With a newly designed website, we boosted online inventory and launched e-gift cards. We also offered curbside pickup, free shipping and concierge drop-off for Fairfield County customers. We worked hard to re-create the customer service we’re known for in a virtual experience. We offered FaceTime consultations and sent frequent correspondence to our email list so that customers knew we were open and finding solutions. We’re keeping the online momentum while reopening brickand-mortar in an omnichannel approach. We’ll soon open a location in Greenwich.”

—Jamie Camche, owner, jlrocks.com JULY/AUGUST 2020 STAMFORD

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GOLD COAST C O N N E C T I C U T • 2020

TOWN WINNERS Loyal to your hometown? We love it! Here are the Best of Stamford winners.

NEED TO CHANGE LOGO TO STAMFORD

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READERS’ PICKS

FOOD + DRINK

French Chez Vous Bistro chezvousbistro.com

Breakfast The Stamford Diner stamforddiner.com

RESTAURANTS

Greek + Mediterranean Kouzina Greek Taverna & Bar kouzinataverna.com

Frozen Yogurt + Ice Cream/Gelato Sunny Daes sunnydaesicecream.com

American + Best Service Bedford Hall bedfordhallstamford.com Creative Menu Taco Daddy tacodaddystamford.com

Hotel Restaurant Villa Italia Ristorante & Bar villaitaliastamford.com

Hamburgers Bareburger bareburger.com

Indian Tawa cttawa.com

Pizza Fortina fortinapizza.com

KOUZINA BY KYLE NORTON; CAFE SILVIUM CONTRIBUTED; OPPOSITE PAGE PHOTOGRAPH BY ©GOLUBOVY - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; WATER’S EDGE BY BOB CAPZZO

Outdoor Dining Capriccio Café capriccio-cafe.com

Ribs/Barbeque Judy’s Bar + Kitchen judysbarandkitchen.com

Special Occasion/Date Night Table 104 table104stamford.com

Seafood F.I.S.H. fishstamford.com

REGIONAL SPECIALTIES

Chinese Blue Ginger stamfordblueginger.com

Steaks The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s watersedgeatgiovannis.com

ITALIAN

Sushi Kiku Sushi Japanese Cuisine stamfordkikusushi.com

Everyone loves Italian food. Café Silvium shows why. Check out this papardelle with wild boar sausage, cherry tomatoes and burrata. Hand over a fork—now.

Tapas Barcelona Wine Bar barcelonawinebar.com

Italian Cafe Silvium cafesilviumct.com

CASUAL SPOTS

Japanese Kashi kashijapanese.com

Café/Bistro + Coffee Shop Lorca Coffee Bar lorcacoffeebar.com

Mexican + Spanish Brasitas Restaurant brasitas.com

Deli Corbo’s Southside Deli corbosdeli.com

Thai Little Buddha littlebuddhact.com

GREEK + MEDITERRANEAN Calamari, Souvlaki, grilled lamb chops, mousaka, grilled asparagus and all of your favorites at KOUZINA GREEK TAVERNA + BAR. Check out the wine and drink specials, too.

How do you make any meal better— with the right wine choice?

Hot Dogs The Weinery thewienery.com

New Restaurant Mecha Noodle mechanoodlebar.com

Asian Fusion Mecha Noodle mechanoodlebar.com

GOLDEN ADVICE

Diner Elm Street Diner elmstreetdiner.com

COMFORT FOOD

Family-Friendly Lucky’s Classic luckysclassic.com

Bagels Liz Sue Bagels lizsuebagelsinc.com

Food Truck Daniels Food Truck danielstruck.com

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“For over thirty years JoAnn and Sal have been purchasing the perfect wines to pair with your meal at The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s in Darien. They have created an awardwinning and one of the best stocked wine cellars in all of Fairfield County.

Next time you stop by, ask for a ‘tour.’

Their favorite part of being in business is the love they have felt from the customers and friends. Even though she can’t hug her customers, they have shown her love through their continued patronage and support.”

STACY LINDSEY Water’s Edge

READERS’ PICKS

Guests expect good service, so what does that mean now?

