Stamford - March/April 2023

Caroline Ardilla; Eleven86 water business; CycleBar in Stamford; locals pick Stamford favorites SHOP

Special Spring Fashion Section

CELEBRATING THE BEST OF WHERE WE LIVE

IT’S ALL ABOUT

Drop into new restaurants around town, score the most stylish finds from local shops, see who’s out on the social scene—and take a frontrow seat to the most talked about happenings right here. It’s easy! Just follow us on Instagram

SPRING SESSION EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS RETURN!

Our spring session of workshops will begin in April. Programs for those age 6 through adult have been scheduled andfull details are available onour website. Go to : www.Curtaincallinc.com/workshop, or write Education Director, Brian Bianco, at Brian@curtaincallinc.com.

Since 1909, Cummings & Lockwood has provided sophisticated legal representation to individuals, families, family offices, closely held businesses, other commercial enterprises and charitable entities. Our core services include:

Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning

 International Estate and Tax Planning

 Business Succession Planning

 Corporate and Finance

 Litigation and Arbitration

 Commercial and Residential Real Estate

editorial editorial director

Cristin Marandino–cristin.marandino@moffly.com

editor, stamford; fairfield living; westport

Diane Sembrot–diane.sembrot@moffly.com

style & community editor

Janel Alexander—janel.alexander@moffly.com

contributing editors

Megan Gagnon–editor, athome

Elizabeth Hole–editor, custom publishing

Julee Kaplan–editor, new canaan • darien

Veronica Schoor—assistant editor, athome

Amy Vischio–creative director-at-large, athome books correspondent

Emily Liebert

copy editors

Terry Christofferson, Lynne Piersall, David Podgurski

contributing writers

Liz Barron, Tom Connor, Carol Leonetti Dannhauser, Suzanne Gannon, Elizabeth Keyser, Joey Macari Judy Ostrow, Scott Thomas

editorial advisory board

Harry Day, PJ Kennedy, Jamie Krug, Michael Marchetti, Arthur Selkowitz, Jami Sherwood, Lou Ursone

art

senior art director

Venera Alexandrova–venera.alexandrova@moffly.com

senior art director

Garvin Burke–garvin.burke@moffly.com

production director

Tim Carr–tim.carr@moffly.com

assistant art director

Lisa Marie Servidio–Lisa.Servidio@moffly.com

senior photographer

Bob Capazzo

digital media

director of digital content strategy

Diane Sembrot–diane.sembrot@moffly.com

digital marketing manager

Rachel MacDonald–rachel.macdonald@moffly.com

digital assistant

Lloyd Gabi–loyd.gabi@moffly.com

Calendar@Moffly.com

Editor@StamfordMag.com

Weddings@StamfordMag.com

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T RUSTS AND E

www.davidsondawson.com

vol. 14 | no. 2 | march/april 2023

publisher

Karen Kelly-Micka karen.kelly@moffly.com

sales & marketing

Andrew Amill publisher, greenwich andrew.amill@moffly.com

Gina Fusco publisher, new canaan•darien & rowayton gina.fusco@moffly.com

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

Jonathan Moffly publisher, fairfield living publisher-at-large, greenwich jonathan@moffly.com

Hilary Hotchkiss account executive hilary.hotchkiss@moffly.com

Morgan Howell account executive morgan.howell@moffly.com

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

Rachel Shorten events director rachel.shorten@moffly.com

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Eillenn Bandala business assistant eillenn.bandala@moffly.com

business president Jonathan W. Moffly

chief revenue officer

Andrew Amill editorial director Cristin Marandino of digital content strategy

Diane Sembrot

business manager Elena Moffly elena@moffly.com cofounders

John W. Moffly IV & Donna C. Moffly donna@moffly.com

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GROW TIME

You probably have a favorite view of Stamford. Maybe it is from the far end of one of the beaches, any number of spots along the harbor or your friend's penthouse apartment. I have mine— or, rather, I did. I just found a new one, and it is impossible to beat. It is from the wonderful garden of Erna Szekeres. A proud member of the Shippan Point Garden Club, she also maintains her own private garden at home in Shippan. It is magnificently situated alongside Long Island Sound and offers jaw-dropping coastal views.

In this issue, we bring you for a tour of the property. Writer Judy Ostrow spent time with Erna, walking the grounds and digging into the joy of gardening. She does not claim to be perfect at it, and that is partly the point. As good as she is at nurturing growth in nature, she also freely shares how much she had to learn from others over the years. Picking up advice and support from fellow enthusiasts turned into her tranquil view of flowers, trees, dozens of rosebushes, and, yes, restful spots to sit and simply enjoy gentle sunsets.

The grounds were beautifully photographed by Hulya Kolabas. She stopped by with our art director, Garvin Burke, just as the sky filled with gracefully soft colors, from baby blue to wistful pink.

All of the gardening work and knowledge that goes into such landscaping is disguised in pure peacefulness, as if the plants and blooms simply grow without any help. Anyone with

a green thumb will tell you it takes attention. Enjoy this story, which will impart the wisdom and encouragement of a seasoned gardener. Hopefully, it will inspire your own plans, whether you want to do it all by yourself or you prefer to call in the pros for a property transformation.

Even if your plans do not include gardening—maybe you want to cook better, train for an athletic event, or start your own business—the same principle applies: You will make progress with the support and talent of those around you. Ask questions. Seek advice. Be open to feedback. And then make the best decision that you can—and enjoy it.

Seeing progress, day by day, season by season, will keep you motivated to keep going, and you will have people around you to share in the delights of your progress. You will also find yourself giving advice to others as you learn from your experiences. One day, you will be able to find that wonderful spot and have a seat. Look around and appreciate what you have created in all its uniqueness, just like Erna did. If she could tell you so herself, I am sure she would encourage you to stop and smell the roses now and then, too. It is part of the growing and renewing process, for the garden and for you, too.

MARCH/APRIL 2023 / DIANE TALBOT SEMBROT

Breaking News!

Local newsmaker CAROLINA ARDILA makes headlines, both professionally and personally

Stamford has had its share of stars. We have our Bobby Valentine, our Gene Wilder and even TikTok stars like the D’Amelio sisters, Charli and Dixie (Norwalk, but close enough). Many people have contributed to the local and nearby social landscape over the years—one such name is uplifting others’ stories, but also writing her own unique narrative.

Carolina Ardila, a bilingual journalist for Telemundo 47, went from newsmaker to

by joey macari

newsworthy herself when she won two New York Emmy awards this past fall. Born in Columbia, Ardila has spent a decade as a news reporter— eventually finding a home covering breaking news and general assignments throughout the tristate area with Telemundo, but also here in Stamford as a resident.

Ardila won an Emmy in the human-interest category for her story on Coffee for Good, a nonprofit coffee shop in Greenwich that provides

job training in a real-life setting to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also won one in the arts-and-entertainment category for reporting on a story about a Colombian architect who left his profession to create urban art in NYC as a muralist.

We spoke with Ardila, who shared helpful tips for aspiring journalists, what it felt like on Emmy night and her favorite thing about the city that works hard.

Q+A with CAROLINA ARDILA

What is most rewarding about being a journalist?

I love to be in contact with the community. Listening to the things they care about and what they worry about. I really enjoy getting to know the Hispanic community in the tristate area and, on that subject, being the person who can help them and give them a voice—it is the most rewarding thing about my job.

What was it like on Emmy night?

Honestly, when I was working as a reporter back in Colombia, I didn’t even think I could win an Emmy; it was just something somebody else would achieve. But then, when I started working on Telemundo and saw the amazing job they do for our community, I thought maybe one day I could. That night was just a dream come true, mostly because of the stories that were awarded, stories about immigrants, like me, who arrived to this amazing country to work hard for their dreams. My story about Coffee for Good, that place deserved the award—what they do for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, giving them a chance to be part of the workforce—that just moves me.

As a Stamford resident, what inspires you about the city and its people?

Its diversity. Stamford has been my home away from home for more than five years. Its people and the community inspire me.

How do you find exciting and challenging stories?

I find stories everywhere. Talking with my neighbor, with the bodega worker, with the Uber driver, with my friends, with the people I meet every day while I am working. Being a reporter is being a good listener. There are stories everywhere. My challenge every day is to tell those stories in a creative way and give voice to those who deserve it. It’s the idea of putting myself in somebody else’s shoes.

What are your goals in the new year?

I want to grow as a professional. I will be taking classes and learning more about my community. On a personal side I want to spend more time with my family, quality time.

What is your advice for aspiring journalists?

Working hard for your dreams is as important as surrounding yourself with people who believe in you. My professional life has been a result, of course, of my job, but also of every single person who trusted me and my talent on every step of the road. I remember every person who believed in me in every step of my career and without their support I wouldn’t be where I am right now. But also, believe in yourself, we are all made to achieve great things.

above, left: Ardila on location for a news story. above, right: The journalist, who is bilingual, works for Telemundo 47 right: Her work and talent were recently rewarded with two Emmys.

GO WITH THE FLOW

THE FAMILY BEHIND THE NEW ELEVEN86 REAL ARTESIAN WATER

Take a trip with us to Autaugaville, Alabama. Why are we here, in this small town—only some 800 people and only some eight square miles? We’re here because it is the source for a new Stamford business. Eleven86 Real Artesian Water (eleven86water .com), which is water drawn from an aquifer and bottled in the South.

