Stamford Magazine, Mar/Apr 2019

BUZZ: AN INVENTOR ON HIS AWARD-WINNING APP HOME: EASY WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR ENTRY

SHOP: SPRING TRENDS IN FULL BLOOM DO: LEARNING THE ROPES AT BETA CLIMBING

STAMFORD te of 19 a t S The state 20 E Real AT I S

MARCH/APRIL 2019 | $5.95

WH HOUSE R YO U O R T H ?

W . 76

French Accent

pg

An interior designer’s favorite finds and the stories behind them

TASTE MAKER Francine Gardner with her son after running errands

LONDON CALLING

Fashion power houses on this season’s red-carpet looks

ITALIAN FLAVOR

In the kitchen with Food Network star and Fortina owner Christian Petroni

AUSTRIAN EMPIRE

Popular patisserie brings classic sweet treats to Harbor Point

Take a look at Palm Beach County from a whole new perspective: Our educated workforce, multilingual skilled labor, training programs, incentives, intelligent infrastructure, appealing corporate tax structure – against the backdrop of an unparalleled lifestyle.

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A RARE PURCHASE OPPORTUNITY Beautiful, New Construction Homes and Townhomes with Clubhouse, Pool, and Fitness Center in a Prime Stamford Location

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All photos and renderings are artists illustrations and not exact offerings for sale. Details, specifications, and prices herein may change without notice. This is not an offering where prohibited by law.

contents MAR/APR 2019 vol. 10 | no. 2

features

departments

56

10 EDITOR’S LETTER

by ca mil l a a . herrer a

13 STATUS REPORT

ACQUIRED TASTE

BUZZ Ryan Edkins; Fairfield County House SHOP Spring Fashion Report DO Beta Climbing + Fitness; Spring Into Shape GO Road Trips; BMW X4 HOME Curb Appeal EAT Patisserie Salzburg; Seasonal Cocktails

A well-traveled interior designer brings some of her favorite finds back home to Stamford by ju dy o st row

70

40 DAD ABOUT TOWN

by kev in mc k eev er

WELL DONE Chef Christian Petroni is well known in the local foodie scene.

Food Network took notice.

Here’s his recipe for success. by m ary k at e ho gan

43 VOWS

76

Schwartz–Marshall 45 SCENE STEALERS

Fairfield County House; Help for Kids; Moffly Media’s Light a Fire Awards; Pacific House; SilverSource; Stamford Health; Stamford Public Education Foundation

MAKING A MOVE The state of real estate—who’s buying, what’s selling and where the market is changing by s c ot t t homas

80

BRITISH INVASION Is London the new fashion capital? Three designers make the case with brands based in the stylish British city.

how big or small.

94 80

by m e g a n g ag non

95 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS 96 LAST WORD

by b et h l ev ine

STAMFORD MAGAZINE MARCH/APRIL 2019, VOL. 10, NO. 2. 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.

cover photo gr aph by hulya kol abas stamfordmag.com

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PHOTOGRAPHS: MODEL COURTESY OF SAFIYAA; WEDDING BY ANN HERMAN

88 RESOURCE-FULL DIRECTORY

A comprehensive listing of architects, builders, landscapers, design experts and shops that will help you with any home project, no matter

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NOW IT’S TWO AGAINST ONE

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LIGHT A FIRE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE/BOB CAPAZZO; A-LIST PHOTOS (WOMAN IN WHITE AND MEN AT PODIUM) BY JACEK DOLATA; WOMAN WITH SHEEP BY JULIE BIDWELL; L’ESCALE BY THOMAS MCGOVERN

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10 YEARS OF COVERING IT ALL vol. 10 | no. 2 | march/april 2019 creative director Amy Vischio executive editor Cristin Marandino

editorial editor

Successful Real Estate Sales Demands Hard Work Your Choice of a Real Estate Professional is Easy

Camilla A. Herrera market editor Megan Gagnon editoral advisor Donna Moffly editorial assistant Joey Macari contributing editors Julee Kaplan - editor, new canaan • darien Cristin Marandino - editor, greenwich Diane Sembrot - editor, fairfield living; westport contributing writers Kim-Marie Evans, Valerie Foster, Chris Hodenfield, Mary Kate Hogan, Elizabeth Keyser, Beth Levine, Kevin McKeever, Judy Ostrow, Scott Thomas copy editors Terry Christofferson, David Podgurski editorial advisory board Harry Day, Juanita James, PJ Kennedy Jamie Krug, Michael Marchetti, Arthur Selkowitz Jami Sherwood, Lou Ursone

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10 YEARS OF COVERING IT ALL vol. 10 | no. 2 | march/april 2019 publisher

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executive director, event marketing Laurinda Finelli director, event marketing Caroline C. Steber partnership manager Kathleen Godbold event coordinator Stephanie McCarthy strategic marketing director Wendy Horwitz creative services art director Molly Cottingham

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editor’s letter

MARCH/APRIL 2019 / CAMILLA A. HERRERA

I

grew up in a house of collectors. Whether it was my father, mother or brother, each one could point at a cherished work of art, antique, vinyl album, piece of silverware, ceramic or book and regale anyone who would listen with a detailed account of its provenance. It was impossible not to commit some of those stories to memory.

Like the time my late father, who prized his art collection, shipped a painting back to the gallery where he had purchased it to have the artist repair a spot on the canvas that had been nicked during a move. Months later, the painting was back on the wall, with the damage intact. The artist instead made subtle touch-ups that included a small red streak. I can still hear my father’s delighted laugh every time he told the story, one that—much like so many tales attached to his favorite things—he believed gave the painting greater value.

Like my father, interior designer Francine Gardner, whose Westover home we highlight in our cover feature (see pg. 56), is also happy to share stories about her home and many of the pieces that adorn its interiors.

The tour begins on the courtyard just past the property’s entrance. It was here where, two decades ago, Gardner stood and knew after a quick glimpse of the stable-turned-residence

stamfordmag.com

10

that she had found her dream house, one that recalls her childhood home on a vineyard in southwestern France. Today, the décor within reflects her well-honed aesthetic instincts, exhibited in living spaces that display a thoughtful blend of signature pieces from her firm’s collections with industrial antiques and an eclectic mix of personal treasures and objets d’art from around the world.

Adding context to the visual arragements were the stories, told one after another, each one about an item that is cherished, meaningful and true to Gardner’s sense of style. One anecdote that stands out is attached to a prominently displayed print by a noted artist (hint: pg. 78). My father would have appreciated that story.

Since I am being nostalgic, now is as good a time as any to announce that Stamford magazine will be turning ten this fall. To all our friends and neighbors who have supported us since we launched, stay tuned.

Fun plans are already underway and hope you join us in this anniversary celebration.

camilla.herrera@moffly.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRUCE PLOTKIN

A STORIED LIFE

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buzz STATUS REPORT

WHIZ KID

AITE’S RYAN EDKINS DEVELOPS A MOISTURE DETECTION SYSTEM, WHICH EARNS HIM A WIN AT THE RECENT REGIONAL YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE by beth levine

above: Ryan Edkins plans to study engineering and finance in college beginning this fall.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KYLE NORTONDesign:

Lauren Martin

W

hen RYAN EDKINS was ready for high school, it was a no-brainer as to where he would go. With a passion for engineering and computer science, the Wilton resident knew the courses, smaller classes, expanded schedules and school size of Stamford’s Academy of Information Technology & Engineering (AITE) would be a perfect fit.

Sure, it’s been a long daily commute, but all that road travel was justified last summer when Edkins, now eighteen and a senior at AITE, won first place (and $1,500 in seed capital) in the Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge for his business

BY THE NUMBERS AN EQUATION FOR SUCCESS

plan for Moist-True. Edkins’ invention, a moisture-detection product that connects to a smartphone, alerts people when plants need to be watered, thereby preventing water waste.

Hosted by the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship NY Metro, the Regionals featured twenty teams from Metro New York, Westchester and Fairfield counties, selected out of 2,300 submissions. Edkins’ win there qualified him to attend the Nationals in October. That’s as far as he got but no matter: “The fact that I even made it to the Nationals was incredible,” says Edkins.

“A lot of the other kids in the Nationals were working in groups but Ryan mostly

$80

10

Amount of money spent on the prototype

MARCH/APRIL 2019 STAMFORD

13

worked by himself,” says his mother, Cristine.

“That’s what we are the proudest of: That he thought of it, was creative enough to develop it and follow it through.”

The idea for Moist-True came to Edkins when he and his father, James, noticed that neighbors’ lawn sprinklers were on even while it rained. “It seemed like such a waste of water,” says Edkins. “We thought it would be cool if there were a way to turn them off when [they weren’t needed.]” It was then he decided to try to make a product that could do this for indoor plants as well, thus avoiding ruining plants by overwatering.

Edkins initially worked on his idea for his entrepreneurship class. He then developed it for his AP Capstone Diploma Program, where he had to create a blueprint and share the process of how it gets done. After a lot of research and effort, and with the help of classmate Rahul Akaere, Edkins came up with the final prototype. “It works by detecting the soil moisture and sending that information to your phone,” he explains. “You can see when to water your plants.”

For now, Edkins looks ahead to college, where he plans to study engineering and finance. “When I am older with more experience and capital, I hope to take Moist-True further,” he says.

None of this comes as a surprise to Edkins’ parents. “Ryan has been a curious kid from birth,” says James. “He loves to take things apart and put them back together to understand how they work. And he has a huge work ethic.”

Months it took to perfect the prototype

3

Number of prototypes made before competition

buzz

HEART & HOME

A NEW CONCEPT IN END-OF-LIFE CARE COMES TO STAMFORD

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY HOUSE

by valerie foster

above: Fairfield County House boasts a welcoming curb appeal; below: A cozy den for visitors

I

n January, Mary Ellen Hagedus of Fairfield was desperate to find a warm and loving place for her Aunt Peg to spend the last days of her life.

Her aunt could no longer stay in the hospital and her assistedliving home could not provide the round-the-clock care she needed.

One phone call led to another and someone told Hagedus about FAIRFIELD COUNTY HOUSE (FCH), the new hospice home in the Roxbury area of Stamford. As soon as she stepped through the doors, she realized this was the place for her aunt. “I was blown

away,” she says. “Every detail just oozed compassion. The staff displayed such thoughtfulness and I knew that Aunt Peg’s every need would be met. We found home.”

Those words bring a smile to the faces of Greenwich’s Loretta Lacci, executive director, and New Canaan’s Colleen Harkey, development director. Creating a home was always the intent.

“Our goal has always been to provide home hospice care in a residential setting … to create a home where our residents are comfortable and well cared

stamfordmag.com

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T

for,” Lacci says, adding that it is equally important for family and friends to feel at home, where kids can kick off their shoes and run around, and where families can gather around a fireplace and talk.

“We strive to help families find joy in the time they have together,” says Harkey. “You can go anywhere to receive services.

This home is filled with joy and positivity. Our goal is to make the last months or days meaningful.”

Hagedus would say that goal was accomplished. Her Aunt Peg only lived eight days at FCH, but the days were filled with love and respect. “People hear the word hospice and they run the other way. We are all going to die.

And this is a wonderful place to meet the end of your life. Dignity, respect, beautiful facility filled with sun, calming colors, calming staff and amazing care are all woven into the fabric of the place.

I feel nothing but gratitude.”

Money Talk

The cost is $550 per day, which includes room and board, nursing care, activities, laundry and housekeeping.

FCH is an out-of-network facility; it will provide an invoice that can be forwarded to the insurance company.

2 Six resident rooms, all with private porches, and modern bathrooms including showers and walk-in bathtubs 3 A large dining room 4 A multi-purpose room for family parties 5 A sleek, well-appointed kitchen

6 An expansive family room with a fireplace and TV 7 A sanctuary for meditation, Reiki and massage 8 A respite room, where families can gather or children can do their homework; family members can also catch a few hours of sleep on one of the pull-out sofas

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY HOUSE

above: The dining room is available for visitors to use and stay close to loved ones.

1 A cozy den to sit and read or just talk

he colonial home looks like its neighbors—painted a soothing gray-blue, with crisp white trim, a large front porch and a welcome mat to greet visitors.

You have to look very carefully to realize this is a hospice home. There are 10,000 square feet of living, relaxing and office spaces that include:

above: A resident room, decorated in bright colors, with ample space for visiting family

THE BUILD UP

IT TAKES A VILLAGE—HOW FAIRFIELD COUNTY HOUSE BECAME A HOME

A

core group working tirelessly for eight years made this concept a reality. Loretta Lacci, herself a longtime member of FCH’s board of directors, credits the original idea to Lynda Tucker, a nurse with the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care of Fairfield County. Lynda enlisted the help of Cici Coutant, Rick Redniss, Lisa Rich and Lawrence Weisman, and together they set the plans in motion. stamfordmag.com

16

Volunteers raised $1.4 million; secured $1 million of in-kind donations, including the property (worth $450,000) from the Roxbury Association; and obtained a $1.25 million state construction grant. They also worked with neighbors in the Den and Roxbury roads area, pledging to retain a residential feel. There is no signage, and the parking lot and entrance are at the rear of the property, out of sight from the road.

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SUNDAY SAINT TROPEZ Lou Lou print top; $450.

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FIGUE Audrey tassel slides; $298.

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ISLAND TIME

Ruffled cotton dress; $1,595. michaelkors.com

Get resort-ready with tropical blooms SAINT LAURENT Kate bamboo chain bag; $3,990.

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HOBBS Margo hat; $80.

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MIGNONNE GAVIGAN Blush leaf earrings; $175 mignonne gavigan.com

Bag; $405.

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PATBO Paradise printed wide leg pants; $495. Intermix, Greenwich, Westport; intermixonline.com

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TOM FORD Tara chalk leather crossboday; $1,890.

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MACKAGE Baya moto jacket; $790.

Tina Dragone, Darien, Westport; tinadragone.com

VINCE Linen blazer; $395. Greenwich, Westport; vince.com

HENRY’S Large tote; $650.

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DAVIDOR 18k Rose gold, diamond and white lacquer “L’Arc” bangle; $33,650.

Betteridge, Greenwich; betteridge.com

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN Moona white patent leather and PVC 100mm pump; $1,045. christian louboutin.com

JOIE Tylar short in porcelain; $178.

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GUCCI Slim rectangular sunglasses; $435.

Lord & Taylor, Stamford; lordandtaylor.com

Highlighter hues pack a playful punch

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Stretch wool blazer; $598.

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ADAM LIPPES Double face wool tailored blazer; $1,490. Copious Row, Greenwich; copiousrow.com

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Nudist in neon yellow; $398.

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do W

e all have fears. One of mine is heights.

So when I was asked to try indoor-climbing at the new Beta Climbing + Fitness on Harbor Drive, I was a tad nervous. I was a kid the last time I went climbing, and that was at Timbertown—that giant indoor playscape all ’90s kids like me remember. Since then, I’ve been afraid of falling. But thanks to Beta’s team, I got a good grip on climbing, which made that fear go away.

It’s a good thing, too, because I was prepared to choke. The only time I’ve been to a facility like Beta was a couple of years ago to learn how to rappel (a controlled descent in a harness) in preparation for my role as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I found rappelling easy. Climbing,

Up, Up and Away Stamford magazine’s Joey Macari is willing to try anything. Here, using a top rope, she is in the middle of making her way to the top.

I believed, would prove too difficult and stressful.

When I arrived at Beta, I was immediately taken aback by the huge space, the tall, bouldering wall faces, and the multi-colored holds (grips). The place is gorgeous, which helped relieve some of the tension. Ara Morton, one of the climbing coaches, showed me around. I learned that he is also an actor and a Shakespeare lover. That made me feel comfortable and quite frankly, really excited.

We started on a wall with an auto-belay, a supporting mechanism that tightens up as I ascend and catches me should I lose my grip. Morton coached me the entire way, cheering me on and calming my nerves. I summoned a little courage to move on to a different wall

above: Ara Morton demonstrates bouldering, the process when a climber makes his way up a wall without ropes or a harness.

with a top rope. For this climb, ropes are looped into a carabiner inside the harness. A lead belayer (in this case, Morton) was on the ground controlling the rope and picking up the slack as I climbed.

It took a little coaxing, but I took on the more difficult route. I made it to the top!

The climb did have its hiccups, though. Due to an old wrist injury, I kept stopping and starting over. But once Morton showed me how to minimize the stress on my wrists and forearms by using my legs to reach those high places, I was surprised how easy the climb became.

I even tried bouldering, which is climbing up the rock formation without ropes or a harness before eventually coming back down to earth. Spoiler: I failed miserably.

Beta also offers a yoga program; has a café, lounge area and conference space; and has already attracted a community of

people passionate about climbing as a sport and culture. But the coolest thing I saw that morning was a wall panel they called a MoonBoard. The wall is slanted for free-climbing. Using an app, you can select (or create) routes on your smartphone and climb using illuminated holds in front of you. Not going to lie, I took Morton’s phone just so I could keep pressing different buttons and watch as LED lights created a show in front of me. I’m a child, I know.

There were many takeaways I wasn’t expecting that morning.

Sure, I faced a challenge, learned the ropes and had a blast. I also realized that people of all ages climb not just for fun. Some do it to overcome fears and anxieties, to meet people, to be a part of something and to reach peak fitness with a clear-and-cut metric. I’m game to go back.

Will you join me?

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF BETA CLIMBING + FITNESS

TOP NOTCH

FACING FEARS AND LEARNING THE ROPES AT STAMFORD’S BETA CLIMBING + FITNESS by joey macari

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SPRING INTO SHAPE

EXPERT ADVICE ON AVOIDING PHYSICAL INJURY SO YOU CAN REACH YOUR FITNESS GOALS

T

hink back to January. Remember all those good intentions to get back to the gym and recommit to a fitness regimen?

Odds are you started the year right, perhaps overdid it, maybe injured yourself in your eagerness to get back in shape.

Well it’s never too late to start again. To help you, we reached out to experts Jamie Barone and Dr. Katherine Vadasdi, who had plenty to say about good fitness practices that will help you prevent physical injury. Together, their guidelines are sure to keep the whole family on track to reaching peak fitness without visits to the doctor’s office. by camill a a. herrer a

Swim team and senior program director at Chelsea Piers Connecticut in Stamford shares his strategies for keeping your young athletes off the sidelines.

PACE YOURSELF Often, new seasons bring with them new sports commitments (and the stress that comes with a new schedule). “Don’t feel like you have to do it all,” says Barone.

Because injury and overuse prevention are related in youth sports, the best way to avoid getting hurt is a combination of proper training, strengthening and rest. “For our swimmers, we build breaks into our season to let their bodies rest. The younger the athlete, the more scheduled breaks are important.”

STRETCH IT OUT Incorporate stretching “to keep muscles long, lean and strong.”

STAY WARM Since it is still cold outside, begin your outdoor workout by stretching or warming up before beginning your cardio routine. “This will get your muscles warm and lungs used to the cool air.”

PLAY MULTIPLE SPORTS “There’s inherent crosstraining that [happens] when you play more than one sport; this is preferred so young athletes don’t burn out or over-develop specific muscles.” Playing more than one sport also helps youth develop life skills. “There’s zero correlation between early success in a sport and later success.”