SHOP + STYLE

Vegetarian Teff teffstamford.com

FASHION

MARKETS + MORE

Cocktail Attire + Gala Black Tie Attire A Step Ahead astepaheadfashion.com

Bakery + Cupcakes + Desserts DiMare Pastry Shop dimarepastry.com

Department Store Saks OFF 5th saksoff5th.com

GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Butcher Shop LaRocca’s Country Market lcountrymarket.com

“We’re so pleased to be recognized for best service. I personally think that the vibe of the restaurant when you walk in should be comfortable and fun at the same time. And I always ask my staff to make guests feel at home, try to understand the mood that they are in and treat them like they would like to be treated if they would be ones having drinks and/or dinner. And given these times, I hope people think of us not just for a specific favorite dish, but also for our outdoor seating.”

WALTER CAPPELLI Managing Partner, Table 104

You don’t need a huge crowd to have fun—just a few good friends who share your taste for Bedford Hall ‘s creative cocktails.

Candy CVS cvs.com

Girls’ Night Out + Martinis Bedford Hall Craft Kitchen & Bar bedfordhallstamford.com

Caterer + Gourmet To Go Marcia Selden Catering & Event Planning marciaselden.com Fish Market New Wave Seafood newwaveseafood.com

Happy Hour + Singles Scene (Over 35) F.I.S.H. fishstamford.com

Gourmet Grocery Fairway Market fairwaymarket.com

Margaritas Mexicue mexicue.com

Health Food The Little Gourmet Shop thelittlegourmetshop.com

Microbrewery Lock City Brewing lockcitybrewing.com

Personal Chef Services Libby Cooke Catering libbycookecatering.com

Outdoor Bar Prime stamford.restaurantprime.com

Liquor Store BevMax bevmax.com

Pub Tigín Irish Pub tiginirishpub.com/stamford

Wine Shop Westcott Cove Wine & Spirits 203-890-9222

Singles Scene (Under 35) Sign of the Whale signofthewhalect.com

BAR BOASTS

Restaurant Bar Table 104 table104stamford.com

Beer Selection Cask Republic caskrepublic.com

Wine List The Waters Edge at Giovanni’s watersedgeatgiovannis.com

Big Game Night Bobby V’s Restaurant & Sports Bar bobbyvsrestaurant.com stamfordmag.com

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Eyewear Chic Boutique Optical chicboutique-optical.com Lingerie + Men’s Fashion + Men’s Shoes + Swimwear + Women’s Fashion + Women’s Shoes Lord & Taylor lordandtaylor.com Designer Boutique + Jeans + Teen Fashion Havana Jeans shophavanajeans.com

JEANS For instant comfort, no matter how high the temperatures soar outside, we turn to our favorite pair of jeans. And to get them, our readers head to Havana Jeans.

They say they have the largest selection around, meaning your new pair is just a short drive away.

They have the trendy new looks as well as classic go-to styles that always look and feel good.

ALL IMAGES CONTRIBUTED

GOLDEN ADVICE

Lunch Spot + Weekend Brunch Bedford Hall Craft Kitchen & Bar bedfordhallstamford.com

READERS’ PICKS

JEWELRY Anniversary & Special Occasion Jewelry + Designer Jewelry + Fine Jewelry + Local Boutique + On Trend Jewelry + Selection of Jewelry by Local Designers R. Hollander Master Goldsmith ringart.com Estate Jewelry Peter Suchy Jewelers petersuchyjewelers.com Everyday Jewelry Lord & Taylor lordandtaylor.com Men’s Watches + Women’s Watches NAGI Jewelers nagijewelers.com

HOME Antique/Vintage United House Wrecking unitedhousewrecking.com

Golf Equipment Sterling Farms Golf Shop sterlingfarmsgolfshop.net

Wedding Planner Ashley Douglass Events ashleydouglassevents.com

Sports Gear Instant Replay Sports instantreplaysports.info

Wedding Reception Venue Stamford Yacht Club stamfordyc.com

WEDDINGS

Wedding & Engagement Rings R. Hollander Master Goldsmith ringart.com

Bridesmaid Dresses A Step Ahead astepaheadfashion.com

PAMPERING

Wedding DJ/Live Music Kunjan Collective kunjancollective.com

Blow Out/Updo Salon Shahin salonshahin.com

Wedding Floral Design Peter’s Wholesale Florist peterswholesaleflorist.com

Color Noble noblesalon.com Facial + Men’s & Women’s Salon La Jolie Salon and Spa lajoliesalonandspa.com Day Spa + Massage Noëlle Spa for Beauty & Wellness noelle.com