The proud and confident owners of the new water-distribution business call the water the purest on the market. If that sounds boastful and competitive, perhaps that’s because Eleven86 is powered by Khairi, Anisa, Omar and Jafar

Fortt, siblings who made names for themselves in sports in Fairfield County and beyond. Now, they have teamed up as business executives at KAO Distribution, and their parents—Dr. Tabitha Fortt, a Stamford physician, and Guy Fortt, president of the Stamford branch of the NAACP— are stakeholders.

Many athletes have learned about hard work, strategy, teamwork and more from participating in sports. With that in mind, let us hint at the advantage the Fortt team enjoys. Khairi, president of KAO Distribution, is a former AllAmerican at Stamford High School and played college football at Penn

above: Omar, Anisa and Khairi Fortt, siblings and management behind the new water business Eleven86 right: The water comes from a remote source

State University and the University of California and professionally for New Orleans, Jacksonville and Washington. Anisa, COO, played sports at St. Luke’s and Stamford High before running track at the University of Delaware. Omar, CMO, played football at St. Luke’s, University of Connecticut and in the Canadian Football League with the BC Lions. Jafar is a professional Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship fighter.

The aquifer that KAO uses has been protected from surface contaminants and pollutants and can be reached only by a well—a well drilled into the aquifer is called an artesian well, and water that reaches the ground surface under the natural pressure of the aquifer is called a flowing artesian well.

For you, the water is easy to get. It’s available at locations in Stamford and by subscription. KAO plans to expand further into the tristate area and New England. Grab yours by March 22: World Water Day, an annual U.N. observance day that highlights the importance of fresh water.

—Diane Sembrot

Q+A with THE FOUNDERS

How did the business start?

The business started on November 25, 2020, when our family first thought of the brilliant idea of distributing Eleven86 water to the Northeast.

What in your background helps you succeed with this?

We have been blessed with amazing parents who instilled the mindset of being able to dream big, persevere through any obstacle and the power of teamwork. Through these

three lessons, we have learned that with great success, we must consistently hustle to keep the business moving forward. My dad always says, “If you don’t go get it, it won’t come to you.”

Why do you think the market will want this water?

The market will instantly be drawn to this water because it is an ultra-premium water sold at a mainstream price. When we say “ultra premium,” we are referring to the high-pressured natural filtration process that has taken place for thousands of years, which enables this water to have the purest taste on the market. Not only is the water immersed with the essential minerals our bodies need to function, but it also exceeds the most expensive brands of water on the market, while the price competes with the most affordable.

It’s interesting that siblings are the primary drivers in this endeavor. How did that come about?

What better business partners than your siblings? Also, seeing that each one of us impacts the community differently, we thought it was in our best interest to attack this venture together. We felt that by using our influence through sports and community service, we could bring highquality and affordable water to various markets, while promoting a brand that is already a thriving family business. Eventually we hope to develop more strategic partnerships with beverage brands in the future to add to our distribution catalog. For now, our main focus is supplying our ultrapremium water to the tristate area.

What challenges do you face when entering the local market?

Some of the challenges that we have encountered are mainly prevalent because we are a new brand trying to establish itself in the market that already has loyal customers to other brands. To solve this problem, we intend to drive demand for Eleven86 water by sponsoring our water in events, attending business seminars and continuing to produce great public relation opportunities. This will increase our brand awareness and brand exposure, as we believe that

the Northeast will truly fall in love with the culture of this water and the story of the distributors.

You and your siblings were involved in sports and had a lot of success. What lessons carry over to your business?

We were thankful enough to be introduced to sports at a young age. This promoted a winning mindset and positive attitude when we translate those experiences to the business world. We have all been a part of teams and know how to work together, being that we are all siblings. Also being involved in sports throughout most of our lives has enabled us to know how to quiet and overcome the fear when doubt becomes present. A quote from Abraham Lincoln that we always keep in mind goes, “The

best way to predict your future is to create it.”

What will define your success?

We believe that success comes in all different forms. Our driving force for success is to spread the message of the water across the country.

The title of the water actually has a biblical meaning behind it. Chapter 11, verse 86 reads: “Where there is water, there is life.” We know how essential water is in our lives, so the dream we have envisioned for our company is to spread this water across the nation and eventually around the world. As you can tell from the statement I mentioned earlier, our parents have instilled the importance of dreaming big and that is a lesson we will never take for granted.

We have learned that with great success we must consistently hustle to keep the business moving forward. My dad always says, ‘If you don’t go get it, it won’t come to you.’

KHAIRI FORTT

above: Locals can find Eleven86 water, sourced and bottled in the South, here in Stamford.

Keep Spinning

CYCLEBAR opens studio in Stamford

by diane sembrot

Take a spin around High Ridge Road in Turn of River and you’ll notice the new fitness studio CycleBar (cyclebar.com). It is owned and operated by Brett and Whitney Ehrlich—and it took them nearly three years to make this dream come true. The classes are designed to mix fun with inspiration to keep you peddling in their low-impact/high-intensity cycling classes. What’s the magic formula? Instructors at the front of class guide you through the sessions and improve your form. Plus, CycleBeats, which is the studio’s proprietary playlist, was created to get your heart pumping as you pedal to the beat. And, finally, metrics—the CycleStats give you insights into your performance, so you can keep riding to your goal.

Brett Ehrlich worked as an executive in the sports industry for more than twenty years prior to focusing on this new venture. “We are delighted to bring CycleBar to the area as the community has demonstrated a need for a dedicated indoor cycling studio,” he says. “We enjoy combining the sense of community with the CycleBar experience.”

left: CycleBar’s trained instructors work on motivation and technique during each group ride.

right: Emily Calhoun with Shayna DeLuca

We are delighted to bring CycleBar to the area as the community has demonstrated a need for a dedicated indoor cycling studio. Brett Ehrlich owner

Q & A

SPOTLIGHT ON LOCALS

Stamford-loving residents share their local favorites

by joey macari

MEGAN COOPER

Licensed real estate sales agent at Compass

Blow Off Steam

“There’s something about walking the loop at Kosciuszko Park that always makes me feel centered. The views of the water and fresh air are something that I never take for granted.”

Workout

“Oof, sore subject. I’ve been struggling to find a place to get in the groove of workout, so usually any workouts that I do are on my Peloton at home.”

Bring Out-of-Towners

“The Wheel is our go-to restaurant whenever we have guests in town. It is the perfect balance of swanky and comfortable. The food and drinks are always top notch and the atmosphere can’t be beat.”

Stamford! They have the cutest clothing and home goods and it’s my go-to place for shopping for gifts. They also have an adorable coffee shop right next door, so you can get some fuel before shopping, which is a bonus.”

Nonprofit

“Person to Person (P2P)—they provide individuals and families with essential resources to help them overcome daily challenges. They service residents in lower Fairfield County and put them on a path toward economic stability. I have been to a few of their fundraising events—and seeing the hard work and support that the community gives to this nonprofit organization is so heart-warming.”

Grab a Drink

“Quartiere has some of the best drinks in town. Their bar is also stunning and cozy, so I love popping in here whenever I’m in the mood to grab a drink. Another plus is that they have drink specials most nights!”

Stamford Memory

Blow Off Steam

“A walk through Mill River Park if I’m in downtown or a hike in Helen Altschul Preserve.”

Workout

“I train with Annie Silva. Her individual classes helped me target the areas of my body that I thought needed attention. Her classes were my first experience with Pilates, and she opened me up to a whole new way to look at fitness and nutrition.”

Bring Out-of-Towners

“In spring and summer, I take out-of-town guests to Prime to have a cocktail as the sun sets over Stamford Harbor and Long Island Sound. In winter, it’s lovely to walk down Bedford Street with all of the

trees lit up, and then enjoy a cozy meal at Table 104.”

Place to Shop

“LaRocca’s Country Market is one of my favorite North Stamford businesses. The butcher shop has wonderful meat selection, the prepared sides are worthy to re-plate and call your own, the pies are a life-saver during the holidays—and they have surprisingly high-end wine and a spirits store adjacent to the market.”

Nonprofit

“I learned about the Stamford Land Conservation Trust when I first moved to Stamford. I serve as a volunteer steward for three preserve areas and participate in invasive-species removal events.”

Place to Grab a Drink

“Casey’s Tavern! I just discovered this gem during the World Cup. Friendly patrons!”

Stamford Memory

Place to Shop

“The Hey Stamford! Food Festival is a cherished memory every year. They always have the best food and live music lineups. We have a blast every year.”

“My daughter was born at Stamford Hospital in early July and on the fourth, a very elaborate, but I’m pretty sure not official, fireworks display was put on right outside our hospital window.”

“I love to highlight the most delicious foods in the community and see how food truly is a universal language. Everyone can agree that a delicious meal makes even the worst days better.”

“My dad was a residential general building contractor and I spent a lot of time working with him. Now that he has passed away, my real estate career means even more to me because I can impart the decades of experience that he shared with me to my clients.”

RAENAH FARINA

Creator of @stamfordfoodie and a radiation therapist at Norwalk Hospital

above: Delicious and shareable bites at Table 104

above: The Wheel restaurant

“ House of Humbled in

Our Mission

The mission of Breast Cancer Alliance is to improve survival rates and quality of life for those impacted by breast cancer through better prevention, early detection, treatment and cure. To promote these goals, we invest in innovative research, breast surgery fellowships, regional education, dignified support and screening for the underserved.

To learn more visit breastcanceralliance.org

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

Yonni Wattenmaker, Executive Director

To

e Westy Mission

breastcanceralliance @BCAllianceCT @breastcanceralliance

by janel alexander

SPRING FASHION

WARM-WEATHER TRENDS YOU WILL WANT TO INVEST IN NOW!

It’s time to pack up your chunky sweaters and heavy boots and trade them in for clothing that speaks to more feminine textures and gentler forecasts.