CORE VALUES Working on your core through Pilates, yoga or another form of exercise is crucial to avoiding back pain.

“Also, stretching your lower back and doing rotation exercises before and after a workout is a good way to avoid getting hurt.”

DR. KATHERINE VADASDI Sports medicine specialist and director of the Women’s Sport Medicine Center at ONS of Greenwich reveals tried-and-true advice on how to get fit safely.

START SLOW If you’ve taken time off, ease back into exercise.

If you’re picking up running, for example, start off slowly.

“Or begin at an entry level if you’re trying a new fitness class,” says Dr. Vadasdi.

AVOID OVERSCHEDULING “[Kids] don’t need to be doing something strenuous every single day.”

CALL AN EXPERT Movement screenings are a great way to find musculoskeletal imbalances and poor movement patterns that could lead to injury.

“Girls entering puberty or just past it should have their lower bodies analyzed for potential issues.”

VARIETY MATTERS Vary workouts within the three pillars of fitness: cardiovascular/endurance, strength and balance. “As we age, strength training, stretching and balance are particularly important.”

CALL YOUR DOCTOR Seventy-two hours of non-improving pain usually requires diagnosis and treatment. “Don’t play if you’re hurt; you get no points for playing through pain.”

POWER UP Before taking your workouts outside, focus on strength training to prep muscles for outdoor activities like spring skiing, running and cycling.

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CALL YOUR DOCTOR If you’ve started a new fitness regimen and you’re sore after working out, rest for a few days. Once soreness abates, you can return to exercising. If it still hurts, take a week off, then resume your routine. If you try a third time and aches return or are still present, it’s time to see an orthopedist who may suggest physical therapy or another non-invasive treatment.

PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED

JAMIE BARONE

TAKE BREAKS According to Barone, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pre-pubescent children take three month-long breaks from a sport, and at least one to two days off every week.

Attorneys in the Women’s Leadership Initiative practicing in the Fairfield County offices of Pullman & Comley, LLC

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THE GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP

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“NOTHING BEHIND ME, EVERYTHING AHEAD OF ME, AS IS EVER SO ON THE ROAD.” – JACK KEROUAC, ON THE ROAD

O

ne of the hottest new trends in travel might come as a surprise: The old fashioned road trip is back. But this is not the overpacked station wagon of your childhood.

Gone are the days of accordioned paper maps and the ensuing fights over directions. No more spending hours searching road signs for the ever-elusive Q in an effort to dominate in a cutthroat game of Alphabet.

Road trips have been romanticized as long as Americans have had cars and roads to take them out on. Even former President George H. W. Bush made road trips sound like the epitome of family joy. The President once said: “We were a close, happy family, and never closer, or happier, than when we crammed into the station wagon together—five kids and two dogs.”

The road trip as a family vacation lost its footing when air travel became cheap and easily accessible. Credit the misery of TSA lines, the ever-shrinking airplane seat and the nickel-and-diming of everything from a checked bag to a box of crackers for pushing vacationers back behind the wheel.

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ESSENTIAL APPS Forget a paper map and highlighters.

Download the ROADTRIPPERS app and lay out your entire journey. The app lets you plan the best route, find stops along the way and even search for roadside lodging. above: Many people are now turning to the experts to plan road trips to some of the most majestic U.S. spots.

©ELENA SUVOROVA/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; CELLPHONE ©MAHOD84 - STOCK; ILLUSTRATION ©SDECORET - STOCK.ADOBE.COM ADOBE. LANDSCAPE PHOTO BY COM

get a little— or a lot—of help

T

here are companies that specialize in planning road trips.

It can be as simple as mapping out your route and booking hotels along the way or as elaborate as organizing once-ina-lifetime activities and setting up luxury camps (real beds, working toilets and gourmet meals). A few luxury specialists, All Roads North (allroadsnorth.com) and EXP Journeys (expjourneys.com), count many Fairfield County families among their clients.

Kevin Jackson, owner of EXP Journeys, says that the domestic demand for its services has increased dramatically in the last eighteen months. He says when most people travel abroad, they rely on expert planners and curated itineraries.

But people now realize that just because they’re on home turf doesn’t mean they can “wing it.”

He says the most popular itineraries

are journeys through the National Parks, excursions along the California coast and visits to big sights like the Grand Canyon. But they can design trips for any location. A few reasons travelers turn to companies like EXP is for their expertise in avoiding crowds, the ability to set up luxury camps in areas where lodging is, well, subpar, and even to do the driving.

Yes, you can hire a chauffeur for your epic road trip.

Each itinerary is custom-created.

An example of the ultimate road trip is an eight day itinerary that would include overnight stays at Amangeri, Mount Zion Ranch, luxury camping on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, guided hikes and horseback rides, and a daylong charter on Lake Powell. (The trip doesn’t come cheap—it’s about $45,000 for four people.)

Never wander looking for a gas station again; the GASBUDDY app will give you the nearest station and current prices.

ROADSIDE AMERICA is the app of Clark Griswold’s dreams.

It’s a rich database of weird and wonderful sites along the road, from the world’s second largest ball of twine to quirky museums, scenic vistas and historical landmarks.

WAZE, of course, is a lifesaver. A paper map can’t tell you that a road is at a dead stop due to an accident or closed because of bad weather.

above: Thanks to Waze, sitting in traffic jams is so 2013.

MARCH/APRIL 2019 STAMFORD

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practical advice Whether you do it yourself or turn to the experts, SCOTTY REISS, former Greenwich resident and founder of the website A Girl’s Guide to Cars, offers these five tips.

PREP YOUR TECH When you get your oil changed and tires checked, have the dealership make sure your technology is also up to date.

Apple CarPlay makes musical playlists the new “mixed tape.”

PLAN ENTERTAINMENT If your car has Wi-Fi, buy a plan. Most are available in daily or weekly packages and typically allow up to ten devices to connect. Or buy a mobile Wi-Fi connector; everyone’s device will work better than just running off cellular.

DON’T MAKE IT ALL ABOUT DEVICES Take time to be together; don’t let everyone tune out for the entire trip.

Sing, talk, discuss politics and religion.

Catch up on what your teens are doing, tell your tots fascinating family stories (they are a captive audience).

MANAGE EXPECTATIONS Let your passengers know what to expect.

If you think traffic will be a challenge or the drive will be a long one, letting them know will help avoid anxiety and crabbiness. Even little kids understand “three more movies until Grandma’s.”

GIVE EVERYONE A JOB Who’s driving?

Who’s navigating?

Who’s in charge of the playlist?

Who will find the next stop for food or a quirky Instagram pic?

go

THE FUN FACTOR BMW’S REDONE X4 SHOWS THAT LESS UTILITY CAN LEAD TO MORE SPORT

T

he night after I got my hands on BMW’s interesting X4, a dangerous mission arose. I was to brave punishing rain across Queens to JFK for a pickup. This, as any Tri-State citizen knows, can be a hellacious trek.

Actually, it is worth mentioning only because the slog was so beautifully peaceful. The sporty player was positioned at decent height (not as high as other SUVs) for viewing the road. The all-wheel-drive system worked like a charm. It all added up to a pleasing verdict: This is a fun car

the proper amount of zap to make life enjoyable. The X4 should be regarded as runabout-sporty but not fire-breathing, dirtclawing sporty. If more muscle is required, there is an optional, 355-horsepower, twin-turbo six in the upgraded M40i version.

But I liked averaging 26 mpg with the peppy base model.

Another plus is the handsome dash that’s easy to work.

The satellite radio sounds full (something not every manufacturer has been able to figure out). The leather interior feels good, especially

to drive. I liked it right away.

But…. “interesting,” as I say. The brawny front end that stretches out so grandly is paired with a sloping roof, short-butt rear end to make sure the X4 is not just another cookie-cutter luxury crossover. The rakish, coupe-like roofline serves, as it does on other German vehicles with this design motif, to take away headroom from rear-seat passengers and also reduce rear-view sightlines. There is, however, a welcome amount of hauling space.

The turbo-4 base engine has

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on the heated steering wheel, which sends out subtle warning vibrations when the blind-spot detection unit senses trouble.

You would get more utility in the standard-shaped X3 model, but its jaunty cousin, the new X4, redesigned for 2019, is more than a pile o’ style. It’s just got that dash and zest that makes life entertaining.

STATS BMW X430I Base: $50,450 As tested: $57,895 Drivetrain: 248-hp 2-liter 4 AWD EPA mileage ratings: 22/29 mpg

PHOTOGRAPH CONTRIBUTED

by chris hodenfield

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home

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HOUSE DRESSING IT’S WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE THAT COUNTS

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1 MICHAEL HEALY DESIGNS Dragonfly door knocker; $98. wayfair.com

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2 ROCKY MOUNTAIN HARDWARE Flute entry set; $3,285. Canaan Distributors, Stamford; canaandistributors.com

3 FOX AND CLOVER Anchor doormat; $40. foxandclover.com

4 OOMPH Hobe Sound sconce in Peale green; $3,095.

Greenwich; oomphhome.com

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Steel mailbox; $78.

Westport; shopterrain.com

6 HOUSE INDUSTRIES Modern house numbers

by Richard Neutra; starting at $30.

Design Within Reach, Stamford; dwr.com

Bullet planter; starting at $175. hiphaven.com

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8 ANTHROPOLOGIE Ingrid doorbell cover; $14. Greenwich; anthropologie.com

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eat

by eliz abeth keyser / photog raphs by kyle norton

below: Freshly baked lemon tarts topped with toasted meringue

SWEET TALK

THE FAMED PATISSERIE SALZBURG, WITH ITS MENU OF SUGARY TREATS, NOW WELCOMING PATRONS TO ITS NEW HARBOR POINT LOCATION

I

f ever a tradition needed to be imported to our shores, it’s kaffee und kuchen. In Salzburg, Austria, that’s coffee and cake at four in the afternoon. Now we too can indulge in this fortifying afternoon repast: Patisserie Salzburg has opened a new shop in Harbor Point. Here, you can sip a cup of Illy coffee while sampling sumptuous European tortes and tarts,

with their thin, ethereal layers of cake, mousses, jams, fruits, nuts and chocolate.

The thirty-seat café is the sibling to Patisserie Salzburg of Rye, which Parviz Shakiban opened twenty-five years ago, inspired by the creations of Austrian pastry chef and co-owner Manfred Hirz. In Harbor Point, the contemporary glass-fronted shop is

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eat

(not) just desserts Pattisserie Salzburg also offers bites for those with savory tastes HOT OR COLD, TAKEOUT OR EAT-IN Patisserie Salzburg has a changing array of prepared foods for morning through night that includes daily quiches, salads and roasted vegetables, among other treats.

A HEALTHY CHOICE A salad of glistening baby spinach leaves, looked fresh and inviting, with fine-looking hard-boiled eggs displaying proper cooking technique (no gray sulfur ring, here!), a pleasure to see and eat.

OUR FAVORITE SALAD The hearts of palm salad with green beans, avocado, radicchio and tomato. It was fresh, lively, and had just the right amount of vinaigrette. It had nothing to do with Salzburg, but we loved it anyway.

SEAFOOD DELIGHT Flatbread covered with sliced smoked salmon and scattered with briny capers is impossible to resist, especially if it has been freshly made, then spread on crispy thin bread and smooth cream cheese.

PAIR IT WITH SOMETHING SWEET Sandwiches, on baguettes bound with wax paper and string, look cute and appetizing.

Sure, you could get similar concoctions elsewhere, but why bother? Grab your sandwich with something sweet, head out to the boardwalk and enjoy a picnic lunch while taking in the fresh sea air.

bright and clean inside, with pink walls and warm-white shelves rising behind the glass display case. Customers line up along the case, some peering over shoulders to ogle the bounty of tortes, tarts, strudel, croissants, Danish, muffins, éclairs, Napoleon and cookies within.

(A smaller display is devoted to savory dishes; the patisserie also does a strong take-out and catering business.)

American work schedules may not match European dreams, yet anyone can still indulge in a weekend patisserie brunch. So, on a recent Sunday, I gathered some friends and ordered up slices of tortes and tarts, and quickly learned that the patisserie lives up to its reputation with well-crafted, traditional European treats.

All were distinguished by delicate textures, deep flavors and spot-on sweetness. There’s a sense of discovery in eating these cakes and identifying and savoring the components.

There’s so much for chocolate lovers here.

The chocolate mocha torte, topped with cocoa-dusted chocolate, reveals dark chocolate cake, fluffy mocha mousse, raspberry jam and finely chopped hazelnuts. It was one of our favorites. The Black Forest has four layers of deep, dark cocoa cake filled with cherries and whipped cream. The Seven Layer cake alternates super-thin rounds of cake with chocolate mousse and whipped cream, all coated in shiny dark chocolate. During our sweet brunch, though, almond flavoring in the Seven Layer came across a tad strongly.

Fresh and preserved fruit are featured in many desserts. The raspberry mousse torte, with moist, vanilla cake, airy raspberry mousse and slim, raspberry gelée has a dreamy quality.

It also comes in strawberry and passion fruit.

Add to that displays of fruit tarts that glisten with fresh mango, kiwi, strawberry and blackberry over a buoyant vanilla custard.

Inside, the pastry crust is brushed with chocolate to keep it crisp and add a kick. It’s a lovely little dessert that feels light, and even a bit healthy.

The lemon tart was the surprise sensation of the afternoon. The flavor was wake-up bright and fresh, with sweet-tart lemon carried in a smooth, silky texture supported by tender,

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short crust. Dollops of meringue clouds browned under a flame added an extra sweet, wispy texture. This tart drew everyone aback for seconds. Because of its palate-cleansing qualities, I’d always include it in a tortes-andtarts party.

Don’t pass up the apple strudel, which was classically European: a bounty of soft apples, tangy and fresh, with a natural sweetness, wrapped in paper-thin, crisp and crackly layers of strudel.

Speaking of layers of thin, buttery pastry, Patisserie Salzburg’s croissants are American large, soft and luxurious, as are the popular almond croissants and pains au chocolat.

With everyone’s sweet tooth sated, we considered passing on the European cookies; we’re glad we didn’t. Among the selection are Sarah Bernhardts, dark chocolate coating a mini dome of buttercream sitting on crunchy almond meringue. The dainty macarons in shades of pale pink and pistachio are not only light with a just-right amount of filling, but they are adorable, too. Here’s a tip: Order a mix of these along with a combination of lace cookies, almond sticks and coconut macaroons and savor them for days. Trust us. You’ll thank us soon enough.

Patisserie Salzburg serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. At press time, service hadn’t started and the wine and beer license was pending.

But based on the quality of the baked goods and prepared savory foods, we look forward to returning for the dinner menu, which is based on European and Mediterranean favorites from the Rye location, and once outdoor seating is set up. Any day now!

PATISSERIE SALZBURG 10 Harbor Point Drive 475-292-2200 patisseriesalzburg.com

CUISINE European

HOURS Daily, 6 a.m.–10 p.m.

eat

clockwise, from above: Savory items made daily include baguette sandwiches, veal meatballs, chicken dumplings and Persian salad; slices of ricotta pistachio cake, chocolate ganache and Black Forest cake; interior of the patisserie; display of to-go and to-stay containers; a fresh cup of espresso with macarons (pistachio, caramel, chocolate), a coconut macaroon and a stack of linzer cookies; a mixture of plain and chocolate croissants with cinnamon rolls

eat NUTTY BUNNY CHOCOLATE STOUT FLOAT Nutty Bunny is a Stamford-based small business that makes the most delicious organic, vegan, gluten-free, non-dairy frozen desserts. In this blend, Nutty Bunny’s chocolate dessert, a cashew and coconut-based “ice-cream,” merges with the sweet and bitter, malty flavors of the stout, resulting in a sweet, dark dessert.

Serve at the end of a meal or as part of brunch.

INGREDIENTS 1 cup coffee stout 4 scoops, Nutty Bunny chocolate dessert 2 large strawberries for garnish

SHAKE IT UP COCKTAILS SURE TO SPARK SPRING FEVER EVEN IF IT’S STILL COLD OUTSIDE

CURRANT AFFAIR SPARKLER Black currants are considered a superfood: They have four times as much vitamin C as oranges and they pack more antioxidants than blueberries. So why not indulge? As your base, use Currant Affair black currant juice, which is made from currants grown at Maple Lane Farms in eastern Connecticut. Here’s a chance to raise your glasses to local, sustainable agriculture.

INGREDIENTS

March has many moods, and the best way to roll with it is to mix distilled spirits and brews with juices, fruits and nuts produced locally. They not only invigorate the immune system but also have the side benefit of supporting local businesses. Here are three of my favorite drinks to shake up the season for you and your favorite person.

by eliz abeth keyser

3 oz. chilled Currant Affair black currant juice 3 oz. chilled cava ¼ oz. Campari Mint sprigs for garnish

DIRECTIONS Pour juice and Campari into champagne flute. Carefully add cava. Stir gently.

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This beautiful fruity cocktail is light enough to start off brunch. Squeeze sweet Cara Cara or Mandarin oranges and include the pulp. Muddle the strawberries until mostly liquid. Reposado tequila and a touch of lime tequila sweeten the drink. When glasses are empty, use a spoon to eat the boozy fruit pulp at the bottom of the glass.

INGREDIENTS 2 oz. Patrón reposado tequila ¼ oz. Patrón Citronge lime liqueur 3 oz. fresh-squeezed orange juice from Cara Cara or Mandarin oranges, with pulp 1 oz. muddled strawberries Strawberries to garnish Optional: thin jalapeño slices for garnish

DIRECTIONS Shake the tequila, lime liqueur and orange juice with crushed ice. Pour into ice-filled cocktail glasses. Add muddled strawberries to each glass and stir gently. Garnish with a strawberry. Option: If you like heat, float a thin slice of jalapeño in the drink.

Essential Tool: A muddler. My favorite is the Oxo, made of stainless steel, but with a nylon hand grip and head strong enough to take on ginger. S

BLACK CURRANT BY ©KOVALEVA_KA - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; COCKTAIL SHAKER BY ©AKS - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; STRAWBERRY BY YURAKP - STOCK.ADOBE.COM; LIME BY RIMGLOW - STOCK.ADOBE.COM

DIRECTIONS Pour half a cup of stout into a cocktail glass.

Add one scoop of softened chocolate frozen dessert, and gently break it up into the stout. Add a second scoop of frozen dessert.

Garnish with a strawberry.

STRAWBERRY-LIME TEQUILA SUNRISE

Stamford of b lu C ls ir G & s oy B

Presents

Wednesday, April 3, 2019 • 6:00 pm

T H E PA L A C E T H E AT R E S TA G E , 61 AT L A N T I C S T R E E T, S TA M F O R D, C T This “Night in Havana” themed cocktail party will be a major production starring delectable creations from David’s Catering accompanied by signature drinks. The event includes an impressive award presentation, live and silent auctions and great entertainment from our Club members.