China + Home Accessories Juliska Boutique juliska.com

Kids’ Haircuts Happy Kids Haircuts happykidscutsstamford.com

Outdoor Furniture Walpole Outdoors walpoleoutdoors.com

Toy Store Awesome Toys & Gifts stamfordtoys.com

RUSS HOLLANDER BY RANDY MATUSOW

SPORTS GEAR Bicycle Shop Pacific Cycling & Triathlon pacificsbr.com Fitnesswear Rhone rhone.com

What makes wedding jewelery more meaningful now?

SERVICES + TO-DO’S

Wedding Cakes DiMare Pastry Shop dimarepastry.com

Bookstore The Book Shop at Ferguson Library fergusonlibrary.org

Rugs Floor Covering Warehouse floorcw.com

GOLDEN ADVICE

Makeup Application Lindsey Trop Weddings lindseytropweddings.com

FLORAL DESIGN Peter’s Wholesale Florist Add some beauty to your day or special occasion with a fresh floral arrangement. Enjoy the colors and fragrance flowers give us.

Makeup Boutique Sephora sephora.com Mani/Pedi Colorcity Nails & Spa 203-595-5733

Wedding Gifts + Registry Juliska Boutique juliska.com

Spray Tan Sunset Beach 203-252-2582

Wedding Menswear Lord + Taylor lordandtaylor.com

Waxing European Wax Center waxcenter.com

Wedding Photographer Melani Lust Photography melanilustphotography.com

“For the forty-four years that I’ve been bringing my hands to metal, I’ve been guided by one simple design brief: tailor unique solutions to each client’s individual needs. The antithesis of canned ‘branded’ jewelry, we’re passionate creators of family heirlooms; hand-fabricated, never CAD-generated or cast, from the ground up to provide generations of cherished wear.

Nothing exemplifies this state of the craft better than the handmade platinum three-stone ring, elegant forged solitaire or hand engraved signet.”

RUSS HOLLANDER RH Master Goldsmith

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READERS’ PICKS

How have you adapted your cooking classes for these days?

“I have been entertaining clients and growing my followers throughout the Covid-19 pandemic via social media with my daily cooking videos, uploaded recipes, tips and more. I have also been hosting charity fundraisers for local nonprofits to help support the community.

I am looking forward to another fun summer bringing my cooking parties to Nantucket in a socially responsible manner, as well as getting back to business in the fall.”

JULIA DEANE Culinary Works

Barre + Kids’ Fitness/ Sports Training + Pilates Chelsea Piers Connecticut chelseapiersct.com

KIDS TRAINING AND MORE The massive sports-andtraining facility Chelsea Piers Connecticut was temporarily closed due to social distancing, but they offered live virtual sports and fitness classes.

Car Wash Splash Car Wash splashcarwashes.com

College Prep Courses Tutor Me SOS tutormesos.com

Dog Groomer/Pet Spa Spot On Veterinary Hospital & Hotel spotonvet.com

Cooking Classes Culinary Works LLC culinaryworks.com

Dry Cleaners Go Green Dry Cleanerss gogreendrycleaners.net

Language Classes German School of Connecticut germanschoolct.org

Florist Springdale Florist & Garden Center springdaleflorists.com

Live Music Spot + Performing Arts Venue Palace Theatre palacetheaterct.org

Garden Center Designs By Lee designsbylee.com

Local Cover Band Tangled Vine tangledvine.com

Livery Service Rudy’s Executive Transportation rudylimo.com

Local Rock Band The Straightjackets thestraightjacketsband.com

Local Hotel The Lloyd thelloydstamford.com

Museum + Museum for Children Stamford Museum & Nature stamfordmuseum.org

Crossfit Crossfit Stamford crossfitstamford.com

Storage Facility Westy Self Storage westy.com

Dance Fitness Dance With Me Stamford dancewithmeusa.com

Tailor Mario the Tailor 203-324-5177 Veterinarian Bull’s Head Pet Hospital mybhph.com