CARGO GLAM DENIM

3D FLORAL HEAVY METAL

CARGO GLAM

THE MINI-BAG CRAZE HAS LED TO A FUNCTIONAL NEED FOR MORE POCKETS, AND DESIGNERS ARE BRINGING THEM IN FULL FORCE.

Pairs perfectly with a slim-cut top or bodysuit

1 ZARA Halterneck Bodysuit, $27.90, Greenwich and Norwalk; zara.com // 2 TOTÊME Long-sleeve Shirt Jacket, $580; farfetch.com //

3 ISABEL MARANT Votla Denim Jacket, $1,340; modaoperandi.com // 4 SACAI, Twill Belted Maxi Skirt, $825, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

CYNTHIA ROWLEY

Pairs perfectly with belt bag, worn cross body to break up the horizontal and vertical lines

5 FRAME Relaxed Straight Cargo, $428, Greenwich; frame-store.com // 6 PROENZA SCHOULER Stanton Crinkled Leather Sling Bag, $425; proenzaschouler.com // 7 MARE MARE X ANTHROPOLOGIE Sleeveless Utility Top, $129, Greenwich, Westport; anthropologie.com // 8 RIVET UTILITY Worker—Pink Velvet jumpsuit, $375; maisonmarche.com

CYNTHIA ROWLEY

CHANDELIER EARRINGS

Add a little bling to a basic look with these shoulder grazing dazzlers

DAAAAAYS DENIM FOR

ON THE RUNWAYS THIS SEASON: BAGGIER DENIM REIGNS, ESPECIALLY WHEN PAIRED WITH MORE DENIM

DE BEERS

Snow Dance Long Earrings in white gold,

Greenwich; debeers.com

ALTUZARRA

Madeline

JUSTINE CLENQUET

Shanon Asymmetric Crystal Fringe Earrings,

Greenwich; intermixonline.com

$49,400,

GAS BIJOUX Tresse Serti earrings silver, $165, Greenwich; gasbijoux.com

MIGNONNE GAVIGAN

Earrings in Periwinkle, $250; hampdenclothing.com

$108,

1 ALAïA Denim Button-Front Bodysuit, $1,520, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com // 2 ALAïA High-Waisted Slim-Fit Jeans, $1,180, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

3 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Paneled Denim Peplum Jacket, $2,290; net-a-porter.com // 4 ALEXANDER McQUEEN Paneled Denim Midi Skirt, $1,390; net-a-porter.com

5 VERONICA BEARD Tika Denim Jacket, $498, Greenwich; veronicabeard.com // 6 VERONICA BEARD Haizley Extra Wide Leg, $298, Greenwich; veronicabeard.com

3D FLORALS

NOTHING SAYS SPRING LIKE FLOWERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE ADORNING YOUR BODY, HEAD TO TOE. DESIGNERS ARE PUTTING A NEW SPIN ON THE TRADITIONAL FLORAL MOTIF, USING FABRIC TO CREATE THE BLOOMS

WHITE BUTTON DOWN

This staple multitasks as a beach cover-up, jacket or top for evening or even wear it backwards—to name just a few upgraded uses!

HELMET LANG Cotton-Poplin Back Detail shirt, $350; net-aporter.com

ZIMMERMANN Ivory High Tide Pearl Button Down Shirt, $795; shop. mitchellstores.com

ZARA Crop Poplin Shirt, $39.90; zara.com

SHAN White Classic Blouse, $365; dariensport.com

1 DRIES VAN NOTEN Dob Fan-Embellished Jacquard Minidress, $1,995, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

2 CYNTHIA ROWLEY Organza Flower Tie, $95, Greenwich; cynthiarowley.com // 3 ALAÏA Fleur PVC Mules, $1,780, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com // 4 ZIMMERMANN Coaster Ruffled Top, $1,600; zimmermann.com // 5 ALÉMAIS Macie Rosette Taffeta Mini Dress, $625; modaoperandi.com

CHRISTIAN SIRIANO

HEAVY METAL

SILVER AND GOLD , NORMAL DURING WINTER HOLIDAYS, WILL BE IN FULL EFFECT THIS SUMMER

Wedge heels are seeing a comeback, but in sliver thin proportions.

stamfordmag.com

WEDGE but make it skinny!

JIMMY CHOO

Brien 110mm Sandals, $850; farfetch.com

BOTTEGA VENETA Stretch 90 Leather Wedge Heel Sandals, $1,100, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com

KHAITE

The Seneca Wedge Sandal, $920, Norwalk; nordstrom.com

1 ISABEL MARANT Coria Metallic Leather Cargo Shorts, $1,890, Greenwich; saksfifthavenue.com // 2 ALTUZARRA Kandoro Dress, $3,995; altuzarra.com

3 CYNTHIA ROWLEY Chrome Vegan Leather Dress, $425, Greenwich; cynthiarowley.com // 4 ZARA Minimal Flap Shoulder Bag, $39.90, Greenwich, Norwalk; zara.com

5 PACO RABANNE Heart-Paillette Mini Skirt, $2,250; modaoperandi.com

TORY BURCH

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Trevor Noah comes to the CENTER FOR THE ARTS on March 8, 7:30-10:30 p.m. The Off the Record Tour spins into Stamford for only the one night, so be sure to get your tickets early and add this event to your calendar. Then, return to the theater the following month to enjoy the truly amazing Shen Yun, with performances taking place between April 27 through 30. See details, including information on other shows, at palacestamford.org.

TRY THIS

by diane sembrot

Countdown to spring with events around Stamford this March and April.

BACK TO NATURE

Take a break, and warm up from ice-skating on the outdoor rink, to check out the recently built WHITTINGHAM DISCOVERY CENTER at Mill River Park. This beautiful state-of-the-art center is dedicated to nature education with informative exhibits and hands-on workspaces for workshops and other gatherings. Learn about the local ecosystem, climate and more. See days and times at millriverpark.org/thepark/whittingham

BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Follow the yellow brick road! One of the best-known stories, The Wizard of Oz, comes from the pages and big screen to the Stamford stage. It will be featured in the upcoming season at CURTAIN CALL , from March 31 through April 22. If you want a peek at the theater world, also consider catching the production The Wisdom of Eve, about making it on Broadway; it runs from March 2–19. See more details, including ticket information, at curtaincallinc.com.

left: Shen Yun comes to the Stamford for the Arts in April right: The Whittingham Discovery Center for year-round learning

Turning the Page

With spring nearly upon us, warmer weather is fast approaching. What better time to expand your reading list? From a fashion designer’s debut and two heartwarming novels to a lovable heroine and a Nordic crime thriller, you won’t want to miss these FIVE STANDOUT TITLES

by emily liebert

EMBRACING THE CALM IN THE CHAOS

BY STACY IGEL

In this captivating business-guide-meetsleadership-manifesto, fashion designer Stacy Igel—founder of the global impact brand BOY MEETS GIRL®— takes readers on her twenty-year journey of building her company from the ground up, while raising a family and overcoming the daily challenges that women entrepreneurs face. She talks about: conquering discouragement; what it’s like to hire and fire employees; collaborations with celebrities and philanthropic organizations; and the ins and out of negotiating deals and partnerships. Through Igel’s story, along with insights gleaned from her colleagues and friends, she also covers topics such as, how to remain authentic, make a difference, celebrate every milestone, protect your assets and stand out in a competitive marketplace.

FOR HER CONSIDERATION

BY AMY SPALDING

Nina Rice has written off romance. And friends. And her dream of scriptwriting for TV—all thanks to her devastating breakup three years ago. Now, safely ensconced at her aunt’s condo, working her talent agency job from home, a surprise meeting called by Ari Fox, a young breakout actress, reawakens all sorts of feelings Nina thought she’d left behind. Not to mention that Ari is a hot commodity, she’s out and proud, and she’s also a total control freak who encourages Nina to start writing again. The question is: Is Ari flirting with Nina? A relationship with a movie star is surely something she’ll mess up. But could it be worth the risk? Brimming with passion and tenderness, this book proves that unexpected love can last.

GEORGIE, ALL ALONG BY

KATE CLAYBORN

As a longtime personal assistant, Georgie Mulcahy has always put everyone else ahead of herself. But when unforeseen turmoil sends her away from her job in L.A. and back to her hometown, she’s forced to confront the fact that her own desires have consistently taken a back seat. When a “friendfic” diary she wrote as a teenager resurfaces, she realizes there were so many possibilities she once imagined for her life, and it becomes a guidebook for starting on a new path. Only her plan is averted as soon as she comes face to face with an unwelcome roommate—one-time town troublemaker and current town hermit, Levi Fanning. Yet, in a bewildering turn of events, Levi actually offers to help Georgie find her way and, in doing so, they begin to let go of the pasts that are holding them back from pursuing what’s right in front of them.

YOU WILL NEVER BE FOUND

BY TOVE ALSTERDA

In the chilling second installment of the High Coast Series, residents of the small town of Malmberget are being relocated as the mine that built the town swallows it street by street into a huge pit they call “the hole.” When two workers hear a sound coming from a basement, they find a petrified man curled up in a corner. At the same time, in Ådalen, 700 kilometers away, police officer Eira Sjödin is investigating the disappearance of a man. Along with her colleagues, Eira searches his apartment, contacts his friends and family, and questions local hospitals, but the man is untraceable. She understands the pain of loss, as her own mother has dementia and, as a result, loses herself in an affair with GG— who’s twenty years her senior and her boss… until he goes missing and Eira is at the mercy of a mysterious perpetrator and an undeniable love.