City Chic 2019 Honorees NBC SPO RTS

ERNST & YOUNG

Guardian of the Community Award

Corporate Partnership Award

Presenting Sponsor

Lifetime Achievement Award

Project Manager, LCB Senior Living

Supporting Sponsors

The Ashforth Company

Contributing Sponsors

M ARC LYONS

Ernst & Young NBC Sports

Underwriters

Patrons

General Re ICON International

Redniss & Mead Robinson & Cole LLP Spinnaker Real Estate Partners Stamford Health Thomson Reuters

Genworth State Street Global Advisors Terex

Investors

Friends

Media Sponsor

CohnReznick LLP Diserio Martin O’Connor and Castiglioni LLP Eastern Land Management Lapine Company benefitting

Jennie Friedman & Ross Zelman Hoffman Investment Partners KPMG

SPO NSORSH IP INFOR M ATION: M ELISSA RHODES mrhodes@bgcastamford.org • 203-324-0594 Individual City Chic Tickets: $250

bgcastamford.org

Karyn Ward, Chair, City Chic 2019

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Sponsors as of 1/29/2019

dad about town by kevin mckeever

RAILROAD STORIES L

ike most parents in Fairfield County, I like to brag to outsiders about our proximity to the culture and excitement of “The City” while, naturally, not taking nearly enough advantage of it. However, when we do, our usual mode of transportation is the train.

No one could have been more excited about her first train ride into New York City than my daughter, Megan. She was nearing five years old at the time.

We had recently moved back to my hometown of Stamford after several years in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas, a place where passenger trains are as scarce as oceanfront property and edible pizza. Adding to the excitement, of course, was our intended destination: The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree.

Somewhere, about halfway across Westchester County, Megan asked to use the bathroom. I walked her to the end of the car, pulled back the sliding door and officially crushed her enthusiasm.

One step, one look and one whiff in, she uttered a phrase that has stuck with me all these years: “I can hold it.”

That was 2004, a few years

before Metro-North started an extensive program to rebuild and/ or replace its passenger cars. While a few of these old-timers are still on the rails (I recently rode in one which prompted my decision not to finish the coffee I had just purchased for the fifty-minute ride into Grand Central Terminal), you and your kids will be happy to know on-board conditions are much better these days. Even though I’m a bit nostalgic for the old bar cars where I could enjoy an onboard tipple or two, I doubt anyone misses their kids’ shoes sticking to spilt beer (or worse) gumming up the floors. Besides, being a dad means wearing cargo shorts so I can tote my own.

Cheers to that!

While many of us think only about taking the train to and from New York, Metro-North can also be a great way to take the family to in-state activities. Riding the train is certainly less stressful (and often quicker) than driving up to Bridgeport on a weekday night to catch an event at Webster Bank Area, home to the minorleague Sound Tigers hockey team, occasional WWE wrestling and Monster Jam racing series. (And yes, I have seen all three of those

there.) Sometimes a short trip is also worth the ride. During the holiday season, for example, one my friends often hops on the branch line to treat his traincrazy son to a visit to Santa and the decorated streets and shops all around New Canaan.

That Christmas reference may have you wondering whether my daughter ever got back on a train after that first time. The answer is yes, both on Metro-North

and now Amtrak, which has regular stops at the downtown Stamford Transportation Center as it rumbles up and down the Northeast Corridor.

The latter is her home-for-theholidays transportation to and from college in Boston, just like it was mine going back and forth from Washington, D.C., back in 198-something. I hear their onboard bathrooms have improved since then, too. S

Metro North Railroad; above: Dad and kids in 2005, about to board Connecticut’s Essex Steam Train. Worth noting: Kevin’s cargo shorts. We know he is a bit nostalgic for the bar cars of the past but is he secretly toting a beer or two in those dad specials?

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PHOTOGRAPH © CLOSERTOINFINITY/ADOBESTOCK.COM

ON TAKING THE TRAIN, RIDES TO MANHATTAN, AND HOPPING ABOARD AMTRAK FOR TRIPS ALONG THE NORTHEAST CORRIDOR

SAVE THE

New Covenant Center’s 15th Annual Celebrity Breakfast

DATE

Featuring Keynote Speaker

BOBBY VALENTINE

Executive Director of Athletics, Sacred Heart University

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019 Woodway Country Club 540 Hoyt Street Darien, Connecticut

For over 40 years, New Covenant Center has provided not just food for the hungry, but expanded services for

7:00 A.M. Networking Coffee 7:30 A.M. Event Program

the disadvantaged in our community.

We hope you will support our mission and celebrate our 40th anniversary by joining us on April 24!

For tickets and information, call 203-964-8228 ext. 409 or visit NewCovenantCenter.org

BUILDING CONNECTIONS for HEALTHY MINDS A SYMPOSIUM ON MENTAL HEALTH

The Westy Mission

MARCH 5, 2019

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

BE PART OF BUILDING THE NETWORK OF CARE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

FEATURING KAITLIN ROIG-DEBELLIS Advocate & Sandy Hook Survivor

Tickets: OPTIMUSHEALTHCARE.ORG/BUILD

Event Sponsors (as of 1/24):

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An Evening with Laurel House

Celebrating our Champions

Jane Condon, Emcee

Champion for Recovery Andrew J. Gerber, MD, PhD President & Medical Director Silver Hill Hospital

Darien Town Champion Nancy C. Herling

Saturday, April 27, 2019 6:00 to 10:30 pm

Greenwich Town Champion Adrianne C. Singer

Delamar, Greenwich Harbor

New Canaan Town Champion Stamford Town Champions Paul Reinhardt Rey Giallongo and Cheryl Palmer

For more information, please contact Emma Romano, Advancement Associate at eromano@laurelhouse.net or 203 324 7735

Spring Luncheon A CONVERSATION WITH

Gloria Steinem Wednesday, April 3, 2019 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Stamford Marriott PPSNE.org/SpringLuncheon

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Southern New England

vows by joey macari

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verybody remembers their first love. For fourteenyear-old Westhill High School cheerleader Danielle Schwartz, that love was football player Jacob Marshall. Two weeks after they met after a football game, they had their first date and made it official soon after. Ten years later, the two revisited that same field where they met, and Jacob took a knee—not for a fallen teammate, but for his sweetheart—and proposed.

Danielle and Jacob were married at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, New York, by Rabbi Joshua Hammerman. Danielle walked down the aisle in a beautiful Kleinfeld dress with embellishments from her mother’s wedding gown sewn into it. The couple exchanged heartfelt vows and celebrated the night away.

Danielle is the daughter of Michael and Laura Schwartz of Stamford. She attended Elon University and received her BA degree in communications. She is an admissions officer for EF Academy International Boarding Schools in Thornwood, New York.

Jacob is the son of William and Nancy Marshall from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. While pursuing a B.A. degree in sociology at the University of Connecticut, he is a staff recruiter at Cresta Management Services in New York City.

Danielle and Jacob spent their honeymoon in Hawaii.

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1 Sweet embrace 2 Groom and groomsmen in high spirits 3 The bridal party 4 You may now kiss the bride. 5 Bride and groom with their parents 6 The bride’s parents with Sam and Melissa Strausman and Danny and Donna Weiss 7 Cheers to Marshall!

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Save the Date!

BECOME A SPONSOR*

WOMEN IN THE KNOW NET WORKING SERIES

Thursday, April 11 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m.

LAKOTA OAKS, 32 Weed Avenue, Norwalk

MELANI LUST PHOTOGRAPHY

Build Connections

•

Increase Brand Awareness

•

Inspire Others

The GO TO Networking event of the year…

Featuring a welcome breakfast, innovative knowledge sessions and interactive networking activities!

Align your business with some of Fairfield County’s brightest thinkers and doers!

EARLY BIRD TICKETS on Sale Now! WOMENINTHEKNOWFC.COM

PRESENTING SPONSORS

*FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, please contact Laurinda Finelli at 203.571.1614 or laurinda.finelli@moffly.com

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STAMFORD HEALTH / Tully Health Center

Dreaming Big

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ore than 600 guests attended Stamford Health’s twelfth annual Dream Ball at the Tully Health Center, which raised $619,000 to support programs and services across the healthcare system.

The black-tie event featured dinner, dancing, a live auction, a paddle raise and a Giving Tree, which all contributed to directly supporting the high-quality, patient-centered care as well as the existing medical programs, services and buildings that benefit Stamford Health’s patients and their families.

The night was emceed by Armen Keteyian, an eleven-time Emmy Award winner for investigative journalism. Guests enjoyed fine food and danced the night away. »

1 Andy Merrill, Kathy Sachs, Mark DeWaele 2 Peter Sachs; Kathy Silard, president and CEO, Stamford Health; Darrell Harvey 3 Lynn and Dr. Gerald Rakos 4 Maxine and Dr. Jay Freilich 5 Dr. Deena and Dr. Michael Ebright 6 RJ Luth and Catherine Callagy 7 Sam and Lisa Molinaro 8 Stephen and Beth Weiss 9 Scott and Jamie Krug MARCH/APRIL 2019 STAMFORD

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10 1 Alexis & Daniel DiBiasio 2 The paddle raise was emceed by Armen Keteyian 3 Armen Keteyian, Michael Fedele 4 Lucy and Tommaso LaRocca 5 Beverly and Paul McCurdy 6 Veronica and Ed Ford 7 Dr. James Bonheur and Dr. Elaine Morganelli 8 Andrew and Robyn Whittingham 9 Seth and Lisa Feinberg 10 Michael Wiederlight, Christel Truglia, Ronnie Wiederlight » stamfordmag.com

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY TIM COFFEY PHOTOGRAPHY

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SAVE THE DATE

REACH Prep Annual Benefit Luncheon Monday, April 29, 2019 at 11:30 a.m.

Hyatt Regency Greenwich TO BE A SPONSOR, table host or for more

information, please call 203.487.0750 or email development@reachprep.org.

TO PURCHASE TICKETS, visit www.reachprep.org.

REACH Prep provides access to transformative educational experiences that empower underserved, high-achieving students to graduate from top colleges and emerge as the next generation of leaders.

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he Stamford Public Education Foundation hosted its annual US Day at Mill River Park, where more than 2,000 participants enjoyed activities throughout the day. Kicking off the day was the sixth annual MarcUS for Change 5K Walk & Run, which celebrates the late Marcus Dixon McInerney, a Stamford High grad who overcame many life challenges. It was followed by the Mayor’s Multicultural Council Children’s Parade & International Festival and, new this year, the incorporation of Stamford Public Schools’ STEMFest.

Also included in the fun were arts and crafts presented by Kids Helping Kids, musical entertainment by Pop Music Academy and Project Music, rides on the carousel, a bouncy house and yummy eats from favorite food trucks. stamfordmag.com

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1 Assistant Superintendent Tamu Lucero chats with Matthew and Kim Schenck. 2 Scofield Middle School participants 3 Students work on a STEM project.

4 Angelica Salem sings the National Anthem. 5 Barry and Rose McInerney pay tribute to their late son, Marcus Dixon McInerney. 6 Olivia LaBella, Brycelin Stalteri 7 Fran Barry, Christine Cognetti 8 Dancers in the International Dance Festival hosted by the Mayor’s Multicultural Council 9 Stamford High School girls’ soccer team 10 Prarthana Joshi, Varsha Naveen 11 Superintendent Earl Kim 12 Natalie Widmer, Dana Serrichio

PHOTOGRAPHS BY DENICE DUTRA-LAVERIS

STAMFORD PUBLIC EDUCATION FOUNDATION / Mill River Park

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MOFFLY MEDIA’S LIGHT A FIRE AWARDS / King School

Heroes Among Us

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he eleventh annual Light a Fire Awards, hosted by Moffly Media, was celebrated at King School. The event, which celebrates the philanthropic and community endeavors of outstanding individuals in Fairfield County, welcomed 250 attendees. The festivities included a social cocktail hour, during which guests mingled, sampled hors d’oeuvres and greeted the honorees. It was followed by an awards presentation emceed by actor and activist James Naughton.

Ten men and women received awards, presented by Fairfield County’s Community Foundation; Peter Malkin, chairman emeritus of the Empire State Realty Trust, received this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. »

1 Peter Malkin 2 James Naughton, Juanita James and the honorees 3 Jonathan Moffly 4 Caroline Calder, Nancy Tartaglia, Kristy Jelenik 5 Jane Hickok, Missy Godfrey, Ellen Berube, Eads Johnson, Polly Perkins Johnson, Corfu Kelly, Rachel Dewey, John Kelly, Diane Knetgzer 6 State Senator Matthew Blumenthal 7-8 Assorted displays 9 Sarita Hanley, Bruce Koe 10 Rebecca West, Bruce Koe, Karen and Dennis Keegan, Jean Donohue, Dave West, Charlotte Thompson 11 Joshua Zabin, Gary MacNamara 12 A Light a Fire Award 13 Kathleen Godbold 14 Jessica Sager, Juanita James, Lynn Villency Cohen

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PACIFIC HOUSE / Hyatt Regency Greenwich

Giving Shelter

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he seventeenth annual Pacific House Gala, celebrated at the Hyatt Regency Greenwich, drew 500 supporters to raise funds to support the essential services provided by the organization, including an emergency shelter for men and young adults and supportive housing. The event was hosted by Bobby Valentine, who rallied the crowd to compete for exciting live and silent auction prizes. Before dining and dancing, Darien residents DeAnne and James Calcagnini were honored with the 2018 Foundation Award. Âť stamfordmag.com

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1 Jane Pelletier, Paul Swirbul, Barbara Close 2 Evan Wuhl, Marie Levesque, Kevin McKay, Trey Reynolds 3 Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne Klein, Rafael Pagan, Jr., executive director of Pacific House 4 Donna Conway, Sarita Hanley 5 Helen Barre, Andrew M. Reid, Francesca Bogdan, Natasha Reid 6 James, DeAnne, Jake and Addison Calcagnini 7 Peter Rugen, Debra Anderson, Diane and Jim Bosek 8 Mark McGovern, Lynne Hosler, Deirdre McGovern, Bill Hosler 9 Marjorie Walker Hauer, Deirdre McGovern, Barbara Close, Caroline Burke, Janice Griffiths

PHOTOGRAPHS BY ELAINE UBIĂ‘A, FAIRFIELD COUNTY LOOK

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Stamford Mag AD 2019.qxp_Layout 1 1/28/19 1:11 PM Page 1

a NOVEL affair

An evening of food and festivities to benefit The Ferguson Library at the Main Library, DiMattia Building, Bedford and Broad Streets, Stamford Honoring Jay Sandak and Mary Sommer for their longstanding service to the Library and the Stamford community

Wednesday, April 11 5:30 – 8:30 pm to benefit

Tickets are $125 / sponsorships available by calling 203 351-8208.

#anovelaffair2019

Reserve at fergusonlibrary.org or call 203 351-8205.

The Ferguson Library

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MAJOR SPONSORS TO DATE

CERVANTES

Friends of The Ferguson Library SL Green SHAKESPEARE Pitney Bowes Ann & Michael Zucker DICKINSON Altria Group Carmody Torrance Sandak & Hennessey First County Bank FITZGERALD Judith Block Cacace Tusch & Santagata Garden Homes Management Leandro P. Rizzuto Foundation Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky FAULKNER The Ashforth Company and A.P. Construction Elizabeth P. Ball William & Melvina Callion Susan DiMattia Amy & Tony Downer Leo P. Gallagher & Son Funeral Home Juanita James and Dudley Williams KPMG Debbie & Robert Neiman Ann Sexton Steven & Eileen Swerdlick Steven Wise Associates

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Senior Moment

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ore than 200 attendees gathered for the SilverSource Inspiring Lives Benefit Luncheon at Serafina at the IC in Stamford, where Roz Chast, author and cartoonist for The New Yorker, shared hilarious and poignant insights into caring for her aging parents, as captured in her graphic memoir, Can’t We Talk About Something More Pleasant? For their support of SilverSource, Bob Loop of the Senior Men’s Association of Stamford, Don Case DMD and Leon Breault of the Lifetime Learners Institute were honored.

With a focus on Home and Heat, critical funds were raised for older adults living in poverty, ensuring that struggling seniors will maintain a roof over their heads. stamfordmag.com

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1 Gail Grosso-Hofmann, Maureen Cacace, Cecilia Aita 2 Alice Knapp, Ernest Abate 3 Pat Phillips, Christel Truglia 4 Day and Gene Rubino, Kathleen Bordelon 5 Agnieszka Maciejewski, Joanna Woznik, Monique Gist 6 Carol and Siobhan Burns 7 Jane Yezzi, Mary Jane Delaney, Janet King 8 Honorees Bob Loop, Don Case, Leon Breault 9 Roz Chast, Kathleen Bordelon 10 Mark Lapine, Jerry Berkman, Susan Greenberg

PHOTOGRAPHS BY SMITH STUDIOS

SILVERSOURCE / Serafina at the IC

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HELP FOR KIDS / Sheraton Stamford Hotel

Masked Ball

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he third annual Masquerade Ball: Help Us Unmask Child Abuse, hosted by the Exchange Club of Stamford, raised close to $100,000 to benefit HELP for Kids, a local nonprofit that builds safer, smarter and stronger families by protecting local children and halting the cycle of child abuse and neglect.

Stamford Attorney Vincent J. Freccia III was honored for his support of the Stamford-based HELP for Kids, which recently celebrated its thirtieth anniversary and has assisted more than 10,000 children since its founding. »

1 Michele and Joe Masiello 2 Olympia Arnold, Kristen Matte, Sonja Morales, Jennifer Garcia, Donna Miller 3 Steve Bowling, Lisa Grieco 4 Prakash and Tejal Wadhwani 5 Christina Andreana, Ginny Greatsinger, Vincent Freccia III, Shanelle King, Cathy Freccia, Michele Masiello 6 Christina Andreana, Mark McGrath 7 Ofelia Tindoc, Lucy Corelli, Frank Masone 8 Maxwell, Vincent, Cathy, Alix and Vincent Freccia 9 Vince McClean, Rebecca and Robert Ayars 10 Fernando and Sara Alvaranga 11 Donna Galligan, George Gray, Christine Greco MARCH/APRIL 2019 STAMFORD

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FAIRFIELD COUNTY HOUSE / Country Club of Darien

Home Makers

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he third annual Golf Classic benefit at the Country Club of Darien, which honored Theresa Carlucci-Tyska as Volunteer of the Year, drew more than seventy-five players to support Fairfield County Hospice House, now called Fairfield County House (FCH). The daylong event also included a hole-in-one contest, cocktail hour, silent auction and dinner, which was attended by seventy additional supporters. All proceeds will support programs and services provided by this Stamfordbased hospice for people at the end of life who cannot stay in their own homes. S stamfordmag.com

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1 Lisa Rich, FCH Executive Director Loretta Lacci, Sue McGraw 2 Bob Ellwanger, Theresa CarlucciTyska, Rob Tyska, Dr. Gary Lazarus 3 Sharon Bradley, Donna Farber 4 Stephen Corman, Sue Plutzer 5 Tim Williams, Ron Krasson, George Hoenig, Larry Dubin, Tim Mahon 6 Rick Redniss, Jami Sherwood 7 Bruce Moore Sr., Jordan Scott, Bruce Moore Jr. 8 Dr. David and Lynda Tucker, Callie Judelson, Carter Sackman 9 Larry and Mary Lou Weisman

PHOTOGRAPHS CONTRIBUTED

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save the date!

Thursday, May 9, 2019 | 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Sheraton Stamford Hotel

Join women & men across Fairfield County for an evening of networking & inspiration at the 7th Annual Women Empowering Women! This unique yearly event brings a panel of industry leaders from diverse backgrounds together to share stories of personal and professional growth.