Fitness Club + Gym Upper Deck Fitness upperdeckfitness.com Indoor Cycling Classes Life Cycle lifecyclect.com

TRY IT / TUNE IN Art Classes Loft Artists Association loftartists.org

Yoga Harmony Yoga harmonyogastudio.com

Art Gallery Danger Gallery shop.dangergallery.com

ERRANDS

Children’s Music Lessons Jumpin Jams jumpinjams.com

Appliances County TV & Appliance countytv.com

Children’s Parties Chelsea Piers Connecticut chelseapiersct.com

Auto Repair Shop Pray Body Shop praybodyshop.com

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Music Lessons Intempo intempo.org Nanny/Babysitting Services Wee Care Nanny & Sit ting Service weecarenanny.com Performing Arts Curtain Call curtaincallinc.com Radio Station AM Local WSHU AM 1260 wshu.org Radio Station FM Local WEBE 108 webe108.com Radio Station Personality The Anna & Raven Show/Star 99.9 star999.com

JULIA DEANE BY PAUL JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY ; OTHER IMAGES, CONTRIBUTED

GOLDEN ADVICE

FITNESS

8TH ANNUAL

B E ST BARTE N D E R C O NTE ST by

WEDNESDAY SEPT 2*

6:30-9:00 p.m.

Harbor Point, Stamford Presented by

MAGAZINE

Join the Fun

Help Choose Stamford’s Best Bartender RD W! I B Y L R EA ON SALE NO

TICKETS

SED RCHA !

U P N 11 HE $35 W RE AUGUST BEFO

Vote for your favorite signature cocktail!

Taste dishes prepared by Stamford's best restaurants.

Enjoy live Calypso music and the beautiful waterfront patio.

Get in the Game!

Business & Restaurant sponsorships available Contact Publisher, Karen Kelly: 203.571.1624 or Karen.Kelly@Moffly.com Get your tickets now bestbartenderstamford.com (tickets also available at the door)

A PORTION OF THE TICKET PROCEEDS TO BENEFIT WATERSIDE SCHOOL

*Rain Date: Thursday, Sept 3 6:30-9:00 p.m.

awards

the premier home design competition

Save the date!

A-List Awards Virtual Ceremony Wednesday, September 16, 2020 STAY TUNED FOR DETAILS! JUDGES

BRIAN SAWYER Sawyer | Berson

MARA MILLER Carrier and Company

JESSE CARRIER Carrier and Company

BRITT ZUNINO Studio DB

DAMIAN ZUNINO Studio DB

athomefc.com #athomefc Sponsors >

KEITH WILLIAMS Nievera Williams

EDWARD SIEGEL Edward Siegel Architect

advertisers index AUTOMOTIVE Splash Car Wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 BUILDING & HOME IMPROVEMENT California Closets . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 BUSINESS & FINANCE Cummings & Lockwood LLC . . . . . 10 Davidson, Dawson & Clark LLP . . . . 12 ENTERTAINMENT Curtain Call Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Stamford Tent & Event Services . . . . . . . . . Cover 3 EVENTS 8th Annual Best Bartender Contest

by Stamford magazine . . . . . . . . 69 A-list Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 SoundWaters Flotilla 2020 . . . . . . 33 FOOD, CATERING & LODGING B.J. Ryan's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

PHOTOGRAPHY

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B.J. Ryan's Banc House BBQ & Crab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 B.J. Ryan's Magnolia Room . . . . . . 21 Judy's Kitchen & Bar . . . . . . . . . . 29 Mackenzie's Bar & Grill . . . . . . . . . 35 Marcia Selden Catering . . . . . . . . . . 9 Table 104 Osteria & Bar . . . . . . . . .19 Tabouli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Taco Daddy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 3 The Waters Edge at Giovanni's . . . 4, 5 Winvian Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 HEALTH & BEAUTY Hospital for Special Surgery/ Stamford Health . . . . . . . . . . . 13 The Nathaniel Witherell . . . . . . . . . 31 Nuvance Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

LANDSCAPING, NURSERY & FLORISTS Evergreen Lawn & Tree Services, LLC . . . . . . . . . 31 NONPROFIT AmeriCares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 REAL ESTATE Barbara Hickey, Sotheby's/ William Pitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 SPORTS & FITNESS Upper Deck Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . 25 MISCELLANEOUS Big Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 Westy Self Storage . . . . . . . . . . . 31