FINLAY DONOVAN JUMPS THE GUN

BY ELLE COSIMANO

Beloved heroine Finlay Donovan is back. And now she’s dealing with dating and diapers as a single mom (and author). Of course she’s still dodging bullets too. After she and her nanny/ partner-in-crime Vero mistakenly destroyed a luxury car that they “borrowed” while saving Finlay’s ex-husband’s life, the Russian mob got her out of debt. But now she owes them big time. Mob boss Feliks tasks Finlay with finding a contract killer before the police do. Only one small issue: The killer might be an officer. Fortunately, hot cop Nick has started a citizen’s police academy and pressure from both Finlay’s looming book deadline and Feliks convinces her and Vero to dive in. Through firearm training and forensic classes, Finlay and Vero have the smokescreen to track down the real criminal and evade the mob's grasp.

left: Karlan says this 1920s wood dove cove in the style of a pagoda could be brought inside for decorative purposes. below: Blue is in resurgence, here in the form of accent pillows and a montage of latenineteenth-century Chinese export platters and plates.

Just in Time ANTIQUES

that work in today's homes

by suzanne gannon // photographs by garvin burke

On a recent January morning, Carey Karlan alights from an imported sedan in the parking lot of Stamford’s Antique & Artisan Gallery, a watering hole whose pilgrims arrive from all over the tristate area and beyond. In a houndstooth jacket suitable for hunting foxes in the Scottish Highlands, and with a leather tote ubiquitous among decorators for the easy access it provides to fabric swatches and paint chips, she appears ready for another kind of hunt.

After assessing the outdoor display— garden statuary, bronze armillaries, sundials with patina, fluted concrete urns, a cast-iron Victorian settee—Karlan pulls open the doors

of the 22,000-square-foot emporium owned by Mari Ann Maher and Bruce Wylie, veterans of the antique and auction worlds. With an air of conspiratorial impishness, the decorator shares her strategy.

“First I sweep,” she says, encapsulating in three words how she’ll cast her eye about the airplane hangar of tangible sentiments, taking a preliminary inventory of what’s for sale. “The second pass is for focus,” wherein she homes in on the baubles that excite her fancy. “It’s just like dating,” she says. “First you swipe, then you take a closer look.”

Whether she’s bringing a client back from the brink of death-by-Benjamin-Moore-fan-deck

of the fringe on a Chesterfield sofa, she can bundle up the decorating sensibility of an entire decade, or the signature motif of a particular period, into a single clarifying statement that is authoritative but not bossy, reassuring but not pandering. And in a profession where editing is essential and aesthetic telegraphy indispensable, her striking ability to distill a reverberating truth into a clever aphorism serves her well.

On offer, for instance, might be a commentary on when the cabbage rose bloomed, why cocktail tables became vast stages for adult picture books and Buddha heads rather than places where highballs linger on coasters, or how an industry-wide fascination with saturated color faded.

“And then yellow was banished,” quips the self-proclaimed lover of “all the greens, from limey to acid.” She is explaining the disappearance, for example, in the mid-’80s, of Grey Poupon from the walls of drawing-roomsof-distinction as if by despotic decree. “After

left: The entry to The Antique and Artisan Gallery below: Karlan shops for handsome hardcover books to fill shelves.

that, it was Planet Beige,” an alien outpost of numbing neutrality that she believes has only recently begun to show signs of, ahem, color— again. But not before a sustained reign of gray.

Spry and petite, the Darien-based designer crisscrosses the floor, cutting through alleys delineating discrete dealer vignettes that together showcase both the canon of decorative styles and the narrow purview of individual fetishes. Her stylish suede booties are already proving their mettle.

Amidst Federal-style Girandole mirrors embellished with giltwood eagles and intricately painted Chinoiserie chests on bun feet, she spies a curvaceous, statement-making Biedermeier chaise. With its scrolled arms and feet shaped like cornucopia baskets, she muses that the asymmetrical lounger would make an interesting installation in a bay window or a foyer, requiring nothing other than a tiny table.

“It’s an object of art, a piece of sculpture.” The graphically patterned blue and white upholstery, she adds, has a contemporizing effect. “I’m always looking for something that no one else has, that’s unique, not mass-produced.”

Inside one of the gallery’s many simulated libraries, Karlan shares some tricks. Busts work well on bookshelves, as do brass bookends, and unexpected accessories like metal ice buckets and candleholders, and anything else that adds interest and sheen. In an age of lost books, she believes paperbacks are more appealing than no books at all. Framed art—landscapes, portraits—is attractive when hung in front of books or propped against the back of the case. Her eye roams. A mirror adorned with antlers could double as a perch for hats in a mud room; a Chippendale-style settee would wake up with modern batik pillows; and glassware available in nearly every shape and color presents an opportunity to add pleasure to a room. (Shopping for tabletop essentials is a frequent assignment).

Delighting the eye is the overarching objective of this self-described purveyor of an eclectic, collected look—with detectable French-antique and English-cottage influences—that mixes color and texture into schemes that often incorporate, mercifully, her curated selection of her client’s existing pieces.

right: Antlers, horns, skulls, and taxidermy add a natural-world dimension to interiors and can often be drafted for another purpose. Here they serve as hooks for hats far right: This accent pillow is headed to a client’s home.

COOL AND CALM

If the ten-dealer gallery in Stamford is highoctane overwhelm, then Westport’s serene Eleish Van Breems boutique, known for its selective importation of Swedish antiques and modern objet decor, is an invitation to slow down and savor spare arrangements.

Eighteenth-century Swedish case clocks lovingly painted in the pale pigments derived from Scandinavia’s abundant natural resources are juxtaposed with newer acquisitions, including a spindly Trident floor lamp whose pliable stems are wrapped in leather, and a snuggly pair of Fritz Hansen lounge chairs from the 1940s—stained-beech legs, lambswool upholstery.

as a way of introducing color into an otherwise neutral kitchen or dining room.

left: The Biedermeier chaise is, the designer says, “a work of art.”

for floral arrangements and shiny objet decor.

Karlan appreciates the contrast, gravitating toward a massive, nineteenth-century Swedish clock secretary that presides over the back room of the store. While its height requires high ceilings, she says its shallow depth makes it serviceable almost anywhere, particularly in a kitchen or a family room.

“It’s a fabulous command post,” she says, gamely demonstrating the furniture’s many features, including a desk that folds out, a plethora of secret compartments, and cupboard doors where one could post—and then conceal —school calendars and party invitations.

Then an array of English and Swedish steamers and molds for elaborate cakes and puddings captures her attention. The quaint shapes evoke a time when life moved more slowly—when one could wait for an aspic to set. Grouped in a small collection, they fill a kitchen with a hearty glow Julia Child would covet, and on a cabinet or in a bookcase, they deliver a chic gleam.

Carey Karlan is an Oklahoma native born into a tradition of decorating rooms and arranging freshly cut flowers. She ventured north to Trinity College and then spent a decade in television advertising sales before departing to raise five children. Along the way, she attracted

a steady stream of friends and acquaintances who asked her to furnish their homes with the same taste they admired in hers. Then, after sewing window treatments and tablecloths, re-doing numerous living rooms and libraries, working retail, and studying at the New York School of Interior Design, Karlan established the award-winning Last Detail Interior Design. At the helm of her own firm for more than twenty years, she has found both her creative bliss and her niche of excellence: designing a few rooms at a time, usually on the main level, all the while building client relationships that span many years—and many homes—from Greenwich to Nantucket and from New York to Naples. When finishing a space, she sometimes pulls into a client’s driveway trailed by a truck loaded with ceramic lamps and antique vases, accent pillows and English pottery, side chairs with rush seats and hand-painted tilt tables. The pieces can be auditioned inside—and purchased if they work—or trotted back to the curb if they don’t.

“It’s occasionally glamorous and very thrilling,” she says of her work, dispensing yet another lesson in concision, this time one that embodies her very own opus maximus.

ELEISH VAN BREEMS BOUTIQUE , KNOWN FOR ITS SELECTIVE IMPORTATION OF SWEDISH ANTIQUES AND MODERN OBJET DECOR , IS AN INVITATION TO SLOW DOWN AND SAVOR SPARE ARRANGEMENTS.

right: This Swedish clock qualifies as storage, workspace, timekeeper and statement-piece. far right: Brisbane shelving in walnut. Green glass bowls from Empoli, Italy. Two pitchers from the 1970s, one by Paul McCobb, the other a Swiss import; Louis Poulsen’s Panthella mini

The walls of the Eleish Van Breems are kept bright by a varied selection of mirrored sconces. top: Eighteenth-century German Baroque, etched mirrored glass with candleholder. bottom: Swedish Baroque, beveled glass with candleholder.

right: Swedish case clocks, either embellished with details or austere, have become one of the signatures of the EVB enterprise.

On the Hunt in Fairfield County

From the CLASSIC TO THE QUIRKY, these markets have it all

AVERY & DASH

A helicopter is recommended for exploring the breadth and depth of wares on offer at Avery & Dash (averydash.com), a glamorous hypermarket meticulously curated by father and son Edward and Nicholas Savard. Located on Stamford’s design strip, the warehouse comprises 23,000 square feet of paintings, prints, porcelain, silver, and fine furniture, much of it from the family’s own collections.

exterior paint is made from pigments derived from the natural elements of Scandinavian soil. Made in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, they are restored to working order, though not set when on display in the store so that guests can shop in peace.