All proceeds benefit The Rowan Center — the only non-profit agency in Lower Fairfield County dedicated to educating the local community about the issue of sexual assault and supporting victims and their families. This event provides a truly empowering forum to share, educate and inspire.

To register, please visit bit.ly/2019WEW or call 203.348.9346.

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Moderated by Rebecca Surran, Emmy-award winning news anchor

ACQUIRED TASTE

A WELL-TRAVELED INTERIOR DESIGNER brings her favorite finds back home to Stamford

above, left: Fragrant flowering and climbing shrubs frame the various garden rooms around the house, formerly a stable in the early twentieth century. above, right: Gardner’s aesthetic includes vintage outdoor furnishings that retain their patina of age. opposite page: The main entrance opens to a gravel-paved courtyard. Above the entry is the door to the hayloft that harkens back to the structure’s original function.

by judy ostrow | phot o gr aphs by h ulya kol abas

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BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH BY GARVIN BURKE

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ucked away in the woods of Westover, close to the meandering path of the Mianus River, a U-shaped home wrapped around an open courtyard reminded interior designer Francine Gardner of her childhood in southwestern France.

At the start of her quest a couple of decades ago for a Connecticut home for her family of four, her instructions to the real estate broker had been simple. “I wanted her to show me places that no one else wanted,” recalls Gardner, who eschewed classic Colonials and stately brick Federals in search of a place that would be a bit removed from the beaten path. “We have always had interesting homes, wherever we lived, and we’ve had places with character in the old part of Boston and in Georgetown.” Her first glimpse of the former stable-turned-residence, sited deep in woodland at the end of a long narrow driveway, touched her emotional and aesthetic instincts.

Her childhood home on a vineyard in Clermont-Dessous had been constructed around a central courtyard, and that pattern resonated with Gardner when she saw this house.

It had been lived in by an older couple, and the interiors hadn’t really been touched since it was converted from a stable to a home in the 1950s; the landscape was completely overgrown. Despite its deficits, Gardner was convinced that this indeed was the place she’d been seeking, and a deal was quickly made. “My husband wasn’t quite so convinced,” she remembers.

Then the work began. Gardner’s first priority was a rebuild of the interiors, which feature native stone taken from the property, and floors of primitive terra cotta tile, laid in a diamond pattern. The overgrown landscape was peeled back, replaced by a series of private, outdoor rooms that include a bluestone-paved pool area. The entire property became a perfect counterbalance to working life in the city. The furnishings, decorative art and objects reflect her talents for combining her own comfortable, beautifully made furniture and upholstery with personal treasures found everywhere from Paris to New Guinea.

Gardner’s flagship business, Interieurs—located first in Tribeca, then in Midtown Manhattan after 2001—has been a magnet for sophisticated urban dwellers, who then became her clients. Seeing her skill for merging elegant contemporary furnishings with large industrial-look pieces for storage and display, they sought her out for designing their residential and commercial interiors. Many a Manhattan loft and city pied-a-terre have benefited from her talents.

These days, Gardner has closed the Manhattan showrooms, but continues to take commissions through her website and Interieurs’ design studio in Cos Cob; clients seek out her thoughtful eye and dramatic sensibility for carefully crafting their homes. Most of her clients are still city people with rather minimalist leanings, and their needs and wishes sometimes diverge from her own personal preferences.

“My task is to satisfy the client, and that comes first in my

“I wanted [the real estate agent] to show me places that no one else wanted .”

—francine gardner

Multiple seating areas outside create quiet spaces for reading or leisurely mediations. opposite page: A flowering clematis climbs a fence: White blooms create a vast backdrop that glows in the summer sun and shimmers in moonlight; a detail of a garden pathway.

business, so frequently theirs are different requirements than my own,” she notes. “My clients like perfection and I like things as they are.”

She adds: “In my home, everything has a story.”

All the living space chez Gardner is on a single level, with many of its rooms off of a long interior hall that provides wall space for décor, as well as a view to the courtyard. She happily recalls its earlier function when her sons were young. “It was a wonderful long play space for them and our dogs to run, and the many bedrooms off the hall were filled with their friends sleeping over on the weekends.” Now that her children are grown, this path has become a gallery for art and objects she has collected over years of travel to exotic locales; she and

the members of her extended family have covered the globe.

While the placement of many cherished objects will change with the season, with an occasion, or just a change in mood, she works with an always-eclectic mix. Just past the front entry is the living room, situated at the heart of the U-shaped house. Within are relaxed seating arrangements and a pastoral view of the back of the property, with its garden rooms and generous plantings. A staircase leads to the hayloft above—part of the old stable configuration. Multiple sizes of decorative stars grace many of the room’s surfaces.

“I have always loved stars,” says Gardner. “One of our Christmas trees was decorated with them from top to bottom.

I liked them so much that I keep them around.”

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“I have always loved stars .

One of our Christmas trees was decorated with them from top to bottom. I liked them so much that i keep them around .”

—francine gardner

Her anthropologist father-in-law and the family’s own travels have provided Gardner with a trove of unusual objects, which she arranges and rearranges frequently.

Among them are clusters of Gardner’s favorite stars—natural and machine-made—as well as tribal jewelry and Chinese brushes purchased for one of her sons, an artist. opposite page: The living room offers abundant space for displays; the stairway leads to the former hayloft.

“My clients like perfection

and I like things as they are.”

—francine gardner

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left: A handmade shield and wooden bird sculpture came from New Guinea, where Gardner’s father-in-law did pioneering research.

The vintage bench is one of the designer’s finds; the pillows fabric was made by a Senegalese weaver who worked with Gardner to produce a distinctive textile collection.

BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS BY GARVIN BURKE

above: Gardner chose the dining room furnishings from her own unique inventory of industrial antiques as well as such pieces as the mahogany armoire, chandelier and dining chairs from her firm’s collections. below, left and right: The designer is well acquainted with the Japanese art of wabi-sabi, which cultivates an appreciation for the unusual and imperfect object. below, center: Gardner has arranged an assortment of favorite things, including a print by Joan Miró, and a photograph of the artist and her father-in-law, who were longtime friends.

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“In my home,

everything has a story .”

—francine gardner

on shelves: The work of indigineous peoples and artist friends and family mingle in many corners of the house. Small buddhas, baskets, boxes and carvings all bear the mark of the hands of the artisans who crafted them.

“[Everything in the kithen is] all designed for good function ...

I don’t really cook. My husband is an excellent chef . I just make bouillabaisse and paella.”

—francine gardner

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Her kitchen is a sleek culinary laboratory, softened by the warmth of wood and natural light; the generous island prep surface has an easy care quartz top, replacing a fussier surface of sandstone. “It’s all designed for good function,” says Gardner, whose collection of serving ware of many shapes, colors and sizes fills a large portion of the shelves of the oak cabinets she designed. “I don’t really cook,” says Gardner. “My

husband is an excellent chef, and I just make bouillabaisse and paella,” she confesses. Nonetheless her specialties are crowd pleasers, perfect for the dinners she hosts for groups of friends and family visits.

Outside, there are many cozy spots for curling up with a book, a pool surrounded by greenery, and even a secluded space for sleeping outdoors on beautiful summer evenings.

above: Gardner designed the oak cabinets for the kitchen batterie de cuisine; she used hard-wearing quartz as a countertop for the center island; pendants are hand-blown glass crafted by lighting artisan Jose Esteves, whose collection is available exclusively through her company. opposite page: The designer’s talent for pleasing arragements of objects is on display behind glass-doored shelves.

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left: Stone for the property’s masonry walls was gathered on-site during the clearing and renovation process.

The dry-laid walls that surround the pool area are just one example of the intersection of rusticity and beauty.

“We’re close to the river, and embraced on all sides by nature.

It’s a beautiful place to come home to after a day of work,” says Gardner.

Embracing is the perfect word to describe this house, a comfort zone that its owner detected even before she pared the house to a simple structure, and tamed the immediate landscape. “In the evenings, our dogs are waiting at the door, ready to hang out with us in the library. It’s chill time S for us all.”

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a career well done Chef Christian Petroni is well known on the Fairfield County culinary scene. But he’s quickly becoming a household name in kitchens across the country.

We chat with the Food Network’s rising star about his recipe for success. stamfordmag.com

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PORTRAIT COURTESY OF FOOD NETWORK

by mary kate ho gan

ACTION PHOTO BY THOMAS MCGOVERN

Bringing on the heat at Fortina’s opening in Harbor Point

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hristian Petroni strides over to a table at Scopa restaurant carrying a wooden board topped with a big Italian sandwich.

“Someone ordered an Italian hero?” he asks with a grin and a woman nods. “Perfect, cuz I’m right heeeere!” he says, doing a little shuffle in front of her table. The couple he’s waiting on start laughing. So do Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby Flay and everyone on the Food Network set watching this scene filmed at an Italian restaurant in Venice, California. Christian’s always cracking jokes. His ease in front of the camera mixed with his crazy talent for cooking Italian-American food led him to win Food Network Star’s fourteenth season last summer, when he and Jess Tom became the first joint winners of the show.

This was not his first time on television by any stretch, having won Chopped, judged on Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay, and also appearing on The Kitchen. In the five years since the charismatic chef opened Fortina in Armonk at age twenty-eight with his friends and partners Rob Krauss and John Nealon, he’s gone on to expand and open four more restaurants, become a Food Network star—and a father. As he talks about his next TV stint and a major food fest he and his partners are planning, he’s showing no signs of slowing the pace. In fact, his path to success so far seems to match one of his catchphrases, “Andiamo!”

admits. Though his mother was an excellent cook, she wasn’t his only influence. While other kids watched Sesame Street, he was glued to cooking shows. “I wasn’t the type of kid or young, aspiring chef who hung at the apron strings in the kitchen,” Petroni says. “I was into Great Chefs.

TV was a big inspiration.”

Though he went to culinary school briefly,

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rowing up in the Bronx, Petroni’s love for food developed naturally, as he was surrounded by family and constant dinners of home-cooked Italian. Almost every day his mother would make what he calls working man’s pasta—spaghetti or rigatoni with red sauce, a little chili and parmesan—and now it’s on the menu as pastasciutto. “Meatballs were like my alarm clock,” he said on Food Network Star. “The smell of my mother’s meatballs would go out of the kitchen, up the stairs and into my nose.” He couldn’t resist heading downstairs and sneaking a few balls from the frying pan, he stamfordmag.com

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he learned most of his craft from family and working at local restaurants. His talent led him to become a young executive chef of Barcelona in Greenwich, where he met his future partners, Krauss and Nealon. Not yet thirty years old, they dreamed of opening not one bold Italian restaurant but several, he recalls, looking back on their start as restaurateurs. “Listen, maybe

”

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF FOOD NETWORK

above: Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge host Giada De Laurentiis with judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Christian Petroni and Carla Hall; oppposite page: Food Network Star winners Christian Petroni and Jess Tom

we were a bit full of ourselves, right?” he says, laughing. “But we always hoped this would happen because this was the goal. We always wanted to open a bunch of restaurants. We put our minds and hearts and everything else we had into it.”

Today there are Fortinas in Stamford, Armonk, Rye Brook, Brooklyn and Yonkers (where the mayor declared a day in his honor— October 24 was officially Christian Petroni Day).

Though the locations share the same menu, some innovations make each one distinct. For instance, the rooftop of Fortina in Harbor Point, has its own identity in the warmer months as the Pizza Surf Club, with a tiki bar and menu of tacos as well as pizza slices, homemade Italian ices, spiked popsicles and whatever else the guys come up with. In Brooklyn, they started a reservation-only buffet of sorts called the

Polenta Table, where the polenta is served directly on a cleaned (and sanitized) wood table and then topped with all kinds of wood-fired veggies, meatballs and other meats. Guests scoop this feast onto their plates, like the polenta potluck dinners of his childhood.

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hough running restaurants is his priority, Petroni’s also primed for more airtime. “Right now I really want to focus on our five Fortinas, but you never know…we’re talking creatively and hopefully something will come of it,” he says, referencing his discussions with Food Network about a program. Petroni’s star quality was already showing when he won Season 4 of Chopped. “It’s something that I never expected to do and I’m really enjoying it,” he says of his recent time in the limelight.

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I went into every challenge with an open mind and an open heart and cooked to the best of my abilities. It’s

not the easiest thing to stand in front of a panel and be judged. But it was really fulfilling to get in that kitchen to cook every day and be creative.

”

above: Fortina in Stamford

and an open heart and cooked to the best of my abilities. It’s not the easiest thing to stand in front on a panel and be judged. But it was really fulfilling to get in that kitchen to cook every day and be creative. A lot of fun.”

The fun continued with a show he filmed for the holidays as a judge on the Ultimate Thanksgiving Challenge, which involved critiquing fellow chefs’ takes on the all-American feast.

Which are his favorite sides and traditions?

“I’m a mashed potato fanatic, an aficionado of sorts. My mother makes them fantastically,” he says. “Sometimes I like to cook them in the style of the late, great Joël Robuchon, which is equal parts potato and butter. Always delicious, very light,” he says with a laugh. For the Thanksgiving show, he went head-to-head with another

F OR G ET T H E MOJ I TO

All Day Bae 1 oz aperol .5 oz. fresh lemon juice .5 oz. simple syrup Shake and pour into highball glass with ice.

Top slowly with Lambrusco.

Garnish with blood orange wheel.

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY THOMAS MCGOVERN

above: There’s no doubt that Petroni is comfortable in front of television cameras, but hustling in the kitchen will always be his first love.

chef in a turkey-carving competition; and in one episode he judged five chefs’ attempts to reinvent sides. He admits that, for him, simpler dishes are sometimes best: “Growing up my mother always made two stuffings, mostly because of me and my cousin Warren. One stuffing was very fancy with whatever bread she used, raisins and sausage, this and that and all these great herbs, and it was really beautiful. The other was Stove Top. And that was my favorite. It’s a guilty pleasure.”

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hese days Petroni is passing his love of food on to his eighteen-month-old son, Beau. No kiddie menus for this little one, who was playing with his toy food truck while we spoke. “Beau eats what we eat,

and that’s very important to us. Whatever we’re cooking that night is what he has for dinner,” he says. “When we were doing baby food, I was getting beautiful squash from Sport Hill Farm [in Easton] and other local produce and pureeing it. Now that he’s old enough for bigboy food, he pretty much eats everything.”

After a busy season of filming out of state, Petroni cherishes time at home in Westchester with his wife, Sherry, and Beau, cooking them scrambled eggs every morning. He says he loves that feeling of coming home from a long day; “it’s like you’re seeing them for the first time every day.”

Besides his day-to-day restaurant work, he’s currently in event-planning mode. He and the Fortina team have dreamed up plenty of events MARCH/APRIL 2019 STAMFORD

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in the past, from a free pig roast customerappreciation party to a Drag Queen Bingo night, but this one is bigger. It’s called Parmapalooza.

He explains: “It’s a parmesan-themed food festival that Fortina is going to be spearheading this spring. There’s not many details we’re ready to share at the moment but it’s going to be big, a collaboration like no one has ever seen in Westchester and Fairfield counties.” He’s been lining up vendors and presenters, announcing them on Instagram, and chances are good that the event will draw people from farther afield, especially the Bronx. During the filming of his Food Network Star pilot, Chef Sunny Anderson encouraged Petroni to “bring it home for the Bronx.” And he’s still doing that. His response: S “I’m gonna rep, I’m gonna rep hard.”

MAKING

Who’s buying property, what homes are selling, where the market is changing and when you can expect to see it all happen

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A MOVE by sc ot t thomas

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eal estate shopping patterns have changed dramatically in the past decade. Whether it’s for the next five or fifty years, buyers and renters have differing tastes, desires and objectives when they are making decisions about the community they want to call home. Real estate decision-making is unlike what any previous generation has experienced and has resulted in a whole new set of guidelines families and individuals must now face.

One constant, however, is Stamford’s appeal.

People of every age still seek to call the city their home for a wide range of reasons: proximity to New York City, amenities, shopping, restaurants, open space, nightlife, schools, jobs, availability and diversity of housing options.

Stamford has it all, and people want to live here for that reason. Tastes are certainly changing; challenging the notion that purchasing a home is not the reliable long-term investment it once was, more people are choosing to rent. The bottom line? Stamford’s real estate market continues to thrive. Whereas other Connecticut communities are seeing an exodus, Stamford’s allure still resonates soundly across all demographics. It is one of the few Connecticut towns that has seen its population rise in recent years.

“Stamford fared well in comparison to many Fairfield County towns in 2018,’’ says Tammy Felenstein, executive director of sales for Halstead, LLC. “Like a big ship that doesn’t turn on a dime, our size, variety, location and affordability keep us afloat and moving forward.

We will always be conveniently located to New York City; we have the largest assortment of any type of housing you want, from quiet backcountry homes, to waterfront communities and a vibrant downtown.”

Real estate professionals always paint an optimistic picture, but particularly so in Stamford.

Sales of single family homes in Stamford fell 2.1 percent through the third quarter compared to 2017, and the median sale price fell 0.17 percent, according to statistics provided by William Pitt Sotheby’s International Real Estate. Sales of single-family homes fell 3 percent in Fairfield County, though, while the countywide median sale price rose 7 percent. Sluggish sales of expensive homes in North Stamford helped contribute to Stamford’s decline in the median sale price.

“I have the same sense of optimism for 2019 that I had for 2018,’’ says Barbara Hickey, a longtime agent for William Pitt Sotheby’s. “I think maybe we fell a little bit short of expectations. I would have liked to have seen a stronger second half. I’m just as bullish for 2019.

“The big developers have not slowed down, and the downtown area is continuing to improve,’’ Hickey continues. “Mill River Park is sensational, it’s a city jewel. Stamford Hospital, Harbor Point, that entire downtown corridor is booming. How much better can it get?”

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erhaps the biggest change in the past few years in the Stamford real estate landscape is the continuing demand for rental properties, particularly in the area of Harbor Point and downtown. The supply of apartments continued to escalate in

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MAKING A MOVE

seller beware

2018, and more are on the way in 2019.

One highly anticipated opening will occur at the parcel of land located at Greyrock Place and Tresser Boulevard. Known for decades as “The Hole in the Ground”, the site will house the first apartments of a 650-unit, eleven-building complex planned to open in July. Construction of the project, known as Stamford Urby, began in October 2017, and is the result of a partnership between F.D. Rich & Co. and Ironstate Development.

Another highly-anticipated project is The Smyth, to be developed by Lennar Builders on the site where St. John Tower on Washington Boulevard—across from the Government Center—once stood. The development will add 400 apartments to the downtown market in 2020.

These join the recent openings of Aisnley Square on Colonial Road, Atlantic Station on Atlantic Street, Vela on the Park on Washington Boulevard and Harbor Landing on Southfield Avenue.

“Stamford has emerged, after what is now a sixty-year renewal of its core area, as one of the greatest small cities in the country,’’ says Tom Rich, president and chief executive officer of F.D. Rich & Co. “People are choosing to live in or near downtown but, in many cases, commute out of the city to go to work. That means the plethora of apartment projects are being supported by a much wider office market and employer base than ever before.