PLAN AHEAD

JEWELRY Betteridge . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 2, 1 Lux Bond & Green . . . . . . . . Cover 4 R. Hollander Master Goldsmith . . . . 15 Rolex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cover 2, 1

PHOTO BOOTH

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VIDEO

SEPTEMBER: Teens to Watch AD RESERVATION CLOSE: MONDAY, AUGUST 3

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Moffly Media is one of the leading providers of professional event photography and marketing services in Fairfield County.

We capture compelling, high-quality images of individuals and groups at meaningful events. With our wide range of capabilities, Moffly will customize a marketing program that’s just right for you.

LEARN MORE! Contact KATHLEEN GODBOLD at Kathleen.Godbold@moffly.com or 203.571.1654

JULY/AUGUST 2020 STAMFORD

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postscript

JULY/AUG 2020 / DONNA MOFFLY

M

It was a great success, except that the hotel charged the whole party to our photographer.

y father used to say, “I can stand anything as long as it’s the best.” And this month we celebrate the Moffly Media’s Best of the Gold Coast where most of us are blessed to live.

You readers picked the winners—voting online for your favorite whatevers in Fairfield County from 185 categories ranging from jewelry stores and yoga teachers to wine shops and wedding registries. Then, normally—let’s forget coronavirus lockdowns for a minute— winners could set up booths at our big event to display their lingerie or fishing trips to the masses.

And, man, were you eating—consider Little Pub’s pulled pork tacos, Marcia Selden’s floating salad and Nikki Glekkas’ champagne popsicles.

Of course, the Lager-lovers didn’t mind waiting in line at the Stella-Artois station. Then there were the freebees—like funky earrings from Helen Ainson, haircuts from Noelle and spray tans from Pink Soda Blow Dry. Think 1,600 people—and at a party that size, stuff happens. One year a wine merchant accidentally took home Saugatuck Sweets’ icecream freezer. Aitoro once left a humungous refrigerator in the ballroom, planning to pick it up in the morning. Except the hotel had a breakfast event, and Westport publisher Gaby Mays had to roust the owner out of bed to come get it. But the Stamford Museum’s goats Hoda and Kathie Lee behaved themselves.

As this goes to press, we’re still figuring out how to celebrate our winners in this summer of challenge; so stay tuned and let’s take a virtual trip to our Best Of launch party at the Hyatt sixteen years ago.

For some reason we’d decided on 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. mid-August. The hottest time of year. People were in Nantucket. Same night stamfordmag.com

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as St. Catherine’s Fair. Dumb, dumb, dumber.

Nobody would show up, right?

Even so, we shut down our offices for the day and went into battle with a small army of editors, artists and sales reps. Staff photographer Bob Capazzo manned the loading dock, where a vendor spilled a whole vat of gazpacho on his white pants; our diminutive creative director Amy Vischio wrestled a dolly stacked with cases of wine down the hall; and a hot-dog truck backing into the Hyatt patio almost took the awning down.

But the flood gates finally opened. And by 7:30 p.m., when I went to welcome Congressman Chris Shays (Attorney General Dick Blumenthal and TV star Lara Spencer had arrived), I learned we’d already run through the 1,000 yellow wristbands at check-in; so we had to call security to help identify crashers, mostly hotel guests trying to sneak in. By 8:00, as three bands played on, we were up to 1,500 attendees.

By 8:30, I’d kicked off my high heels and was chasing a kid riding through the corridors on a bike he’d lifted from Dave’s Cycle. Hot on my heels were two guys from security—a scene out of the Keystone Cops.

It was a great success, except that the hotel charged the whole party to our photographer.

They had Bob’s credit card on file because he did occasional shoots there. “Gee, Bob, thanks!” we told him. “You’re a real sport!” Eventually things were straightened out, but not before his bank account was locked down for an inconvenient length of time and somebody’s head rolled at the Hyatt.

In any case, as realtor David Ogilvy famously observed: “I’ve never seen more people I didn’t know having the time of their lives.”

We needn’t have worried about anything— except about our waistlines.

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