FAIRFIELD COUNTY ANTIQUE & DESIGN CENTER

If you’ve got only a few hours to spare before lunch any day of the week, duck into Norwalk’s Fairfield County Antique & Design Center (fairfieldantiqueanddesign.com) where a humble exterior belies the fun contained within. Upon entry, browsers encounter an intimate shopping experience deliciously heavy on quirk and thematic creativity. (The floor is regularly trolled by set designers from Hollywood— surprise!)

Open since 2014, the space consists of 12,000 square feet and more than forty dealers who peddle furniture, art, decorative objects and jewelry from a slew of periods and genres. Notables on a recent visit include a Shaker rocker, its original woven seat intact (JB Richardson Gallery); a pair of bobbinturned corner chairs and matching table in pristine condition (Andrew Stark); a Qing Dynasty blue-on-celadon vase and covered jar (MTE Antiques); and dainty, ebonized Chinoiserie side chairs embellished with mother-of-pearl inlays (Ryan Matthew Cohn).

The curiosities, and the re-purposing of old objects as new art, titillate the senses. DC Kingswood obliges taxidermy fiends with mounted stags, grounded pheasants and piles of turtle shells and alligator heads. The aforementioned Cohn, a self-described purveyor of oddities, offers spooky bisque and leather articulated dolls and industrial spotlights with thick green lenses likely useful after a prison break, while Tiny French Flea’s corner stall features a pale pink aviary tall enough to accommodate a Saugatuck River egret. The divine symmetry of industrial design is on display in Lost Found Art’s perforated brewery crates and golf-ball molds turned into art and mirrors. Steel Petanque balls would bring heft to a console table or a bocce court.

From the hovercraft, the binoculars could rest on many a prize: a pair of porcelain plates in leaf form made by Mary Kirk Kelly with a spring luncheon in mind (Antiquarian at Greenwich); a pair of Modigliani-inspired blown-glass figures designed by Walter Furlan and made on Murano by his son, Mario (Antique Soul); and a compact, lollipopred storage trolley on castors by midcentury design-futurist Joe Colombo that could brighten even the dreariest day in the WFH age (Nicholas Savard).

Worthy of a helipad landing: A late nineteenth-century locking liquor enclosure known as a tantalus and named for the Greek king condemned by Zeus to a fate of perpetual thirst whilst standing in a pool of water he could not drink. (Tantalus, in other words, was tantalized.) This etchedcrystal example, with its Aesthetic Movement essence and ornate, bronzedore detail, would likely have had the same effect on the parched monarch. For sale by Rita Fusaro Antiques, it features four gilded decanters and matching glasses—and of course a lock and key. The other show-stopper: an ebonized 1930s cocktail cabinet for sale by Nicholas Savard—demilune in shape, with interior mirrors. Think Greta Garbo ordering a whisky with a ginger ale on the side. Just don’t be stingy, baby.

This montage of nineteenth-century copper molds epitomizes the re-purposing of shiny copper implements once used in a scullery into decorative artists of interest on a library shelf.

COZY UP

FARMHOUSE STYLE IN STAMFORD

by diane sembrot // photography by tim lee for burr salvatore architects

Before the start of the pandemic, a Stamford home project was completed. It was done ahead of the switch, when we all would, for months, be spending many more hours each day in our own houses. They became our sanctuary in a world in turmoil. Then, as we emerged from our bunkers, the safety (and luxury) of where we lived became abundantly clear. We took where we live to heart, not for granted. We became grateful for the many comforts it provides.

The time was right to make the space work for us, too. Take this farmhouse project on Newfield Avenue in Stamford. “We decided to build a custom house to sell, but we were fortunate that the young couple who bought it had great taste, and graciously invited us to photograph it after it was fully furnished,” says Ryan Salvatore, co-principal of the architectural firm Burr Salvatore (burrsalvatore. com). The firm is headed by Salvatore, who

prior to this firm, worked at Robert A.M. Stern Architects and taught at Yale School of Architecture, as well as working as a general contractor. Mary Burr, co-principal of the firm, comes with experience at Robert A.M. Stern as well as Albert, Righter & Titmann. The full-service architecture and design firm is based in Darien.

This particular house in Stamford is about 4,400 square feet. The first floor has a study, family room, dining room, kitchen, a mud room and a half bath—all the essentials for a busy family. The second floor includes four bedrooms and three full baths.

The project was a complete new construction, which took about eight months to design and about one year to construct. “This site was carved off of an old dairy farm, and the adjacent house is one of the oldest in the area,” says Mary. The land was once pastureland. “All of this made a farmhouse the obvious

above: The Newfield Farmhouse showcases the up-to-date style below: The eating area is filled with natural light thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows

top, left: Oversized windows open up the interior space to natural light and beautiful views of the outside top, right: The entryway includes a cubby to store coats, shoes and other essentials for an active family.

left: The back deck, with minimal and clean lines, provides unobstructed views of the property.

architectural reference to call upon as we started designing. When we first acquired the site in 2017, the idea of a 'modern farmhouse' was still a fairly novel concept. Since then, we have seen many white farmhouses with black windows popping up, but we like to think we were ahead of the curve.”

As for the design process, she adds, “We are a husband-and-wife team, and our design

process in the early phases is always collaborative. Typically, we will each sketch a scheme, and then switch, so neither one of us gets too invested, or feels too much ownership over a design.”

As with any project of this size, challenges are inevitable. When asked about the biggest one, Ryan says, “Reining ourselves in.” Taking a moment to think about it, he adds, “Designers

often do not make good spec-house builders. We wanted to build something lasting for our portfolio and our practice, and of which we could be proud. There was a lot of temptation to experiment and take risks, and of course the purists in us wanted to construct everything the right way—that is, the expensive way— which is not always the best recipe for profitability. Ultimately, we looked at this as an

WE ARE A HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM, AND OUR DESIGN PROCESS IN THE EARLY PHASES IS ALWAYS COLLABORATIVE . TYPICALLY, WE WILL EACH SKETCH A SCHEME, AND THEN SWITCH, SO NEITHER ONE OF US GETS TOO INVESTED, OR FEELS TOO MUCH OWNERSHIP OVER A DESIGN.”

top row: The eating area and a place to sit and relax, both with light floors, clean lines and natural light. bottom row: The living room and kitchen awash in harmonizing neutral colors

experiment in how much one can or cannot monetize thoughtful design.”

With large windows and walkouts to a porch and a deck, the house is filled with natural light. The airy feel is enhanced with white walls and ceilings and natural wood floors. The kitchen brings in touches of seaglass blue in the backsplash, while a bedroom has a soothing mossy gray walls. The home has a soothing cohesiveness, from the neutral shades of white, gray and brown as well as unfussy lines and treatments, such as unadorned windows.

The whole look is established at the front step, literally. The front porch includes a post made of stone. “The stone post that supports the steel beam of the front porch is one of our favorite moments,” says Mary. “This is a reclaimed piece of stone that we found at Chester Granite in Massachusetts. It gives the house a totally unique, unexpected moment that feels both modern, yet organic and contextual.”

While the farmhouse look is popular now, even in a city, the project was a rarity at the beginning. Asked about the inspiration, Ryan explains, “The site is carved off of an old dairy farm, which inspired our decision to design within the ‘farmhouse’ vernacular.” The style endures through the years.

above: The bathroom tilework steals the show. below, left: A large tub provides a chance to relax; the built-in shelves keep essentials organized and out of the way. below, right: Neutrals continue in the bedroom with plenty of windows for sunny days and a fireplace for chilly evenings.

COVER UP

PREMIUM WINDOW TREATMENTS AND CONSULTATION SERVICES

NOW IN STAMFORD by

Privacy in winter. Shade in summer. Window treatments should not be under-rated in both function and style in a home. The right drapes can block a bright afternoon sun, and fresh, modern shutters can transform the look of your favorite room with one quick change.

The year-round value of window coverings is no surprise to Dawris Gomez, who owns and runs the home-based center GOTCHA COVERED (gotchacovered.com/stamford) in Stamford. The parent company was founded in 2009 and now has 145 franchises in the U.S. and Canada, with Stamford’s being one the newest in the company’s expansion plans.

That means you get to shop soft and hard window treatments, including blinds, draperies and shutters, close to home. Stop by for an end-to-end consultation about your specific needs and what look you’re going for. Whether you need privacy from the work-from-home neighbors or add white-and-blue floral softness to your bay windows, you can see options here.

diane sembrot

“The Gotcha Covered brand dedicates itself to delivering a first-class experience to its customers,” noted Paul Linenberg, president of Gotcha Covered. “Nationally, we want our window treatments and consultation services to be accessible to those who look to improve the look of their homes and businesses.”

With a master’s degree in public relations and business communications, Gomez is ready to take charge of the new business. She also has twelve years of experience working in retail sales, sales management, retail sales operations and B2B sales. “My goal is to delight and overdeliver for my community,” Gomez noted. “I look to forge many friendships and deliver five-star white glove service for every project. I want to make people fall in love with their home again or fall deeper in love with their new home.”

TIP: Spring allergies? Consider going with about roller shades or Roman shades, which are easier to clean than some other options. You’ll be able to stay on top of the dusting.

left: Hunter Douglas Vignette® Modern Roman shades with UltraGlide are clean looking and operate smoothly—the high-end fabric folds softly right: Designer roller shades, also by Hunter Douglas, in the child's room are cordless

above: Dawris Gomez, owner of Gotcha Covered in Stamford

MEET FLOWCODE, THE NEXT GENERATION OF QR CODES

Go ahead, try it out. Point your phone’s camera at the Flowcode to scan.

money matters

BY CAROL LEONETTI DANNHAUSER

INVESTING IN YOUR HOME

a real estate agent with Houlihan Lawrence in Greenwich. “Sellers who did that when Covid came along and there was limited inventory, those houses were primed and ready.”

house,” Mosher says. “You walk in and you don’t have to do any work—insta-house, insta-life.”