New homebuyers are setting THE RULES and expect you to follow them

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tamford is known for its neighborchallenge, he says, is keeping up with hoods. Perhaps unlike any other changing tastes. “The demand evolves,” city in the state, there are distinguishing he says. “[Today], you take a top health features that add charm and character club and put it into an apartment buildto the various villages. Whether it’s the ing. That [trend] has come a long way statuesque homes of North Stamford, from an exercise room that had a couple the small-town feel of Springdale, the of treadmills.” diversity of the West Side, or the apartShifting home-buying preferences ment-building boom that is drawing have affected the pace of transactions residents to downtown, these communiin established neighborhoods. Since ties help give the city its rich personality. homebuyers are coveting more comBut no matter where buyers choose munity, walkability and a neighborhood to look for a new abode, potential homefeel, some large, pricey homes in North owners are more apt to demand certain Stamford languish on the marketplace. features while forgoing other standard Most buyers don’t want big properties elements, a change in the nature of miles from downtown, or to invest the residential real estate that affects which time and cost equated with maintainproperties move. A new residential ing those properties. Sales of properties development bordering downtown— in Shippan, another area with spacious a first in decades in homes and high propStamford—could be a erty taxes, fell more game-changer in illusthan 8 percent in the trating what people are first nine months of “TODAY’S HGTV looking for in their new 2018, according to GENERATION homes.

Tammy Felenstein of OF HOMEBUYERS The sixty-two unit Halstead.

WANT NEW, Ainslie Square, with its “Today’s HGTV genmix of new three- and eration of homebuyers QUICK, EASY, four-bedroom town want new, quick, easy, AMENITIES, homes and singleamenities, little mainLITTLE family houses, opened tenance, and closerecently on Colonial to-town. In short, they MAINTENANCE, Road. Boasting ameniwant it all,” she says.

AND CLOSE-TOties like a pool and sun “They’re only going to TOWN. IN SHORT, deck, a clubhouse and pay what they feel the THEY WANT a twenty-four-hour fithome is worth, and ness center, the develmove on quickly if it IT ALL.” opment brings togethdoesn’t meet their ex–TAMMY FELENSTEIN, er all of the features pectations.” executive director, sales today’s homebuyers Barbara Hickey of Halstead, LLC are seeking. It is the William Pitt Sotheby’s template for residensays: “Society’s tastes tial building in the twenty-first century. have changed. [Since] we no longer “People’s time is valuable and they have big, sit-down dinners, the elegance would rather spend it in different of the formal living room and dining ways,’’ says Randy Salvatore, CEO and room [are no longer a priority.] People president of RMS Companies, whose are looking for more casual but inclusive team delivered the project. “A lot of peodesign because we’ve become more caple are attracted to the lifestyle we’re sual with the way we live and entertain.” offering.”

Still, though sales have been slugThe homes are built on a 4.5-acre pargish on higher-end homes, the market cel just 400 yards beyond the downtown has remained stable; Stamford’s diverse border. Salvatore says the development housing options, amenities, growing marries lessons learned in apartment businesse climate and proximity to New and hospitality building and brings them York help keep it a place where people to single-family construction. enjoy living.

The challenge, Salvatore says, will be “Stamford’s real estate market has building more developments similar to been slow and steady,’’ the Stamford Ainslie Square. Lack of available propBoard of Realtors says in a statement. erty and zoning ordinances make it hard “Millennial buyers, out-of-state buyers to envision many projects of a similar and multi-generational buyers are findnature coming down the pike. Another ing their way to Stamford. .”­ —ST

COLLEGE BOUND Growing demand for CAMPUS HOUSING at UConn is a factor in the transforming local market

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ne of the undeniable trends in the Stamford real estate landscape is the emergence of UCONN-STAMFORD as an integral part of downtown, and by extension, the growing perception of the city as a college town.

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“Further, Stamford and Norwalk apartments continue to be a 40 percent off-sale as compared to comparable New York City rentals while continuing to offer an exciting urban and highly walkable lifestyle,’’ Rich adds. “Barring a recession or significant interest rate increases, I think financially feasible apartment developments can continue unabated.”

The influx of apartments in Stamford’s downtown area—and the talent pool signing those leases—has helped many businesses thrive while encouraging other companies to relocate to Stamford. Sandy Goldstein, the president of Stamford Downtown, says the energy within the downtown community is more palpable than at any time during her twenty-five-year tenure with the special services district.

“We have more development going on in terms of residential and hotel building than we’ve had in years and years,’’ Goldstein says.

“As [New York City] gets more and more expensive, people are finding Stamford as a great alternative. There’s a lot of energy [here] and people love living here.”

It’s not just millennials and New York City commuters who are flocking to live in Stamford’s downtown. Some baby boomers, as they approach retirement, are leaving their homes and opting for maintenance-free living close to the heart of the city. “The Stamford market has so much going on,’’ says Ted Ferrarone, COO for Building & Land Technology, the develop-

Once a tiny campus tucked far away on Scofieldtown Road in North Stamford, the university continued to thrive since moving to its downtown location in 1998. In the latest development, the school introduced student housing on Washington Boulevard in 2017, which was quickly filled to capacity. As a result of increased demand, the school added 120 more units last fall.

The 116-unit residence hall at 900 Washington Boulevard housed about 270 students during 2017–2018 school year. The apartments were an answer to help the swelling population at this satellite campus of the University of Connecticut, which has seen its student population rise to nearly 1,800 students—an increase of 32 percent since 2013.

Before the apartments became available, UConn-Stamford had been known as a commuter school. Students

er of Harbor Point. “I think you’re seeing the transformation of Stamford into a twenty-fourseven city. When you look at the population downtown, a lot of it is driven by the apartment growth. Young couples and millennials are attracted to the nightlife and the restaurants.

“But we’re also seeing more and more empty-nesters. Not only do they want to stay near their families but they’re also looking for the same benefits the younger generation is looking for.”

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hile the apartment explosion in Stamford’s downtown has driven the real estate narrative recently, the trend in singlefamily and condominium sales remains steady, if not spectacular. But, in real estate circles, consistent incremental movement is considered a positive sign. Volatility—either upward or downward—is worrisome for most real estate agents.

Stamford will always have buyers who want to move into the city. In the current landscape, however, buyers need to have their homes prepared for the market. Today’s discriminating buyers has so much information at their fingertips, they can control negotiations more than ever before. They know what’s out there, how much things cost and the condition and features of other homes in their price range. They

are willing to visit—and eventually make an offer—only if the home checks all of the boxes on their must-have list.

“Sellers need to prepare their homes thoughtfully, understanding that buyers are condition sensitive,’’ Hickey said. “At the right price, everything sells. It’s all about being ready when that opportunity presents itself. Then we have to figure out how the agents work together to bring it to the finish line.”

While real estate professionals went into 2018 optimistically, there was also uncertainty.

Interest rates are always a concern, a new governor is in office, and new federal rules reduced tax advantages of home ownership for many Stamford residents. And yet, the real estate market in Stamford remained steady. For many, the advantages of living in Stamford are simply too tempting to pass up.

“The Stamford market is at a steady pace,’’ the Stamford Board of Realtors said in a joint statement. “New York residents and others are moving out of high-tax states and into Stamford and surrounding towns. The market grew more stable and confident. It was reassuring to see some younger people choosing to buy property rather than rent, and equally reassuring to see sellers making a conscious effort to meet the present demand by pricing accordingly.

Three words come to mind when we think of the 2018 landscape: resolve, rejuvenation and confidence.”

a university presence,’’ says Randy Salvatore, CEO and president of RMS Companies, whose company built the UConn-Stamford residences. Many include lofts with private rooftop patios, study lounges on each floor as well as private meeting rooms and entertaining areas for student collaboration and socialization.

When Salvatore’s company started the construction project, the association with UConn-Stamford was not yet realized. That soon changed when it became clear the new apartments aligned with UConn-Stamford’s vision.

“I think everyone had a belief that it would be successful,’’ Salvatore says.

“The students are living in luxury apartments that are a far cry from what I remember in a dorm room. It was a glove-fit.”

Students at UConn-Stamford appreciate the advantages that draw so many other young people to the city.

attended classes in town, but offered little in the way of contributing to the local economy or adding to the vibrancy of the city. That changed when the students moved into the apartments.

“One of the things I’ll be watching in 2019 is to see if UConn will provide additional housing that has made it so tempting for students who want to attend UConn and live downtown,’’ says Sandy Goldstein, president of Stamford Downtown, the special servicea district. “[The students] are a phenomenal presence in the downtown area.”

Students attending UConn-Stamford have added energy and vibrancy, helping to support restaurants, entertainment and clubs. They also add appeal to city businesses that are seeking to hire local talent that knows its way around the city, and is ready to accept positions just steps away from where they attended school.

“Every truly successful city has

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They enjoy the urban vibe, the proximity to New York City, and amenities such as shopping, entertainment, restaurants Mill River Park, and the coast.

The rent for the apartments is also significantly reduced from similar apartments in the city, sometimes as much as 40 to 50 percent less. Being close to the Stamford Town Center and the variety of inexpensive restaurant options add to the appeal.

Goldstein says former Governor and Stamford Mayor Dannel Malloy helped deliver the apartments at UConn-Stamford. During the official ribbon cutting for the opening of the first student apartments, Malloy said: “With leading programs in digital media and business, a location in a vibrant city and access to an established transportation hub linking students to the entire eastern seaboard, it is no surprise UConn-Stamford is growing and thriving.’’ —ST S

malene oddershede bach

BACH: HELLE MOOS; KARNUTS: COURTESY OF SAFIYAA; MODELS COURTESY OF DESIGNERS

daniela karnuts of safiyaa

b y m egan g ag non

BRITISH INVASION

MODEL: COURTESY OF MODA OPERANDI; LODHA: KEN NGAN

Is London the new fashion capital ? Three designers make the case with brands based in the stylish city.

saloni lodha of saloni

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lorals for spring? For MALENE ODDERSHEDE BACH, they truly are groundbreaking. The botanical motifs in the designer’s work have come to define her futuristic-meets-feminine aesthetic. They have marked her collections since she came on the scene in 2011—and was quickly named one of Fashion Scout’s Ones to Watch (UK’s independent showcase for emerging and established design talent). After pivoting from her studies to be a mathematician, Bach found a creative outlet on the London styling scene and discovered her love for fashion. But her analytical approach reveals itself in her attention to detail, evident in the poppies that appear on her latest pieces. Her fascination with these flowers results in another gorgeous display of wearable dresses and separates; worthy of the fashion community’s attention and with a fresh take on British fashion, one of our own new brands to follow. stamfordmag.com

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COURTESY OF MALENE ODDERSHEDE BACH

Natural Wonder

landscapes; these flowers endure tough conditions and still perfectly embody a force of nature that might not be obvious at first glance. The Icelandic poppy itself is hairy and quite alien-like before the flower has sprung, but beautiful and fragile once in full flora.

What’s been the hardest part about working in fashion?

It’s extremely hard work and definitely not a nine-to-five job.

The challenges met throughout every part of growth in the business are difficult, but at the same time, it’s also what makes fashion and running your own business exciting.

The fashion cycle is endless, with four seasons a year. It becomes a struggle to have time enough to be creative and actually just design.

How does London inspire your work?

m a l e ne oddersh ede bach

Q&A

PORTRAIT: HELLE MOOS

How did you get started designing?

I was brought up in the countryside on a farm in Denmark and moved to London for school after turning nineteen.

I specialized in mathematics, but I struggled with the idea of either working in a bank or teaching math. Somehow moving to London opened up a world of creativity that I hadn’t previously experienced in the rural countryside of Denmark.

I was offered a job to style a friend’s band, and I found myself having an interview at London College of Fashion—I had no portfolio, borrowed a friend’s camera and frantically put something together. Luckily, I got accepted, and I quickly realized that the design and textile path was much more suited and challenging for me. Throughout my first two years, I worked endlessly as an assistant in the

London is great for diversity, and there’s so much variety to suit everyone. I like the industrial architectural history of London, some of which is still present. The local communities, made up by all these different nationalities, really make London what it is. I live next to a nature reserve and like the fact that while you live in London, you still very much can always find a green oasis near you.

costume department on a BBC live TV production, and interned for designers Steve J & Yoni P, Anne Sofie Back and eventually Preen by Thornton Bregazzi.

After a few seasons, I went freelance and worked for a few designers pattern-cutting before receiving the Ones To Watch accolade that essentially launched the brand to become what it is today.

What defines British fashion?

British fashion is known for pushing the boundaries and I think today it still provides a bit of freshness to the market.

Why did you decide to set up shop in London?

I always adored London from visiting with my mother as a teenager and couldn’t imagine being based anywhere else doing what I do. I like the buzz and the fact there’s always something going on.

Who’s your style inspiration?

I’m not sure if I have a specific person that I see as a style inspiration. For me, I think it’s more of an overall woman, who is strong, independent and with a can-do attitude, while still very much being subtle and humble and willing to pull her sleeves up to help her peers if required.

What inspired your spring collection?

It was inspired by the unstoppable force of nature encroaching on our man-made world and the film Annihilation. Nature in itself is fascinating. Take the fight of Icelandic poppies—included in our prints and jacquards—against harsh

What makes your designs different?

Our collections start with the

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textiles, and these form a full story before the actual design aspects start. With some of our fabrics, we photograph every element, such as the Icelandic poppies throughout their flowering process and then digitally put it all together to create a print, which then gets developed in the jacquards and then embroidered. Also, we produce in London and source all our textiles from Italy. I think producing locally and keeping your supply chain as local as possible is very important.

What’s something our readers would be surprised to learn about you?

I’m pretty good at driving tractors and also building walls and wiring electricity on building sites.

Shop Malene Oddershede Bach at shop.nordstrom.com

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n the short time since she launched her label SAFIYAA in 2011, DANIELA KARNUTS has quietly and steadily forced the fashion world to take notice with her bespoke, ultra-feminine creations. Stylish celebrities favor her on the red carpet (Jennifer Lopez, Gigi Hadid and Chrissy Teigen have all worn her designs) and most recently, she’s been a repeat favorite of HRH The Duchess of Sussex, who’s been stealing the royal spotlight with her formal looks. Safiyaa, named after Karnuts’ daughter, was born out of the designer’s desire for a wardrobe that worked for her corporate job but with attention to detail, expert tailoring and contemporary style. Karnuts’ focus is on fit, not the endless cycle of fashion shows and trend-chasing; and with no formal training, she’s created an atelier where women from all over come to experience her one-of-a-kind craftsmanship. stamfordmag.com

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COURTESY OF SAFIYAA

Made to Measure

Who is the Safiyaa woman?

The Safiyaa woman is a strong and confident woman who knows what she wants. She is chic and timeless and wears clothes to accentuate her personality.

What makes your designs different?

I am a woman designing for women. I understand how to accentuate the body and bring out that inner confidence we all have.

I also know that if a woman feels comfortable and beautiful in her outfit, she will look and feel her best. Our mission is to make a woman shine from within.

When did you feel like you’d made it?

Like raising a child, building a company and a brand is an ongoing journey that is forever moving and growing. I take the gratification from the direct client feedback that we receive, which gives us a sense of purpose and joy. Moments like HRH The Duchess of Sussex wearing Safiyaa, are cherished moments.

da n ie l a k arn u t s of sa fi yaa

Q&A How did you get started designing?

As a young woman searching for the right clothing, I always admired the service that men were offered on the Saville Row in London, which wasn’t available to women. I wanted something that would be a timeless staple versus a fashion “it” piece that would come and go so quickly. This was my starting point to build the Safiyaa brand, a demi-couture brand at a ready-to-wear price point.

COURTESY OF SAFIYAA

Why did you decide to set up shop in London?

Being from Germany, London is the closest true metropolis.

It is a hub for new and aspiring businesses with people from all over the world; and with women who still enjoy the timeless elegance of dressing.

It was only natural for Safiyaa to start in London.

What inspired your spring collection?

Our spring collection is inspired by the allure of women like Carmen Miranda and Cher; women who are unapologetically sensual and live their passions.

The collection is set in a tropical environment with joie de vivre.

Who’s your style inspiration?

I love Cate Blanchett’s taste and the poise and elegance of Barbara Goalen (the first British supermodel). True class and intellect are what make style timeless.

What’s your favorite part about designing a new collection?

What’s your favorite evening wear look right now?

Once a new collection is begun and I set the mood, it feels like a fresh start each season; like giving birth. We are nurturing and maturing something until it gets to a place we are proud of. Each collection, we have a lead woman that we look to, and a feeling we want to create as well as a lot of architectural and cultural references.

The effortless and modern chic of a jumpsuit; the ability you have to be so versatile with one look. It has a younger vibe and feel to it, yet has the ability to still be a glamorous evening wear look when combined with our harnesses.

What do you love to do when you’re not designing?

I love to spend time with my family and my dog, go to hot yoga, read and watch TED talks.

I also love to travel, which always gives me a fountain of inspiration.

How does London inspire your work?

Its vibrant art and social scene lends itself to starting a business; and the sense of occasion in Mayfair, where our showroom is, gives off an old school grandeur.

Shop Safiyaa at Mitchells, Westport and Richards, Greenwich

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S

ALONI LODHA travels a lot. The designer splits her time between Hong Kong and London, with regular stops in Korea and her native India. It was this jet-set lifestyle that inspired Lodha to create the initial dresses that would come to distinguish her namesake brand; that magical formula of flattering, feminine silhouettes and a bold mix of vibrant prints. And with their easy glamour and vivid patterns, they became instant favorites on the fashion scene. Although she’s set up shop in the UK, her Indian heritage weaves its way into her work. Bright colors taken directly from Mumbai markets, and metallic embroidery translated from the saris in her grandmother’s collection, are what set her designs apart.

As she continues to whip up sought-after collections and inspire wanderlust season after season, Saloni devotees will be packing her pieces into their closets and carry-ons. stamfordmag.com

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COURTESY OF MODA OPERANDI

Prints Charming

heavily embroidered blouses and kaleidoscopic, tie-dye Bandhani fabrics are often paired with an abundance of jewelry. I cherish the memories of long afternoons spent unfolding and folding my grandmother’s extensive sari collection. If I think about it, these saris were the real inspirations behind my initial interest in textiles. I always keep in mind my Indian heritage while designing but don’t translate it literally into our clothes. I think the way we as a brand celebrate bold colors and patterns is our way of bringing the spirit of India into the collections.

Who is the Saloni woman?

The Saloni woman is cosmopolitan, with an eclectic mix-it-up fashion philosophy and is always a touch adventurous in the way she dresses.

She is feminine without being too girly and is looking for clothing that is versatile, fun, affordable and beautifully made, with attention to detail. Saloni is a “motherdaughter” brand. A mother might buy a dress for her daughter that she can envision wearing herself, and a daughter might help her mother choose a dress that she wants to borrow for a wedding.

Our customer is conscious of what she wears but is not necessarily fashion-obsessed.

s a l on i l odha of sal oni

Q&A How did you get started designing?

When I moved to Hong Kong in 2001, the market was dominated by luxury brands, so I saw a gap for something more personal.

I decided to set up pop-up boutiques and sell one-off pieces made in collaboration with artisans from back home. In 2008, while sitting in a block-printing factory in Jaipur, I realized my dream was to create a global brand that would take the rich heritage I grew up with and blend it with the global nomadic life I was living.

PORTRAIT: KEN NGAN

Why did you decide to set up shop in London?

London is a creative melting pot and it felt like the right city for the brand.

What inspired the spring collection?

I love summers. The collection

brings together playful shapes with crisp cottons and energetic hand-drawn prints that are animatedly layered with Naïfpainted elements. The joyful femininity of the collection gives you a free-spirited mood.

What’s your favorite part about working in fashion?

I have fun working in fashion.

My vision is to be original; design, create and entertain my customers with the fantasy of Saloni.

What makes your designs different?

I built a brand synonymous with my nomadic lifestyle. Women of all ages come to us for our signature dresses and collections that are imbued with feminine, playful and easy elegance.

How does London inspire your work?

London inspires me in so many ways. I feel at home here. It has the best design schools, museums, parks. Everywhere you look, there is inspiration.

When did you feel like you’d made it?

Never, I think.

Dream client?

How does your Indian heritage inspire your work?

Cate Blanchett

My love affair with textiles began at a very young age. My family originally hails from Rajasthan, and women from my traditional community still wear saris on a daily basis. Their

Dream travel destination?

Nepal is next on my list.

Shop Saloni at ModaOperandi.com S

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RESOURCE-FULL DIRECTORY

Ready to assemble your dream team? Find the EXPERTS you need to get your project started.

Firms listed in bold have an enhanced listing in our new digital directory. Visit athomefc.com/buildrenovate to begin your search!

ARCHITECTURE: Alexander Gorlin Architects New York City 212-229-1199 gorlinarchitects.com Alisberg Parker Old Greenwich 203-637-8730 alisbergparker.com Amanda Martocchio Architecture New Canaan 203-966-5707 amandamartocchio.com Arrowstreet Boston 617-623-5555 arrowstreet.com ASCAPE New York City 212-255-5250 a-scape.com Austin Patterson Disston Architects Southport 203-255-4031 Quogue, NY 631-653-1481 apdarchitects.com Beinfield Architecture South Norwalk 203-838-5789 beinfield.com Blueprint Dreams 203-610-7463 blueprintdreams.com Brooks & Falotico Associates New Canaan 203-966-8440 brooksandfalotico.com Browning Residential Design Westport 203-610-1478 browningdesignct.com Charles Hilton Architecture and Interiors Greenwich 203-489-3800 hiltonarchitects.com Chip Webster Architecture Nantucket 508-228-3600 chipwebster.com CPG Architects & Planners Stamford 203-967-3456

cpgarch.com Crozier Gedney Architects Rye, NY 914-967-6060 croziergedney.com CS Architecture Redding 203-938-2527 csarchitecture.com David Scott Parker Architects Southport 203-259-3373 dsparker.com Deerkoski + Arm Design & Engineering Westhampton Beach, NY 631-767-6071 dastudiony.com Donald William Fairbanks Architect Southport 203-345-6307 dwfarchitects.com Douglas VanderHorn Architects Greenwich 203-622-7000 vanderhornarchitects.com Dvisionone Architects North Haven 203-407-1477 dvisionone.com Edward G. Davis AIA Old Greenwich 203-637-2748

Gordon Kahn & Associates New York City 212-957-7779 gkassociates.com

John A. Matthews Architecture Madison 203-245-0110

McAlpine New York City 212-414-1272 mcalpinehouse.com

Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects New Haven 203-777-2515 pcparch.com

Gotham Design and Development Dobbs Ferry, NY 914-693-5093

The Kaali-Nagy Company New Canaan 203-966-8254 kaali-nagy.com

Peter Pennoyer Architects New York City 212-779-9765 ppapc.com

Granoff Architects Greenwich 203-625-9460 granoffarchitects.com

KieranTimberlake Philadelphia 215-922-6600 kierantimberlake.com

Michael Greenberg & Associates Westport 203-226-7958 michaelgreenberg-assoc.com

Groves & Co. New York City 212-929-5221 grovesandco.com

Kirtley Cameron Design Bedford, NY 917-647-9007 kirtleycamerondesign.com

Haver & Skolnick Architects Roxbury 860-354-1031 haverskolnickarchitects.com

Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates New York City 212-977-6500 kpf.com

Hottenroth + Joseph Architects New York City 212-941-1900 hjnyc.com

Laura Kaehler Architects Riverside 203-629-4646 kaehlerarchitects.com

Huestis Tucker Architects Woodbridge 203-248-1007 huestistucker.com

Laurence G. Jones Architects New York City 212-290-9260 lgjonesarchitects.com

J.P. Franzen Associates Architects Southport 203-259-0529 franzenarchitects.com

Leigh Overland Architect Danbury 203-794-9001 ldoverland.com

Edward Siegel Architect New York City edwardsiegelarchitects.com

James Schettino Architects New Canaan 203-966-5552 schettinoarchitects.com

Elizabeth Jahn Architecture Westport 203-571-1175 elizabethjahn.com

Jill Neubauer Architects Falmouth, MA 508-548-0909 jnarchitects.com

Eskew + Dumez + Ripple New Orleans 504-561-8686 eskewdumezripple.com

Jim Denno Design Milford 203-882-8755 JMKA | architects Westport 203-222-1222 jmkarchitects.com

Fifield Piaker Elman Architects Westport 203-222-5600 fpe-architects.com Frederick A. Philopena, AIA Architect Somers, NY 914-441-6633

Lovas Architects Westport 203-858-8730 lovasarchitects.com Mark P. Finlay Architects, AIA Southport 203-254-2388 markfinlay.com Marsella + Knoetgen Architects Mamaroneck, NY 914-381-5198 mk-architects.com Marybeth Woods Architect Westport 203-856-7406 marybethwoodsarchitect.com

Joeb Moore & Partners Greenwich 203-769-5828 joebmoore.com

Matthew R. Dougherty Architect New Canaan 203-296-4669 mrdarchitect.com

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Michael Smith Architects South Norwalk 203-563-0553 michaelsmitharchitects. com Mockler Taylor Architects Westport 203-622-4276 mocklertaylor.com Mose Associates Architects Ridgefield 203-438-5355 moseassociates.com Nautilus Architects Old Lyme 860-227-1169 nautilusarchitects.com Neil Hauck Architects Darien 203-655-9340 neilhauckarchitects.com Pagliaro Bartels Sajda Architects South Norwalk 203-838-5517 pbs-archs.com Partners Stoll & Stoll New Rochelle, NY 914-576-0800 stollarchitects.com Patrick Ahearn Architect Boston 617-266-1710 Edgartown, MA 508-939-9312 patrickahearn.com Paul Shainberg Architects Rye, NY 914-967-3474 shainbergarchitects.com Paul Stephan Marchese Architects Greenwich 203-912-6644 paulmarchesearchitects.com

Peter Zimmerman Architects Berwyn, PA 610-647-6970 pzarchitects.com PH Architects Newtown 203-426-6500 ph-archs.com Pivko Designs New Canaan 475-204-1113 pivkodesigns.com Ranney Michaels Fairfield 203-221-3005 ranneymichaels.com Richard Swann Architect Fairfield 203-255-6778 swannarchitect.com Rob Sanders Architects Wilton 203-761-0144 rsarchct.com Robert A. Cardello Architecture + Design South Norwalk 203-587-8628 Greenwich 203-552-2855 cardelloarchitects.com Robert A.M. Stern Architects New York City 212-967-5100 ramsa.com Robert M. Berger Architect Westport 203-259-3160 robertmberger.com Robert Storm Architects Westport 203-222-9055 architectstorm.com Roger Ferris + Partners Westport 203-222-4848 ferrisarch.com

Ryan Salvatore Design New York City 212-475-0050 ryan-salvatore.com

Vicente-Burin Architects Fairfield 203-319-9571 vbarchitect.com

A. Pro Builders Monroe 203-459-0166 aprobuilders.com

Clark Construction Ridgefield 203-431-2699 clarkconstruction.net

DeStefano & Chamberlain Fairfield 203-254-7131 dcstructural.com

Fletcher Development Norwalk 203-286-6166 fletcherdevelopmentllc.com

Saniee Architects Greenwich 203-625-9308 sanieearchitects.com

Wadia Associates New Canaan 203-966-0048 wadiaassociates.com

William D. Earls AIA Architect Wilton 203-762-7462 williamearls.com

William Kleinmann Architect Stamford 203-327-5512 williamkleinmannarchitect .com

Argus Development Old Greenwich 203-637-4144 argusdevelopmentllc.com

Clarke Builders Old Greenwich 203-637-4135

D.H.E. Company New York City 212-228-8005 dhecompany.com

Flynn Reyen Associates Greenwich 203-661-5795

Sawyer | Berson New York City 212-244-3055 sawyerberson.com Scott Springer Architect Westport 203-690-7197 scottspringerarchitect.com Sean O’Kane AIA Architect Ridgefield 203-438-4208 sokaia.com Sellars Lathrop Architects Westport 203-222-0229 sellarslathrop.com

BUILD: A. Anastasio Fence Company Fairfield 203-255-9612 anastasiofence.com

Able Construction Norwalk 203-849-3083 ableconstruction.com

Soper Babcock Associates Greenwich 203-661-9463 soperbabcock.com

Ackermann & Stabile Contracting Stamford 203-273-8088

Specht Architects Austin, TX 512-382-7938 spechtarchitects.com

Blansfield Builders Danbury 203-797-9174 blansfieldbuilders.com

Streibert Associates Chatham, MA 508-945-1459 streibertarchitects.com

Air Solutions Stamford 203-357-8853 airsolutions.tv

Alexander Wolf & Son New York City 212-972-1740 awolfandson.com

Studio DiBerardino New Canaan 203-972-8704 studiodiberardino.com

Al-Jon Construction Corporation Croton-on-Hudson 914-329-5520

Brooks Custom Mt. Kisco, NY 914-666-2029 brookscustom.com

Studio Dumitru Westport 203-226-5156 studiodumitru.com

American Frameless Westport 888-843-0218 americanframeless.com

Cape Associates Eastham, MA 508-255-1770 capeassociates.com

Teo Sigüenza Architect Bedford, NY 914-234-6289 teosiguenza.com

Amgine New Canaan 203-210-5047

CCO Habitats Westport 203-295-3600 ccohabitats.com

Thompson Raissis Architects Darien 203-399-0100 tr-architects.com

Connecticut Stone Milford 203-882-1000 connecticutstone.com

Atlantic Building Contractors Ridgefield 203-438-8626

Shope Reno Wharton South Norwalk 203-852-7250 shoperenowharton.com

Anthony Manca Mason Contractors Bethel 203-778-2615

Concrete Encounter Bridgeport 203-659-4765 concreteencounter.com

Assisi Remodeling Stamford 203-561-3339 assisiremodeling.com

Sheldon Richard Kostelecky Architect Dunwoody, GA 678-691-3292 srkarchitect.com

Thiel Architecture + Design Weston 917-679-8070 thieldesign.com

Cole Harris Associates Westport 203-226-1830 coleharris.com

Artistry Woodcraft Riviera Beach, FL 561-844-6680 artistrywoodcraft.com

ABC Worldwide Stone Brooklyn 718-389-8360 Hicksville 516-997-9412 abcworldwidestone.com

Andersen Builders Hobe Sound, FL 561-575-2781

Coastal Construction Group Westport 203-984-6869 ctcoastal.com

Artisans Home Builders Rowayton 203-604-6001 artisanshomebuilders.com

AVM Construction Stamford 203-904-3883

Construction Management Group New Canaan 203-966-3388 cmgbuilder.com

Bechir Louati Electric Bedford Hills, NY 914-262-1207

Conover Restorations Edgartown, MA 508-627-3844

Ben Krupinski Builder Old Greenwich 203-990-0633 bkbuilder.com

Cornerstone Contracting Greenwich 203-861-4200 cornerstone-builders.com

Better Home Builders Greenwich 203-869-2947

Country Club Homes Wilton 203-762-0550 countryclubhomesinc.com Cum Laude Group White Plains, NY 914-946-2488 cumlaudegroup.com

Bluewater Home Builders Westport 203-557-4770 bluewaterhomebuilders.com

CCS Stone Moonachie, NJ 201-933-1515 ccsstone.com CJS Millwork Stamford 203-708-0080 cjsmillwork.com

DiBlasi Associates Monroe 203-452-1331 diblasi-engrs.com Domus Constructors Greens Farms 203-852-6789 domusllc.com Duffy Home Solutions Greenwich 203-637-2577 duffyhomesolutions.com Dushi Marble & Granite Stamford 203-978-0038 dushimg.com East Coast Structures Darien 203-542-0629 ecstructures.net Ed’s Garage Doors Norwalk 203-528-0903 edsgaragedoor.com Edward Stanley Engineers Guilford 203-458-0210 edwardstanleyengineers.com EK Construction Wilton 203-762-5835

Custom Cut Interiors Middletown 860-343-7814 customcutinteriors.com

E.R. Salvatore Associates Stamford 203-324-2276 ersalvatore.com

CVM King of Prussia, PA 610-989-3800 cvmprofessional.com

E.R.I. Building & Design Darien 203-655-6952 eribuild.com

Cypress Construction Milford 203-400-9118 cypressconstructionllc.com

Everest Marble Norwalk 203-956-7428 everestmarblect.com

Davenport Contracting Stamford 203-324-6308 davenportcontracting.com

Fairfield County Millwork Bethany 203-393-9751 fcmillwork.com

David Kufferman, PE, Structural Engineers Fairfield 203-256-1712 kuffermanstructures.com

Fairview Hearthside Poughkeepsie, NY 845-452-8444 fairviewhearthside.com

D Brown Builders Easton 203-261-2575

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Dibico Construction Greenwich 844-434-2426 dibicoinc.com

Fame Luxury Stone West Haven 203-821-7164 fameluxurystone.com

Fordham Marble Stamford 203-348-5088 fordhammarble.com Form Ltd. Greenwich 203-869-6880 formlimited.com Fox Hill Builders Darien 203-655-9046 foxhillbuilders.com FP Construction Somers. NY 914-441-6633 Frangione Engineering New Canaan 203-554-9551 frangione.net Front Row Kitchens Norwalk 203-514-7526 frontrowkitchens.com Gardiner & Larson Homes New Canaan 203-972-1409 gardinerandlarsonhomes.com Garon Fence Co. & Bedford Ironworks Bedford Hills. NY 914-666-5596 garonfence.com Garrett Wilson Builders Fairfield 203-259-3333 garrettwilsonbuilders.com Gault Stone & Landscape Supplies Westport 203-227-5181 Bethel 203-790-9023 gaultstone.com George Vickers, Jr. Enterprises Westhampton Beach, NY 631-288-7070 georgevickers.com Gerety Building & Restoration Katonah, NY 914-248-1300 geretyrestoration.com Glazer Group Rowayton 203-866-1902 glazergroup.net Grace Design Build Stamford 917-446-8214 gracedb.com

Granco Woodwork Redding 203-731-7571 houzz.com/pro/granco78/ granco-llc Grand Entrance Gates Mt. Kisco, NY 800-486-7553 grandentrance.com Greenwich Tile & Marble Greenwich 203-869-1709 greenwichtileandmarble.com Grunow Builders Darien 203-425-9967 grunowbuilders.com Guiltec Development Stamford 203-912-9224 guiltec.com Heine Development Corp.

203-581-1244 heinedevelopment.com

J.P. Ludwig Builders Wilton 203-943-9595 jludwigbuilders.com

L&L Builders Bethel 203-994-5791 landlbuildersllc.com

The Michaud Group Shelton; Fairfield 203-225-0229 themichaudgroup.com

Plumb House Milford, MA 508-458-1500 plumbhouse.com

Riverside Design + Build Pound Ridge, NY 914-764-1094 riversidedesignbuild.com

Jablonski Associates New Canaan 203-966-3636 jablonskiassociates.com

LANDTECH Westport 203-454-2110 landtechconsult.com

Milbank Builders Greenwich 203-622-1544 milbankbuilders.com

Rocco V. D’Andrea, Inc. Riverside 203-637-1779 rvdi.com

Jacobson Structures Deep River 860-575-3172 jacobsonstructures.com

La Pietra Custom Marble and Granite Ridgefield 203-819-7983 Brookfield 203-763-4697 lapietramarble.com

MILTON Development Westport 203-441-8385 miltondevelopment.com

Pompa Development & Construction Greenwich 203-552-5236 pompaconstruction.com

JARMAN LLC Greenwich 203-661-0664 jarmanllc.com Jim Gronski Construction West Chatham, MA 717-870-6683 jimgronskiconstruction.com John Desmond Builders Southport 203-259-7323 johndesmondbuilders.com

Lanni Homes New Canaan 203-943-2296 glannihomes.com

John Hlinka Services 203-257-1964 Kaesmann Builders Southport 203-292-9146 kaesmannbuilders.com

Lindsay Builders Fairfield 203-644-4982 lindsaybuildersct.com

Karp Associates New Canaan 203-972-3366 karpassociatesinc.com

LoParco Associates Greenwich 203-629-4800 loparco.com

Hobbs, Inc. New Canaan 203-966-0726 hobbsinc.com

Keith J. Manca Building Company Newtown 203-270-3603 kjmbuilding.com

Lorono Construction Rye, NY 914-967-1117 loronoconstruction.com

Hoder Woodwork Fairfield 203-414-5192

Kellard Sessions Consulting 914-273-2323 kelses.com

Love Where You Live Homes 203-394-3164 lovewhereyoulivehomesct .com

Holton Arts West Palm Beach, FL 877-846-5866 holtonarts.com

Kennan Ash New York City 212-759-9800 kennanash.com

Mattera Construction Westport 203-254-2626 matteraconstruction.com

Home Construction New Canaan 203-249-8383

Kettle Ridge Construction Bridgewater 860-799-7149 kettleridgeconstruction.com

Mauro Builders Easton 203-373-7808 maurobuilders.com

King Construction New Holland, PA 888-354-4740 kingbarns.com

McCafferty Construction Newtown 203-537-1560

Highland Woodcraft Prospect 203-758-6625 Hine Builders Southport 203-255-5508 timhine.com

J&J Custom Builders Milford 203-876-0051 jjcustombuilders.com J&J Fence Service Stamford 203-975-8864 J&J Johnson Co. Long Island City, NY 718-392-3033 jandjjohnson.net J.N. Ruddy Builders Darien 203-223-6054 jnruddy.com

Kirby Perkins Construction Middletown, RI 401-848-0150 kirbyperkins.com Kitchens and Baths by C.A.M. Norwalk 203-853-7912 camillwork.com Koral Bros.