You remember what happened to real estate during Covid in 2020. You blinked and—boom!—the house down the road sold for more than you imagined possible. Then you blinked again, and— boom!—another house, then another...

Was your house in for-sale shape?

“I am constantly telling people, don’t wait until you want to sell to do an improvement on your house. Do it as soon as you are able. It’s all about keeping your home current,” says Ellen Mosher,

Mosher is the top-selling residential real estate agent in Connecticut, according to industry tracker RealTrends, so her advice is borne of experience. It’s also what she does in her own home. “I practice what I preach,” says Mosher, who has lived in Old Greenwich for almost thirty years. “Every year I do one or two projects to my house. The key is to stay on top of everything.”

While they can be costly, investments you make in your house today can pay you back down the road. “Buyers across Fairfield County are paying a premium for used homes that have been updated, upgraded and redesigned. Even if you have a 100-year-old house that you’ve completely freshened and updated, they’re selling at a premium. Buyers want the instant

A DEEPER LOOK

Unless you’re planning on staying in your house for the next twenty years, you don’t need a full tear-down and build back to make your house appealing. What, then, makes for a smart upgrade? Assess your house as a potential buyer would to determine what needs attention. Start at the curb, beginning with, yes, the mailbox. Hopefully that “is interesting,” Mosher says. From there, how is your walkway looking? “Great shape,” should be the answer. Next, do you see tidy, low-maintenance landscaping that affords privacy? A recent paint job on the millwork? Good garage doors? Energy-efficient windows? If any of these seem wanting, you know where to start. Before a buyer even enters a house, these first impressions set the tone for what happens next.

Once inside, head to the kitchen and bathrooms. Stainless steel appliances, cabinetry that is

“classic with a nod to modern,” and decor in “neutral tones with pops of color” might be all that you need. And don’t forget to look down. Says Mosher, “A lot of people are updating the floors with wide planks. That’s very in right now.”

Upgrades should be in line with the other homes in your neighborhood. Luxury buyers might expect a home theater, wine cellar and full outdoor kitchen, with bonus points for a generator and electric car chargers. But those costs could be hard to recoup in a neighborhood with a lower price point, Mosher says. No matter. A tidy firepit and outdoor grill area will show buyers that they can enjoy the yard. In the basement, sheet-rocked walls and a finished floor nearly always pays for itself. Should this be a workout space? A gaming room? An office? You don’t need to dictate that, so long as it’s wired and heated. Says Mosher, “People can envision how to use it. You don’t need to do this for them.”

Ellen Mosher

Before you spend time and money making changes to what potential buyers will see, find out what’s lurking out of view. Cracks in your foundation, electrical issues, hidden mold, drainage problems, invisible radon and more can sink a sale (and compromise your health) without warning. To be on the safe side, hire a certified home inspector—even if you’re not selling—to assess your home’s health. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to fix small problems before they get worse.

Honoring

people&PLACES

Make the Connection

The biennial Crystal Ball was beautiful and even enchanted its guests with a touch of magic. The event, after all, was a Cirque des Etoiles celebration—the creative and collaborative effort of Greater Fairfield County Foundation, Inc., and Fairfield County (CT) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. The formal fundraiser, held at The Greenwich Hyatt for the first time since 2018, supports the organization’s community projects and academic scholarship program for under-resourced people throughout Fairfield County. At the event, members recognized the career accomplishments of two African Americans: first, Cheryl McKissack Daniel, president and CEO of McKissack and McKissack—the nation’s oldest minority- and woman-owned design and construction company; second, Malcolm Lee, acclaimed film director, writer and producer, who was honored as one of the most bankable filmmakers in Hollywood. The not-for-profit organization has nearly 300 chapters across the country, the Bahamas and the U.K., with the shared purpose of promoting the culture and economic progress of African Americans and other people of African ancestry. See more at thefairfieldcountylinks.org. »

1 Dr. Shuana Tucker-Sims, national vice president of The Links, Inc., flanked by gala cochairs Tanya Clemons (l.) and Valerie Adams Baker, president of The Fairfield County (CT) Chapter of The Links, Inc. (r.) 2 Members of The Fairfield County Chapter twinkling like the evening sky in midnight blue and silver and gold 3 Honorees Mr. Malcolm Lee and Ms. Cheryl McKissack Daniel with U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal 4 Stacy Hyman for corporate sponsor Point 72 and Lynn Sullivan-Harmon 5 Sheryl Battles for corporate sponsor Pitney Bowes 6 Dr. Jackqueline McLean-Markes, The Greater Fairfield County Foundation board member 7 Yolanda Seals-Coffield for corporate sponsor PWC and Nicole Mitchell for corporate sponsor Spida Cares

CRYSTAL BALL / The Links, Incorporated

Good People

The Person to Person’s Transforming Lives Luncheon was a very tasteful affair. The event included Debra Ponzek, owner of Aux Délices, in conversation with acclaimed chef Lidia Bastianich, to the delight of the more than 350 guests. It raised nearly $240,000 to support the nonprofit organization’s vision of helping people in lower Fairfield County access services and resources, including food and clothing as well as financial coaching and scholarships, to improve their lives. Rev. Dr. Robert Nelson Back of Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien founded Person to Person in 1968 following the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Lurther King, Jr. Now it helps nearly 25,000 people and even runs a pantry and social services mobile unit in Stamford. Moreover, following the Transforming Lives Luncheon, the organization hosted its annual toy drive for some 2,000 children during the holiday season. See more news and events at p2phelps.org. »

1 Lidia Bastianich, best-selling cookbook author, and restaurateur Debra Ponzek of Aux Délices 2 Karen McNair, Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas, Linda Koe, Moira Colangelo, Cynthia Russell and Danielle Blaine 3 Michelle Lappas, event cochair; Lidia Bastianich; and Christina Johnson Wolff, event co-chair 4 Lucia Rilling, Lidia Bastianich and Raenah Farina 5 Polly O’Brien Morrow and Lidia Bastianich

TRANSFORMING LIVES LUNCHEON / Person to Person

Enough Is Enough

For nearly thirty years, CT Against Gun Violence has led the way in passing some of the strongest gun laws in the nation, giving Connecticut one of the lowest gun death rates. Still, much needs to be done to address the crisis of gun violence, especially community gun violence and firearm suicide. Supporters recently gathered at the annual benefit on the rooftop at The Village in Stamford. Guests learned about the gun violence prevention movement and how CAGV is working to reduce gun deaths and injuries in Connecticut. To help support the mission to end gun violence in Connecticut visit cagv.org. –Ali Gray

BY BOB CAPAZZO

1 Hannah Smolar, Michael Waldman 2 Executive Director CAGV Jeremy Stein, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Governor Ned Lamont 3 Nicole Heath, Cynthia Blumenthal, David Atkins, Carolyn Vermont, Kim Buck, Glori Norwitt 4 Event cochairs Cassaundra Karnal, Asya Geller, Daisy Sanders, Erin Glasebrook, Lauren Schweibold, Margo Cole 5 Dr. George and Melanie Tsangaroulis 6 Adam and Rebecca Epstein 7 Jonathan Perloe, Wilner Joseph 8 Mark Rutledge, Christine Han-Rutledge, Remy Dowd, Ali and Matt Knopman 9 Sean Reaves, Terra Volpe 10 Adam and Sarah Mariucci, Emmy Bealle 11 Chris Church, Lisa Beth Savitz, Janet Stone McGuigan, Julie Church 12 Stuart and Liz Yingst

CT AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE / The Village in Stamford

SOUND

GARDENING

Maintaining Shippan Point’s beauty is an ongoing effort of many hands— and Erna Szekeres, a longtime garden club member, takes this mission to heart

by judy ostrow // photography by hulya kolabas

left: Rose bushes inspired Erna’s passion for the garden right: Erna Szekeres still attends to her own garden chores. opposite: The backyard view stretches past Caritas Island (a.k.a. Greenway) to Darien and beyond.

More than sixty years ago, prompted by her husband, Erna Szekeres agreed to pack up their West Side Manhattan apartment and move to a house in North Stamford. A couple of years later, her husband—who loved boating—suggested that they look at another place, on an elevated parcel of land in Stamford, on Shippan Point. This home, built just after World War II, nestled comfortably in its niche on a sloping site overlooking the Sound, with a fine prospect to the south and east. Placed among more commanding structures that were built when the Shippan peninsula was the summer playground of gilded age robber barons, the house cedes all the drama to its landscape.  A comparatively modest exterior opens to expansive views on its waterside, surrounded by enviable gardens designed both to please the senses and endure all the weather that the location provides.

While not a gardener before the family moved to Stamford, Erna quickly got into the spirit of coastal country living.

“I saw a thousand things to do,” she remembers, “but the landscape kept drawing me outside.”

The sixty-seven rosebushes planted on the property by the previous owner presented a challenge that gradually became a passion —one that grew as the years went by. Early on, one of her husband’s friends told her about his wife’s garden club in the neighborhood, and so Erna decided to have a look.

SOCIAL NETWORK

The Shippan Point Garden Club had been formed in 1925—the same year that Erna was born. Garden clubs, like other organizations of the late-nineteenth and earlytwentieth centuries, had their genesis in the longings of talented women to break out of a genteel supervisory role in households dominated by a male breadwinner, further a more worldly education, and expand their social networks.

As a bibliographic searcher at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Erna already had educational and cultural credentials of her own. But there was still the matter of the roses—and that landscape.