Southampton, NY 631-283-0033 koralbros.com

NEST Development Norwalk 203-523-0296 nestdevelopmentct.com

Lecher Development New Canaan 203-948-0335 lecherdevelopment.com Lee Schettino Construction New Canaan 203-972-9144 lsccompany.com

Hemingway Construction Greenwich 203-625-0566 hemingwayconstruction.com

Murphy Brothers Contracting Mamaroneck, NY 203-629-1291 murphybrothers.com

New England Stone Milford 203-876-8606 newenglandstone.com New England Tile Fairfield 203-367-7733 newenglandtile.com New Generation Healthy Homes Fairfield 203-921-9426 newgenerationhealthyhomes .com Nordic Custom Builders Cos Cob 203-629-0430 nordiccustom.com Oliver Wilson Construction Westport 203-820-5847 oliverwilsonconstruction.com Olsen Built Homes 203-389-6413 olsenbuilthomes.com Olson Development Newtown 203-972-7722 olsondevelopmentllc.com Ottavio’s Custom Stonework 203-767-3948 Pagano Contracting Palm Beach, FL 772-485-8455

McNulty Development Melville, NY 631-547-1400 mcnultydevelopment.com

Pecora Brothers Greenwich 203-590-9027 pecorabrothers.com

Merolle Brothers Tile & Marble Yonkers, NY 914-237-6738 merollebrothers.com

Peerless Construction Old Greenwich 203-273-9394

Mezzano’s Shoreline Construction North Haven 203-214-9886 mezzanosshoreline constructionllc.com

PG Design & Carpentry Stamford 203-918-1583

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Praxis Home Builders New Canaan 203-570-4394 praxishomebuilders.com Precision Architectural Woodwork Stamford 203-216-1095 precisionarchitectural woodwork.com The PRG Group Bozeman, MT 406-530-1709 theprggroup.com Prime Renovations & Painting Hampton Bays, NY 917-287-2878 Prutting & Company Custom Builders Stamford 203-972-1028 prutting.com

Rockwood Construction Company Greenwich 203-869-2223 Rom Stone Fabrication New Rochelle, NY 914-654-0161 romstonefabrication.com Rosbeck Builders Edgartown, MA 508-693-6300 rosbeckbuilders.com RRBuilders New Canaan 203-972-6100 rrbuilders.com Sabine’s New House Greenwich sabinesnewhouse.com SBP Homes Stamford 203-323-2200 sbphomes.com

Quality Marble Fabrication and Restoration Corp.

Stamford 203-504-2900 qualitymarblect.com

The Shanahan Group New Milford 203-770-9151 shanahangroupllc.com

Red Canoe Partners Greenwich 203-661-3681 redcanoepartners.com

Signature Home Remodeling Fairfield 203-667-0956 signaturehomeremodel.com

Redwood Construction & Consulting Bethel 203-653-9105 redwoodconsultingco.com

Significant Homes New Canaan 203-966-5700 significanthomesllc.com

Remodeling Consultants Mamaroneck, NY 914-381-6900 Stamford 203-321-1250 remodeling-consultants.com Renoviso Boston 888-867-1660 Yonkers, NY 914-559-2056 Cherry Hill, NJ 215-399-9704 renoviso.com Rick Sillo Construction New Canaan 203-966-8305 ricksillo.com Rinehardt | Miller Interiors Edgewater, NJ 212-643-4283 rinehardtmillerinteriors.com

Silva Brothers Contracting 914-439-4670 Silver Heights Development Westport 203-635-2224 silverheightsdev.com SMI Construction Management New York City 718-937-1090 smiconst.com Smith & Company Woodbury 203-263-0068 smithsurveyors.com Stephen Gamble Historic Floors and Finishes Greenwich 203-866-0892 stephengamble.com Sterling Associates Newtown 203-426-0021 sterlingassociatesllc.com

Sterling Custom Cabinetry Bridgeport 203-335-5151 sterling-custom.com

VAS Construction Darien 203-622-3221 vasconstruction.com

The Stone Workshop Bridgeport 203-362-1144 stoneworkshops.com

Vita Design Group Westport 203-283-1561 vdgarch.com

Stony Kill Enterprises Rochester, NY 845-626-2473

Wainscot Solutions New Milford 203-509-8120 wainscotsolutions.com

Taconic Builders Mamaroneck, NY 914-698-7456 taconicbuilders.com

Audrey Sundheimer Interiors Old Greenwich 203-698-2269 Axel Interiors Norwalk 203-299-3155 axelinteriors.com

Barsanti Desmone New York City 646-837-6422 barsantidesmone.com

Tallman Building Company Southport 203-254-3055 tallmanbuilding.com

Wernert Cos Cob 203-869-1110 wernert.com

Bonnie Paige 203-331-7512 bonniepaige.com

Tallman Segerson Builders Fairfield 203-254-1971 tallmansegerson.com

Weston & Sampson Peabody, MA 1-800-SAMPSON westonandsampson.com

Tarzia Group Stamford 203-322-1900 tarziagroup.com

Westwood Custom & Antique Flooring Old Greenwich 203-629-7600 westwoodflooring.com

Tile America Stamford 203-323-5922 Fairfield 203-367-6449 tileamerica.com

Westwood Flooring & Design Center Wilton 203-762-6300 westwoodflooring.com Wojtek Ultimate Construction Ridgefield 203-829-7806

Tile Designs by Laura North Haven 203-407-8453 tilesbylauract.com

Woodland Partners Darien 203-655-0204 woodlandpartners.com

Tischler und Sohn, Ltd. Stamford 203-674-0600 tischlerwindows.com

Wright Building Company Norwalk 203-227-4134 wrightbuildingcompany.com

Toll Brothers Horsham, PA 855-897-8655 tollbrothers.com Town + Country Door and Operator Company Norwalk 203-563-9300 townandcountrydoorco.com Tri State Marble & Tile Yonkers, NY 914-377-1100 tristatemarble.com Twelve Development Cos Cob 203-625-2675 12development.com V&A Construction Stamford 203-667-1707 vnaconstruction.com

DESIGN/DECORATE: Alana Irwin Interiors 203-536-6216 alanairwin.com Alexis Parent Interiors Fairfield 203-451-5630 alexisparent.com Alice Black Interiors Greenwich 203-938-4898 aliceblack.com Allison Caccoma San Francisco 415-678-5449 allisoncaccoma.com Amy Aidinis Hirsch Interior Design Greenwich 203-661-1266 amyhirsch.com

Christina Murphy Interiors New York City 212-842-0773 christinamurphyinteriors.com

Barbara Fibak Design Greenwich 203-536-3601 barbarafibakdesign.com

Walpole Outdoors 800-343-6948 walpoleoutdoors.com

Teixeira Construction Danbury 203-948-2212

Cherie Zucker, Inc. New York City 212-662-8888 cheriezuckerinc.com

Christine Donner Kitchen Design Norwalk 203-966-0160 donnerkitchens.com Christopoulos Designs Bridgeport 203-576-1110 christopoulosdesigns.com Chrystal Toth Designs Westport 203-429-4227 chrystaltothdesigns.com

Brooke Crew Interiors Westport 214-546-8562 brookecrewinteriors.com

Clarity Home Interiors Greenwich 203-340-2468 clarityhomeinteriors.com

Bruce Bierman Design New York City 212-243-1935 biermandesign.com

Clean Design Scarsdale, NY 914-725-0995 cleandesignpartners.com

Busta Studio Tappan, NY 845-680-6899 bustastudio.com

Connie Cooper Designs Westport 203-256-9183 conniecooperdesigns.com

Calla Studio Norwalk calla.studio

Curry & Kingston Cabinetry Cos Cob 203-900-1121 curryandkingston.com

Capellini Design Associates Brooklyn 914-844-3689 capellinidesignassociates .com

D2 Interieurs Weston 646-326-7048 d2interieurs.com

CarmiĂąa Roth Interiors Greenwich 203-987-5961 carminarothinteriors.com

New Canaan 203-331-5787 thedesigndot.com Diane Karmen Interiors 203-247-0998 dianekarmen.com Drake/Anderson New York City 212-754-3099 drakeanderson.com Eastman-Interiors New Canaan 203-594-7345 eastman-interiors.com Eleish van Breems Westport 203-635-8080 evbantiques.com Elemental Interiors Montclair, NJ 646-861-3596 elemental-interiors.com Elena Phillips Interiors Rowayton 203-295-8554 elenaphillipsinteriors.com Emma Jane Pilkington New York City emmajanepilkington.com Eric Roseff Designs Boston 617-282-9725 ericroseffdesigns.com FigTree Designs Rowayton 914-473-9786 figtreedesignsllc.com Fiona Leonard Interiors 203-662-0857 fionaleonardinteriors.com

Dalia Canora Design Rosslyn, VA 203-505-4404 daliacanoradesign.com

Foley & Cox Interiors New York City 212-529-5800 foleyandcox.com

Davenport North Greenwich 203-629-9181 davenportnorth.net

Forehand + Lake Fairfield 203-259-7636 forehandlake.com

Carrier and Company New York City 212-706-1025 carrierandcompany.com

DEANE, Inc. Stamford 203-327-7008 New Canaan 203-972-8836 deaneinc.com

G2 San Rafael, CA 415-355-0055 g2designusa.com

Caryn Bortniker Design Westport 203-984-4614 carynbortnikerdesign.com

Debra Lipset Designs Westport 203-247-0095 lipsetdesigns.com

Chapin Interiors Bronxville, NY 914-361-1157 chapininteriors.com

de la Torre Design Studio New York City 212-243-5202 delatorredesign.com

Charlotte Barnes Greenwich 203-622-6953 charlottebarnes.com

Deschapelles Design 203-561-9314 deschapellesdesign.com DesignDot

Carol Egan Interiors New York City 212-671-2710 caroleganinteriors.com Caroline Kopp Interior Design Westport 917-797-9756 carolinekopp.com

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Gari Hill Dansky Greenwich 203-661-3004 garihilldansky.com Gary Cruz Studio New York City 212-243-3250 garycruzstudio.com Georgia Zikas Design West Hartford 860-904-5902 georgiazikasdesign.com

Gilles Clement Designs Greenwich 203-717-1919 Westport 203-349-5300 gclementdesigns.com GLDesign Southport 203-554-0585 livegldesign.com Good Bones Design by Graham Veysey Greenwich 203-340-9147 goodbonesdesign.com Grayson De Vere 203-661-1100 graysondevere.com Havilande Whitcomb Design Westport 203-227-7902 hwdesignllc.com Healing/Boice Design Westport 203-226-8777 healingboice.com Heike Hein Home Westport 203-434-0059 Hilderbrand Interiors New Canaan 203-722-9642 hilderbrandinteriors.com Hillside Design Fairfield 203-767-1899 hillside-design.com Hilton Interiors Greenwich 203-717-1005 hiltonarchitects.com Hue Designs hue-designs.com Interieurs Design Studio 212-343-0800 interieursdesignstudio.com Iliana Moore Interiors Bronxville, NY 917-689-1937 ilianamoore.com J. Doyle Design New York City 212-533-5455 Jan Hiltz Interiors Westport 203-331-5578 janhiltzinteriorsllc.com Jennifer Smokler Interiors Westport 203-227-0477 jennifersmoklerinteriors.com Jill Kalman Interiors Westport 203-645-1561 jillkalmaninteriors.com

Jill O’Shea Home Design Westport jillosheahomedesign.com Jody Fierz Interiors Ridgefield 203-722-1447 jodyfierz.com Joe Ginsberg New York City 212-465-1077 joeginsberg.com Julie White Interiors Upper Nyack, NY 845-729-2838 juliewhiteinteriors.com JWH Design & Cabinetry Rye, NY 914-967-6020 jwhdesigns.com Karen Berkemeyer Home Westport 203-454-0032 karenberkemeyerhome.com Karen Bow Interiors Darien 914-953-1517 karenbow.com Karen Houghton Interiors Nyack, NY 845-358-0133 karenhoughtoninteriors.com Kat Rosier Greenwich 203-912-9890 katrosier.houzz.com Katherine Cowdin Inc. Greenwich 203-661-4844 Kathleen Hay Designs Nantucket 508-221-0159 kathleenhaydesigns.com Kathy Yates Interior Design 203-522-6113 Katie Ridder New York City 212-779-9080 katieridder.com Keri McKay Interiors Fairfield 203-414-0133 kerimckayinteriors.com Kerri Rosenthal Westport 203-557-6800 kerrirosenthal.com Kim Kirby Interior Design Middletown, RI kimkirbyinteriordesign.com Kimberly Handler Designs Greenwich 917-414-4507 kimberlyhandlerdesigns .com Kismet Interiors kismetinteriorsstudio.com

KL Home Fairfield 203-955-1843 klhomect.com

Lisa Friedman Design Westport 203-292-8568 lisafriedmandesign.com

Pamplemousse Design New York City 212-535-2087 pamplemoussedesign.com

Shelter Interiors Milford 203-301-4886 shelterinteriorsllc.com

L Tutun Interiors Rye, NY 914-772-3614 lauratutuninteriors.com

Lorraine Levinson Interior Design Greenwich 914-393-6389 lorrainelevinsoninterior design.com

Parker & Company Designs Southport 203-256-2742 parkerandcompanydesigns. com

Spencer Cox Interiors New Canaan 917-312-3105 spencercoxinteriors.com

Last Detail Interior Design Darien 203-921-5151 careykarlan.com Laura Michaels Design Greenwich 203-531-7047 lauramichaelsdesign.com Laurie Woods Long Island City, NY 214-324-5004 lauriewoodsinteriors.com LBG Interior Design Greenwich 203-625-8375 lbginteriordesign.com Lee Ann Thornton Interiors Greenwich 203-485-0322 leeannthornton.com Liliane Hart Interiors New York City 212-505-9791 lilianehart.com Lillian August Design Center 32 Knight Street Norwalk 203-847-3314 lillianaugust.com Lillian August Atelier 195 Greenwich Avenue Greenwich 203-489-3740 lillianaugust.com Lillian August Stamford Warehouse Shop 47 John Street Stamford 203-847-1596 lillianaugust.com Lin Moty Interiors 203-826-7221 lin.moty.us Linda Hoffman Interiors Greenwich 203-622-7084 lindahoffmaninteriors.com Linda Ruderman Interiors Greenwich 203-552-9700 lindaruderman.com Linda Sonders Design Naples, FL 239-213-0880 lindasonders.com Linherr Hollingsworth Norwalk 203-299-1327 linherrhollingsworth.com

Patricia Hill Designs Greenwich 203-869-1719 patriciahilldesignsct.com

Lucy Interior Design Minneapolis 612-339-2225 lucyinteriordesign.com

Pembrooke & Ives New York City 212-995-0555 pembrookeandives.com

Lynn Morgan Design Rowayton 203-866-1940 lynnmorgandesign.com

Pimlico Interiors New Canaan 203-972-8166 pimlicointeriors.com

Lynne Scalo Design Greenwich 203-222-4991 lynnescalo.com

PL Design Westport 203-550-5371 pldesignllc.com

Marcia Tucker Interiors Greenwich 203-409-3692 marciatuckerinteriors.com

Raquel Garcia Design Fairfield 203-521-4189 raquelgarciadesign.com

Mark P. Finlay Interiors Southport 203-254-2388 markfinlayinteriors.com

Rebecca Reynolds Design Westport 203-972-8300 rebeccareynoldsdesign.com

McCory Interiors Burlington 860-922-8727 mccoryinteriors.com

Rinfret, Ltd. Greenwich 203-622-0000 rinfretltd.com

Michael Whaley Interiors New York City 203-595-9845 michaelwhaleyinteriors.com

Robin Henry Studio New York City 646-409-3099 robinhenrystudio.com

Molly Patton Design Fairfield 203-520-0598 mollypattondesign.com Monica Kahn Design 917-734-4944 mkahndesign.com

Roughan Interiors Weston/New York City 203-769-1150 roughaninteriors.com

Morgan Harrison Home New Canaan 203-594-7875 morganharrisonhome.com

Sage Design Southport 203-553-9656 sagedesign.com

Moss Design Southport 917-292-6153 mdmossdesign.com

Sage & Ginger New Canaan 203-594-9862 sageandginger.com Sam Allen Interiors 203-984-5590 samalleninteriors.com

Muse Interiors Greenwich 203-344-9444 museinteriors.net

Sandra Morgan Interiors Greenwich 203-629-8121 sandramorganinteriors.com

Nick Olsen New York City 212-366-6405 nickolsenstyle.com

Sarah Blank Design Studio Greenwich 203-655-6900 sarahblankdesignstudio.com

Nightingale Design Rowayton 203-246-9235 julienightingaledesign.com

Shelley Morris Interiors New Canaan 203-801-9911 shelleymorrisinteriors.com

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SSDstyle New York City 917-907-2407 Stephanie Rapp Interiors Weston 203-216-5835 stephanierappinteriors.com Stirling Mills Interior Design New Canaan 203-594-9596 stirlingmills.com Studio Dearborn studiodearborn.com Susan Glick Interiors Westport 203-984-4112 susanglickinteriors.com Susan MacLeod Interiors Rowayton 203-945-7856 susanmacleodinteriors.com Susan Thorn Interiors Cross River, NY 914-763-5265 susanthorninteriors.com Susie Earls Design Southport 203-218-4590 susieearlsdesign.com

Wowhaus Westport 917-301-2637 wowhaus.com

LANDSCAPE DESIGN/ MANAGEMENT: Anchor Botanicals Brooklyn 718-781-2830 anchoraquariumservice.com Aquino Garden Landscaping and General Construction Services Stamford 203-570-0598 aquinogarden.com Artemis Landscape Architects Bridgeport 203-683-1808 artemisla.com Austin Ganim Landscape Design Fairfield 203-333-2003 austinganimlandscapedesign .com Avant Gardens avantgardensllc.com Conte & Conte, LLC Landscape Architects Greenwich 203-869-1400 conteandconte.com Delaney + Chin San Francisco 415-621-9899 tdelaney.com

Tamara K Designs Riverside 917-434-8638 houzz.com/pro/twinglet/ tamara-k-designs

Devore Associates Fairfield 203-256-8950 devoreassoc.com

Thom Filicia New York City 212-736-6454 thomfilicia.com

DLTC Landscape Contractors Bridgeport 203-338-9696 dltcusa.com

Tiffany Eastman Interiors Fairfield 203-209-8746 tiffanyeastmaninteriors.com

Toni Gallagher Interiors Rye, NY 914-522-7697 tonigallagherinteriors.com

Doyle Herman Design Associates Greenwich 203-869-2900 dhda.com

Tricia Foley Design triciafoley.com Tusk Home + Design Westport 203-319-0001 tuskhomeanddesign.com Voce Di ID Greenwich 203-422-0567 vocediid.com

Drakeley Pool Company Bethlehem 860-274-7903 drakeleypools.com Earthscapes Landscape Management & Development New Canaan 203-966-2843 earthscapesct.com Elise Landscapes & Nursery New Canaan 203-966-3200 eliselandscapes.com English Gardens & Designs 203-273-9334 englishgardensanddesignsllc .com

Environmental Site Developers Ridgefield 203-438-2300 envsite.com Eric Rains Landscape Architecture South Norwalk 203-354-6500 ericrains.com Fairfield House & Garden Company Bedford, NY 203-661-8900 fairfieldhouseandgarden.com Freddy’s Landscape Company Fairfield 203-855-7854 freddyslandscape.com

Mt. Kisco, NY 203-629-9001 johnsenlandscapes.com Kate Reid Landscape Design Greenwich 888-543-5753 katereidlandscape.com Keith E. Simpson Associates New Canaan 203-966-7071 keithsimpsonassociates.com Kent Greenhouse & Gardens Kent 860-787-5068 kentgreenhouse.com

landscapesllc.com Nature’s Design Madison 203-640-1434 naturesdesignmadison .business.site New Beginnings Landscaping Ridgefield 203-431-0333 newbeginningsridgefield.com