“When we moved to North Stamford, I’d seen what I thought were nice-looking flowering plants along the road, dug them up and transplanted them in our yard. To my embarrassment, our neighbor told us that they were stinging nettles—a weed. So I knew I had a few things to learn.”

Her husband’s friend’s wife, Vera Mulare, became Erna’s sponsor for the garden club, marking the start of a long and productive relationship with the organization and its members.

Many of the club meetings, especially early in her tenure, were somewhat formal gatherings where members would converse in one another’s homes and tea was poured. Presentations given by fellow members or an expert invited guest provided lessons in all things garden, from flower arranging to the growing habits of various botanical genuses in the local landscape.

Within the group were rosarians, who specialize in the Rosa genus—of particular interest to Erna and her sixtyseven bushes.

“I remember ‘Sis’ [Mrs. Bindley M.] Gillespie with a pair of shears in her hands, in my garden, showing me how to properly prune my roses. She gave them a rather fierce clipping, but her methods got results,” recalls Erna. She is grateful for many other dedicated gardeners in the group, and their various instructions that helped her landscape along.

“It was, and still is, an amazing resource for learning about plants and their care,” says Erna, who took the reins as club president herself for one term in the early 1990s, by which time some of the earlier formalities had become a bit more casual, and women were identified by name and surname, rather than Mrs. (Husband’s Name). In another change, men have been, and are currently, members of Shippan Point Garden Club (SPGC). »

“When we moved to North Stamford, I’d seen what I thought were nice-looking flowering plantas along the road, dug them up and transplanted them in our yard. To my embarrassment, our neighbor told us that they were stinging nettles—a weed.

So I knew I had a few things to learn.”

top row: Erna’s front yard is bordered by well-established perennials, including abundant astilbe (left), which blooms in June.

bottom row: More roses bloom along the front fence, and achillea (right) adds a pop of bright pink to the border.

BRANCHING OUT

Not only do members share helpful guidance about flowers, plants and shrubs, but also the club’s civic initiatives are on display in prominent spots around the community itself, and in other locations. Between 2020 and 2022, in collaboration with other local groups, the club has replaced the original cherry trees along Magee Avenue with a more robust variety and planted more than 1,000 daffodils. Since 1995, the members have sponsored a scholarship for a high school senior who resides in Stamford and plans further study in plant sciences.

Janet McCabe, the club’s current president, notes that member dues and the club’s annual May Market (in 2023, on May 13), when perennials from members’ gardens, baked goods and gifts are sold to the public, raise the funds needed for these larger projects. Those who love to drive Stamford’s streets to admire the city’s enthusiasm for holiday decorating have The Shippan Point Garden Club to thank for the “Doors of Shippan.” Open to neighborhood residents, some of the most creative wreaths in town are products of an annual clubsponsored competition that has become a Shippan tradition. »

above and below: A terraced portion of the sloping site is ideal for the pool, which creates a private enclosure with its abundant greenery, including a wellestablished arbor for a bit of shade.

top row: Lacecap hydrangea (left) is one of several varieties of this showy shrub that creates abundant summer bloom; and the view (right) is the perfect backdrop. bottom row: Because she spends a portion of each day outside, Erna has created a variety of great spots for reading, conversation and just relaxing.

“I remember ‘Sis’ [Mrs. Bindley M.] Gillespie with a pair of shears in her hands, in my garden, showing me how to properly prune my roses. She gave them a rather fierce clipping, but her methods got results.”

left, top: Decades of gardening have produced abundant and sweeping beds of blooms. left, bottom: Flowering plants occupy containers for season-long color. right: A sheltered terrace at the rear of the house makes a comfortable spot when the weather is less cooperative.

Though some traditions endure, and others are created (watch for the club’s centennial events in 2025), Janet notes that meeting topics these day are frequently as focused on health and wise ecology as they are on plants and flowers; past meetings have included talks about recycling, beneficial insects and even a culinary plant-centered lecture, called The Healing Kitchen.

“We often invite other local clubs to join our meetings,” says Janet, “and while our membership is drawn from the local neighborhood, some members who have moved to other neighborhoods and communities still pay their dues

here, and attend our programs and events.”

“It’s not just about plants,” says Erna, “even though plants are what brought us together. What keeps us together has almost nothing to do with gardening. The real benefits are camaraderie and helping each other.”

Overlooking her own landscape, she gestures toward the sloping site and the view beyond. Mature after almost six decades of her stewardship but always changing with the effects of weather, new plantings and transplanting, she smiles as she declares, “The garden keeps you dreaming. There is always something to see out there.”

above: Patience and consistent care reap rewards in Erna’s garden, and the moist microclimate by the sea also encourages her sweeps of foliage and bloom.

BY SCOTT THOMAS // AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN C. PHOTOGRAPHY

National Housing Trends and the Stamford Market

The mix of suburbs and city, country and coastal, and small business and big corporations makes Stamford a desirable place to live.

They said a rise in interest rates could pump the brakes on the blazing hot residential market. Buyers, the theory went, would be reluctant to jump into the real estate pool as they faced higher mortgages and diminished purchasing power.

The interest rates did rise amid surging inflation, as the Federal Reserve Board approved several increases throughout 2022. The impact, at least in Stamford, was negligible. The higher interest rates were the Whoppers of “nothing burgers” in the Stamford real estate market. The year might not have been as busy as 2021, but 2022 overall proved to be quite successful.

“Stamford, with its wide range of real estate offerings, is a resilient market,” says Vikktoria Cooper of Coldwell Banker. “The rates were met with an ounce of intimidation and a pound of, ‘We got this.’ Buyers and sellers alike regrouped, strategized and restructured—and met at the closing table.”

Stamford’s success amid the rising rates did not surprise many agents. With its variety of housing options and appeal to a broad section of homebuyers, the city is well-insulated to the whims of the market. Singlefamily residents, condos, starter homes, mid-market homes and even sprawling estates can all be had in Stamford. The real estate

market reflects the city’s diversity, and vice versa. Unlike other communities, there is something for everyone here.

“Stamford has a refreshingly diverse population with people from all walks of life,” says Barbara Hickey of William Pitt. “It reflects the global world in which we live. It’s easy to blend in here. From homes on Long Island Sound to North Stamford to the densely populated neighborhoods, we have something for everyone. Many people come to Stamford because it is refreshingly diverse and there are a lot of opportunities for housing. That’s the beauty of Stamford.”

While there were fewer homes sold in 2022—a 16 percent decline from 2021 through the first nine months, according to statistics from Compass— the median price and average price both showed small gains.

The most astonishing number, however, is the average days on market (DOM). In the third quarter, homes were on the market for an average of thirty-eight days. The average DOM in Stamford through the first nine months was forty-

six, a 30 percent drop from 2022. Homes that are priced right and in good condition get gobbled up quickly.

“Stamford is growing in leaps and bounds,’’ says Staci Zampa of Compass Real Estate. “A lot of buyers are coming from Westchester County, Brooklyn and the New York City boroughs. A lot of people are moving into the Harbor Point area. We were at the Stamford Food Festival, and there were 40,000 people there. I’ve been in Stamford for twentysomething years and I’ve never seen this much commotion.”

“ Stamford is growing in leaps and bounds. A lot of buyers are coming from Westchester County, Brooklyn and the New York City boroughs. ”

Staci Zampa, Compass Real Estate

top, left: 61 Blueberry Dr., Stamford, at 3,700-square feet and five bedrooms, has a three-car garage, is listed for $1,400,000 // Staci Zampa, Compass top, right: The interior has a spacious living room with fireplace and two seating areas. bottom, left: The bright and inviting entry provides a view straight through the house to the backyard. bottom, right: The home was completely redone with high-end finishes, as in this eat-in kitchen with island.

While the rise in interest rates did not deter buyers from moving into Stamford, dwindling inventory could make 2023 more challenging. In particular, Stamford condos are moving quickly and more are needed to accommodate buyers who want to move into the city.

“Condos did extremely well because of the large demographic looking in this particular sector, such as first-time home buyers and downsizers,” Zampa says. “Low maintenance, low taxes and amenities make condo living an easy transition. Can someone please build more? I’m selling Park Tower like it’s nobody’s business. There’s just nothing out there. If someone came in and built something like another Harbor Point, we could sell it in three minutes.”

Stamford has long been a rental haven for many young professionals, especially those who commute to New York for employment. The city has nightlife, lower rent than New York City apartments and recreational opportunities that cannot be found in the city. The rise in interest rates convinced many of them to bail on rentals and snap up a condo that makes much more economic sense.

“We’re seeing multiple offers on rental properties, and that pushes the consumer into the condo market,” Barbara Hickey says. “The condo market exploded. Our supply of condos is under two months, which is essentially no inventory. People were saying they have to get out of the rental situation and perhaps buy a little condo and hold on to it.”

Condo sales in Stamford dropped 11.8 percent through the first nine months of 2021, according to Compass statistics, but the decline reflects the lack of inventory. Condos in Stamford have had an interesting history, with some strong years interspersed with some years where the market has been distressingly slow. In the current market, however, condos are a highly desirable choice because they allow renters to enter the market at a lower price point.

“The key is to educate people who are first-time home buyers and talk with them about the ability to get financing,’’ Zampa says. “People still think they need 20 percent down to buy a home and that just isn’t the case. We love to do a rent-versusbuy analysis to show the value of home ownership. Would you rather build your own equity or build equity for your landlord?”

“ Condos did extremely well because of the large demographic looking in this particular sector, such as first-time home buyers and downsizers. ”

Staci Zampa, Compass Real Estate

Condos and apartments are in big demand as new residents and firsttime buyers look to enter the market.