Outdoor Design & Living Fairfield 203-259-9630 outdoordesign.com

Gardensheds Lambertville, NJ 609-466-7224 gardensheds.com

Land Morphology Seattle 206-443-2120 landmorphology.com

Pat Miller Designs Greenwich 203-904-4777 patmillerdesigns.com

Gerbert & Sons Landscaping & Irrigation Stamford 203-324-3817 gerbertandsons.com

Landivar Landscaping Stamford 203-353-1410

Pieper Associates Woodbury 203-273-5577

The LaurelRock Company Wilton 203-544-0062 laurelrock.com

Reed Hilderbrand Cambridge, MA 617-923-2422 reedhilderbrand.com

LeJardin Unionville 860-550-3386

Regal Blu Pool & Spa Stamford 203-355-3689 regalblu.com

Grass & Gardens Southbury 203-264-3778 Haggerty Pools Norwalk 203-348-6899 haggertypools.com Highland Design Pound Ridge, NY 914-764-5480 highlanddesigngardens.com Hoffman Landscapes Wilton 203-834-9656 hoffmanlandscapes.com

Lindquist Design Associates Bridgeport 203-335-9895 lindquistlandscape.com Lindsay Burn Landscape Design Greenwich lindsayburn.com Louis Fusco Landscape Architects Pound Ridge, NY 914-764-9123 louisfusco.com

Homefront Farmers Ridgefield 203-470-3655 homefrontfarmers.com

McArdle’s Florist and Garden Center Greenwich 203-661-5600 mcardles.com

Innocenti & Webel Locust Valley, NY 516-674-4200 innocenti-webel.com

Meehan Ramos Pools Stratford 203-378-8900 meehanramos.com

Janice Parker Landscape Architects Greenwich 203-340-2824 janiceparker.com

Michael and Sons Nurseries White Plains, NY 914-682-4224

Jennifer Anderson Design & Development Wilton 203-834-9666 jenniferanderson-designs .com Johnsen Landscapes & Pools

Morano Landscape Mamaroneck, NY 914-698-4065 moranolandscape.com Nantucket Heritage Landscapes Nantucket 508-228-5187 nantucketheritage

Sean Jancski Landscape Architects Rye, NY 914-967-1904 sjlandscapearchitects.com

Oliver Nurseries & Design Associates Fairfield 203-259-5609 olivernurseries.com

L&L Ever-Green Norwalk 203-838-1144

GlenGate Property & Pool Wilton 203-762-2000 glengatecompany.com

203-345-5758 sascofarms.com SCAPE Landscape Architecture New York City 212-462-2628 scapestudio.com

Seventy Acres Landscape Architecture & Design Wilton 203-470-2742 seventyacres.com Shoreline Pools Stamford 203-967-1203 shorelinepools.com Southport Design Works Fairfield 203-913-1867 southportdesignworks.com Spaces Landscape Architecture Quogue, NY 631-899-4800 spaceslandscapearchitecture. com Spaulding Landscape Architects Stamford 203-322-6404 spauldinglandscape architects.com

Roberto Fernandez Landscaping Greenwich 203-869-3171 robertofernandez.com

Stephen Stimson Associates Landscape Architects Cambridge, MA 617-876-8960 stimsonstudio.com

Robin Kramer Garden Design Reading, MA 978-526-4221 robinkramergardendesign. com

Summer Rain Sprinkler Systems Greenwich 203-629-8050 summerrainsprinklers.com

Rolling Lawns Mamaroneck, NY 914-381-0123 rollinglawns.com

Susan Cohen Landscape Architect Riverside 203-637-4225 susancohenlandscapes.com

Rosalia Sanni Design Old Greenwich 203-918-4619 rosaliasanni.com

Swimm Pools Darien 203-656-4336 swimmpools.com

Rutherford Associates Old Greenwich 203-637-2718

Wagner Pools Darien 203-655-0766 wagnerswimmingpools.com

Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses Greenwich 203-869-3418 sambridge.com

Walpole Outdoors 800-343-6948 walpoleoutdoors.com

Sandoval’s Landscaping & Masonry Stamford 203-969-7991 sandovalslm.com

Water’s Edge Pools Stamford 203-323-9710

Sasco Farms Landscape Design Southport

Wesley Stout Associates New Canaan 203-966-3100 wesleystout.com

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Wilber & King Stony Creek 203-488-0201 wilberandking.com Young’s Legacy Landscaping Newtown 203-491-2257 youngslegacy.com

SHOWROOM/RETAIL: Aitoro Appliance 401 Westport Avenue Norwalk 203-847-2471 aitoro.com The Antique and Artisan Gallery 69 Jefferson Street Stamford 203-327-6022 theantiqueandartisangallery. com

County TV & Appliance 2770 Summer Street Stamford 203-295-7795 countytv.com Design Within Reach 711 Canal Street Stamford 203-614-0787 154 Post Road East Westport 203-557-6611 dwr.com Dovecote 56 Post Road East Westport 203-222-7500 dovecotewestport.com Eleish van Breems Home 99 Franklin Street Westport 203-635-8383 evbantiques.com

Artemisia 23 Lyme Street Old Lyme 917-797-7644 artemisiainc.com

Eliko 102 Madison Avenue New York City 212-725-1600 elikorugs.com

AWK Design Antiques 360 Fairfield Avenue Stamford 203-984-4222 awkdesignantiques.com

Farrow & Ball 32 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich 203-422-0990 us.farrow-ball.com

Beehive 79 Sanford Street Fairfield 203-955-1122 thebeehivefairfield.com

The Flat 42 Railroad Place Westport 203-557-6854 theflatwestport.com

Bender Plumbing 235 Westport Avenue Norwalk 203-847-3865 benderplumbing.com

Flowers & Flowers 876 Post Road Darien 203-662-9666 flowersandflowers.com

Bungalow 4 Sconset Square Westport 203-227-4406 bungalowdecor.com

Fofie & Mia’s 2417 Boston Post Road Larchmont, NY 888-417-6071 fofiemia.com

California Closets 565 Westport Avenue Norwalk 203-529-7290 californiaclosets.com

George Home 4 Titus Road Washington Depot 860-868-0323 georgehomect.com

Caravan Curated Home 12 Burtis Avenue New Canaan 203-966-9660 caravancuratedhome.com

Get Back Inc. 7 Fulling Lane Kent 860-215-3096 getbackinc.com

Clarke, New England’s Official Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove Showroom and Test Kitchen 64 South Main Street South Norwalk 800-845-8247 clarkeliving.com

Hamptons Antique Galleries 441 Canal Street Stamford 203-325-4019 hamptonsantiquegalleries. com

The Collected Home 161 Rowayton Avenue Rowayton 203-956-0990 thecollectedhome.com

Hiden Galleries 47 John Street Stamford 203-363-0003 hidengalleries.com Holly Hunt Off the Floor

375 Fairfield Avenue, Suite 102 Stamford 203-658-8525 hollyhunt.com

69 Jefferson Street Stamford 914-844-8877 modernantiquarianshop.com

35 Elm Street Westport 203-635-8000 serenaandlily.com

Joseph Stannard Antiques Station Place, PO Box 481 Norfolk 860-542-5212 josephstannard.com

Modify Furniture Bridgeport 203-587-1199 modifyfurniture.com

Stems + Co 95 Rowayton Avenue Norwalk 203-286-6895 stemsandco.com

Kirby and Company 1029 Post Road Darien 203-309-5900 kirbyandcompany.com Kirby Girl 14 Brook Street Darien 203-309-5901 kirbygirl.com Lattice House 411 Pequot Avenue Southport 203-292-3683 LEICHT Kitchens 11 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich 203-340-9933 leichtgreenwich.com Lemon Dahlia Flowers Wilton 203-260-7886 lemondahlia.com Lillian August Design Center 32 Knight Street Norwalk 203-847-3314 lillianaugust.com Lillian August Atelier 195 Greenwich Avenue Greenwich 203-489-3740 lillianaugust.com Lillian August Stamford Warehouse Shop 47 John Street Stamford 203-847-1596 lillianaugust.com The Linen Shop 21 Elm Street New Canaan 203-972-0433 thelinenshopct.com The Local Vault 301 Valley Road Cos Cob 203-409-7245 thelocalvault.com Millie Rae’s 1799 Post Road East Westport 203-259-7200 millieraesstore.blogspot.com Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams 45 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich 203-661-4480 mgbwhome.com The Modern Antiquarian

Nest Inspired Home 20 Purchase Street Rye, NY 914-921-6378 nestinspiredhome.com Oomph 21 West Putnam Avenue Greenwich 203-518-8068 oomphhome.com Patio.com 600 East Putnam Avenue Cos Cob 203-869-3084 919 Post Road East Westport 203-222-1620 975 Ethan Allen Highway Ridgefield 203-431-9337 patio.com Patrick Mele 60 William Street Greenwich 203-717-1888 patrickmele.com The Perfect Provenance 47 Arch Street Greenwich 203-900-1133 theperfectprovenance.com Post Modern Home 110 Post Road Darien 203-202-9647 postmodernhome.com Putnam & Mason 34 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich 203-900-1414 putnammason.com Ring’s End ringsend.com ROOM 36 East Putnam Avenue Greenwich 203-557-9066 roomonline.com

Decorating Hampton Bays, NY 631-728-2820 Castano Painting Norwalk 203-242-8103 castanopaintingsvc.com Chris Upholstery Norwalk 203-849-7716 chrisupholstery.com

Swoon 9 Sconset Square Westport 203-557-0997 swoonwestport.com

Classic Upholstery Norwalk 203-845-8776 classicupholsteryct.com

The Tailored Home 2 Greenwich Avenue Greenwich 203-542-5056 1276 Post Road East Westport 203-292-9111 thetailoredhomect.com

Coastal Electrical Contractors Fairfield 203-767-2469 coastalelectricct.com Conceptual Lighting South Windsor 860-644-4358 conceptuallighting.com

Wakefield Design Center 652 Glenbrook Road Stamford 203-358-0818 wakefielddesigncenter.com

Custom Furniture & Design Litchfield 860-567-3519 customfurnitureanddesign .com

Waterworks 23 West Putnam Avenue Greenwich 203-869-7766 waterworks.com

Deux Femmes Decorative Art + Design Bridgeport 203-545-1995 dfemmes.com

White Birch Studio 21 Jesup Road Westport 203-557-9137 whitebirchstudio.com

Wit Westport 203-571-8658 witdesign.co

Flöe Painting Norwalk 203-829-9271 floepainting.com Frama Exclusives Wilton 203-846-2810 framaexclusives.com

HOME SERVICES:

Greenwich Property Management Greenwich 203-869-0589 greenwichproperty management.com

ABH Plumbing & Heating Stratford 203-283-1576 Advanced Home Audio Shelton 203-922-0051 advancedhomeaudio.com

Hemming Birds Bedford Hills. NY 914-666-5812 Hinged 203-557-8300 hinged.com

A.G. Williams Painting Company Greenwich 203-618-0058 agwilliamspainting.com

Rosemary Hallgarten 116 Sherman Street Fairfield 203-259-1003 rosemaryhallgarten.com

ALV Lighting Solutions Stamford 203-329-2721 alvlightingsolutions.weebly .com

Schwartz Design Showroom 330 Fairfield Avenue Stamford 203-817-0433 schwartzdesignshowroom .com Serena & Lily

Artgroove artgroovenyc.com

Hollow Tree Self Storage Darien 203-655-2018 hollowtreestorage.com HomeCare by Fabricare Norwalk 203-957-3838 homecarebyfabricare.net Houston Upholstery New York City 212-645-4032

Artistic Upholstery and Fabrics Norwalk 203-849-8907 artisticupholsteryandfabrics .com Brothers Painting &

Innerspace Electronics Port Chester 914-937-9700 innerspaceelectronics.com

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Interiors Haberdashery Stamford 203-969-7227 interiorshaberdashery.com Jameson Wall Covering Fairfield 203-372-0777 J.G. Ferro & Co. Stratford 203-378-1889 JM Shea Ridgefield 203-431-4435 jmshea.com Joseph Williamson Painting Cos Cob 203-629-7911 JP McHale Pest Management Buchanan, NY 800-479-2284 nopests.com Lance Woven Leather East Norwalk 203-852-6829 lancewovens.com Leo’s Painting Hamden 203-248-3169 leos-painting.com Light New England Boston 617-286-7181 lightne.com Litehouse Associates Stamford 203-327-7157 litehouseav.com Mark Florian Wallpapering 203-913-7073 markflorianwallpapering.com MOR-HE Art Tectonics 347-993-3723 mor-he.com New England Custom Floors Westport 203-227-2819 newenglandcustomfloors .com New England Electric, Electrical Contractors Danbury 203-778-3602 newenglandelectricec.com Northeast Generator Bridgeport 203-336-3031 northeastgenerator.com NY Custom Furnishings Long Island City, NY 718-392-0214 nycustomfurnishings.com Opus Audio | Video | Control North Haven 203-498-0407 opusavc.com Palace Oriental Rug of Wilton Wilton

203-762-7060 palaceorientalrugs.com Patdo Light Studio Port Chester, NY 914-937-6707 patdolight.com Plateau Painting Co. Mamaroneck, NY 914-631-5140 Rich Wallcovering Stamford 203-223-8621 Ron Neal Lighting Design Solana Beach, CA 760-942-4240 rnld.com Rudolph Biagi & Sons Greenwich 203-869-3220 Ruggles Workroom Stamford 203-357-1928 rugglesworkroom.com SNS Electric Stonington 860-535-1233 snselectricllc.com Stitch NYC Brooklyn madeinnyc.org/company/ stitch-nyc-inc Sweeten 212-671-1713 sweeten.com TecKnow Westport 203-TEC-KNOW tecknow.me Top of the Line Drapery & Upholstery Stamford 203-348-0000 Traditional Draperies Bridgeport 203-365-0634 Uriu, LLC New York City 212-828-3160 uriullc.com Wallpaper Hangups Bethel 203-313-0059 wallpaperhangups.com Westy Self Storage 888-893-7897 westy.com S

The professionals included in this directory were culled from past issues of athome and other Moffly Media titles. None of the professionals listed are endorsed or guaranteed by athome or Moffly Media in terms of quality of work or expertise.

advertisers index ARTS & ANTIQUES Drew Klotz Kinetic Sculpture . . . . . . . 31

CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING

REACH Prep Annual Benefit Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 SoundWaters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Time to Shine: An Evening to E•A•T . . 47

Cummings & Lockwood LLC . . . . . . . 8

Women Empowering Women . . . . . . 55

Davidson, Dawson & Clark LLP . . . . . . 8

Women in the Know . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Pullman & Comley . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

FASHION EDUCATION & CHILDREN Brunswick School . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Columbia University . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Fairfield University . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Roundabout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

FOOD, CATERING & LODGING Winvian Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Villa Maria School . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

HEALTH & BEAUTY Curtain Call Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Stamford Tent & Event Services . . Cover 3

EVENTS 5th Annual Greenwich Restaurant Week . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 7th Annual Best Bartender Contest

by Stamford magazine . . . . . . . . . 12 A-list Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Alliance Française of Greenwich: French Film Festival . . . . . . . . . . 17 A Novel Affair to Benefit The Ferguson Library . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 An Evening with Laurel House . . . . . . 42 Best of the Gold Cost 2019 . . . . . . . 23 Boys & Girls Club of Stamford Presents City Chic . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Children's Learning Centers of Fairfield

Atria Senior Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Nathaniel Witherell . . . . . . . . . . 17 Norwalk Hospital with MSK Physicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

JEWELRY Lux Bond & Green . . . . . . . . . . Cover 4

LANDSCAPING. NURSERY & FLORISTS Homefront Farmers . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

NONPROFIT Americares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

REAL ESTATE Barbara Hickey, Sotheby's/ William Pitt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 RMS Companies/ Ainslie Square . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

County Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County 2019 Benefit: Dance the Night Away . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

REAL ESTATE/DESTINATION Business Development Board of Palm Beach County . . . . . . Cover 2

I Stand with Planned Parenthood Spring Luncheon . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 New Covenant Center's 15th Annual

TRANSPORTATION Rudy's Executive Transportation . . . . 19

Celebrity Breakfast . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Optimus Healthcare: Building

MISCELLANEOUS

Connections for Healthy Minds:

Insperity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

A Symposium on Mental Health . . . 41

Westy Self Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 MARCH/APRIL 2019 STAMFORD

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last word by beth levine

FOR THE BIRDS MUSING ON THE ONE FEATURE OF SPRING THAT REDEEMS THE SEASON

1 It’s too much work. Where my neighbors plan all year for their spring garden, I just see, oh, here we go again with the clipping and the mowing, and more clipping and mowing once they’ve finished with the last clipping and mowing. If I clip and mow something, it should have the decency to stay clipped and mowed.

to get it back. You’re just adding to my argument for fall as the superior season. And when did daylight saving become a manymonth affair? I want a recount.

However, before you write me off as Whiney McWhineface, I do find one element of spring that redeems the whole mess: the return of the birds. Or should I say, my birds, because I have come to know and feel for them in their heartbreaks and joys.

Meet the families:

avian equivalent is of “going out for some cigarettes,” Yenta finds and harangues him until he flies away. I wish we could talk so I could help them disrupt this dysfunction and find the happiness they so richly deserve.

THE WRENS Tweety and “That Year’s Mystery Date” Tweety builds in our one official birdhouse, and then sings his heart out for a wren bride. Last year, Tweety had to compete with a directionally challenged male chickadee that built in the same birdhouse in the same nest and sang as well. They canceled each other out and neither had any chick swipe right. Is this not Shakespearean-worthy pathos?

THE SPARROWS Harold and Yenta Every year, they build in our microwave vent. My husband, Bill, evicts them. They rebuild.

We give up. When Harold hangs on our deck for whatever the

2 I hate cleaning. The deck furniture I put away dirty because I’d clean it in the spring? It’s even more gross. The leaves I left to mulch in the garden because (say it with me) I said I’d clean them in the spring? They are soggy crud that I now have to rake out.

It all seemed like a good idea at the time.

COOCOO Our Lady of the Planter A mourning dove I dubbed CooCoo made a nest next to the front door in our fancy Designs

by Lee hanging planter. I feared she would dive bomb us every time we entered but, instead, she sat still as a rock for three weeks.

And then one day, disappeared, leaving no egg or hatchlings.

What was that all about?

CooCoo, we hardly knew ye!

Who knows what dramas this year will bring to my feathered friends. The only true help I can offer them is this: Consider this, my petite avatars of spring, at least you will never have to clip or mow, clean the deck furniture or reset your clocks. S

The sparrows return year after year and build their nest in the microwave vent.

3 The clocks spring forward.

Where did that hour go? Don’t tell me to wait until November

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I

have a confession to make: I’ve never been a real fan of spring. I’m the kind of gal who prefers fall, when it seems like a new year. The air is bright and crisp, the trees so show-offy.

I feel soothed as everything goes slowly but spectacularly back to a predictable rhythm after the randomness of summer. Without even bringing in the big guns of taxes and allergies, here’s my case against spring:

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