There have been times when Stamford real estate has seen its share of hard times. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, prices fell markedly, and the nationwide recession that started in 2008 also hurt the Stamford housing market. The city is not totally immune to the vagaries that impact the national real estate market.

Over time, however, Stamford seems to have become better insulated against changing market conditions. Singlefamily homes will always be the industry’s bread-and-butter, and Stamford appeals to many families who want to raise their children in the city.

Variety of housing helps Stamford maintain momentum in real estate. That’s not to say there won’t be downturns. A lingering recession, further interest rate hikes and dwindling inventory could all conspire to drag down the market.

If there’s one thing real estate experts have learned, however, it is that Stamford is remarkably resilient. It’s also growing and has moved ahead of New Haven as the state’s second-largest city. Only Bridgeport has more residents than Stamford, which is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the Nutmeg State. “Real estate is local regardless of the mechanisms at the macro level,” Vikktoria Cooper says. “Stamford’s infrastructure is strong and getting stronger. Its presence as a desirable corporate hub is getting more attractive every year, and its tax structure is far more desirable than Westchester County. We’ll continue to see more new construction, more rental development, more corporations adopting the City That Works, and more incoming residents. Stamford is resilient and ambitious, and my crystal ball tells me those two attributes will continue to move Stamford’s real estate forward in 2023.”

“

From homes along Long Island Sound to North Stamford to the densely populated neighborhoods, we have something for everyone. ”

Barbara Hickey, William Pitt

above: A rendering of a new construction planned for 23 Gray Farms Rd. The Colonial-style home, at 3,900 square feet, will have ten bedrooms, a great room with fireplace and French doors that lead to patio, living room, dining room, and open-concept gourmet kitchen. It is listed at $1,479,000 // Barbara Hickey, William Pitt

Picture Perfect

Buyers overlook fixer-ups for move-in ready

Real estate investing has not changed significantly over generations. Most people realize it is a solid investment, a long-term strategy that will pay off in the long run. Some markets are better than others, and Stamford in particular remains a particularly desirable location.

“Stamford is in an enviable position,’’ says Vikktoria Cooper of Coldwell Banker. “Our market can surf the ebb and flow of rate hikes like the California surfer tackles the waves of the Pacific. We hang ten!”

One significant change, however, of the past few years is the desire for move-in condition. Fixer-uppers are a thing of the past. Today’s buyers want to unload the moving van, settle in and enjoy. Paint? Perhaps. Renovate the 1980s kitchen? Not a chance.

“For the most part, buyers today want move-in ready, up-to-the-minute condition,’’ says Barbara Hickey of William Pitt. “They want to bring in their suitcases and unpack.”

Hickey says other factors are also playing into demand for move-in ready homes. One: Supply-chain issues have relented somewhat, but it can still be difficult to obtain products for updating a home. Two: Contractors who have the skill and expertise to make renovations

are becoming harder to find because they are in such high demand.

“There’s always this variable of how much work a buyer will be able to entertain,’’ Hickey says. “Are they willing

from Compass, Stamford homes are still selling at or close to listing price—a real estate rarity. “Prices are being inflated by a smaller pool of buyers,’’ says Staci Zampa of Compass. “Maybe it’s not an Olympic-size pool, but there’s a pool of buyers who are looking to relocate to Stamford. Some transactions are with homes that are off market and do not even make it to market.”

The swift-moving market makes it more imperative than ever for buyers and sellers to work with a trusted real estate professional. In the wake of the pandemic, many new agents entered the business. Some buyers also attempt to save money by listing their home themselves. In the red-hot Stamford market, it’s risky for buyers and sellers to go it alone.

to live with a dated kitchen or bath just so they can get into a home? That’s always a big question. At the end of the day, inventory is so low that buyers have to really think about how much work they’re willing to do.”

Historically low home inventory has helped sellers. According to statistics

“It goes back to using trusted advisors and relationships that have local knowledge of the market,’’ Zampa says. “If you were just to go off the national news headlines of doom and gloom, no one would be buying or selling a house. The fact is, our relationships have proven to be much more valuable in this competitive market. Whether you’re buying a $300,000 starter condo or a $2 million house, the best advice I can give is to speak to a local expert to get the absolute best advice.”

"For the most part, buyers today want move-in ready, up-to-the-minute condition. They want to bring in their suitcases and unpack."

Barbara Hickey, William Pitt

Spring Luncheon

A Conversation with Samantha Bee

Samantha Bee is an Emmy-winning comedian, writer, and television host best known for her work as the host of TBS’s Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Bee began her career as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where she quickly gained recognition for her sharp wit and ability to deliver hilarious yet thought-provoking commentary on current events. In 2016, she became the first woman to host a late-night comedy talk show on a major network with the launch of advocate for reproductive rights and has used her platform to speak out against restrictive abortion laws and to promote affordable health care for all.

Rob Simmelkjaer is a journalist and television host with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He has worked for major news networks such as NBC, ESPN, and CNN, covering a wide range of topics including sports, politics and current events. In addition to his work as a journalist, he is an avid supporter of various charitable organizations, including those that focus on health care and education.

A Mother’s Promise

Having the conversation about stillbirth

by joey macari

Brayden Anthony Morello was born sleeping. His mommy, Megan Morello, was just about a week and a half away from being induced to give birth to her firstborn, a baby boy. She and her husband, Tony, nicknamed him “Bam Bam”—a fitting nod to her son’s penchant for his troglodyte-like strength. One summer night in July 2021, Megan recalled feeling a different series of kicks; ones that were more rapid than usual. At dinner that night, Bam Bam didn’t express his delight over the meal the way he usually did. Megan traced a finger over her stomach to feel his heartbeat in the spot it usually was—mistaken her own for his.

A few days later, Megan arrived at Greenwich Hospital for her biweekly, nonstress test. While monitoring for heartbeat and fetal movement, her nurse stood up and said, “Let me go find your doctor to take a look. Don’t be nervous.” After several, nerve-racking minutes later, Megan’s doctor checked the monitors, and with tears welling up in his eyes, broke the news. There was no heartbeat.

“I could hardly breathe and was in denial that this was my reality,” Megan recalled. “They rushed me into a birthing room and induced labor. The cruel inhumane torture of having to give birth naturally to a dead child does something to your mental state.”

The next morning, Megan and Tony would get to witness their beautiful boy true to his epithet—big feet, chubby cheeks—held in their arms for the first, and, tragically, the last and only time.

NOT ALONE

On average in this country, sixty babies a day are stillborn. That’s roughly the size of a full school bus or three kindergarten classes a day. The stillbirth conversation is a hard one, largely due to the complicated, deeply personal and heart-breaking loss, and how others perceive that loss. But for mothers, like Megan, they hold true to typical notions of parenthood, albeit

on a universal plane—the eternal relationship between mother and child tethered from one life to the next.

Megan’s story feels uniquely Stamford in the sense that, as the city slogan suggests, her intimate support system of family, friends and community have worked to help Megan heal as well as connect her with a network of grieving families. Between sharing personal anecdotes on her memorial Facebook page, “Brayden’s Wish,” to speaking publicly at Stamford Health, Megan has become a champion for change. “It felt like a bat signal went out, women and men alike came out of the woodwork to tell me their story,” she says. “People who I’ve known for

above: Megan and Tony Morello expecting their child

years had it happen to them, but I had no idea. It helped me to feel not alone.”

This past October, Megan marched at the Capitol in Washington, DC, for PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy—a national advocacy platform that aims to empower birthing people and healthcare providers to end preventable stillbirth. “There are [approximately] 23,000 stillbirths in the United States each year,” says Megan. “We are next to third-world countries. We need to break the stigma on stillbirth and educate the world on how common it actually is.” She also became the first Connecticut ambassador for Count the Kicks, a national public-health campaign that advocates for fetal movement and maternal health.

SUPPORT SYSTEM

Being born and raised in Stamford, Megan found an outlet for her costuming aspirations early on at Curtain Call, which is Stamford’s longest-running and only nonprofit theater. She has since become the theater’s resident costume designer and wardrobe manager. Through the Curtain Call family, Megan connected with longtime friend Ellen Porto—an active community player who also serves as a labor and delivery nurse/perinatal bereavement committee chair at Stamford Health. After sharing stories on the stage together, Megan and Ellen began sharing a harder story, a survivor’s story—giving a voice to parents of stillborns and providing resources to aid them in the healing process.

“Once I heard what had happened, I immediately wanted to give Meg and Tony all the support I could,” Ellen says. “I knew what was ahead of them, and if I could help them, walk along side of them, support them in any way, that was what I was going to do. Knowing Meg, she has done what we all knew she would do—she became the warrior princess in this and would use this to help others. That’s who she is.”

Porto, who has served Stamford Hospital for nearly four decades alongside fellow nurse Anne Albert, recognized the need for perinatal bereavement services. As nurses are often the first person these families encounter when this difficult journey begins, Porto and Albert orchestrated the installment of the committee ten years ago—continuously improving on its mission to provide immediate and lasting support for these families.

“Over the past ten years, our committee, which consists of nurses from labor and

1

Starting at twenty-eight weeks, count your baby’s movements every day, preferably at the same time.

2

Pick your time based on when your baby is usually active.

3

To get started, sit with your feet up or lie on your side. Count each of your baby’s movements (kicks, rolls, pokes or jabs, but not hiccups, as those are involuntary) as one kick and tap the foot on the app until you reach ten movements. The app is timing how long it takes your baby to get to ten movements.

4

Track your baby’s movement history and understand normal movement pattern. If “normal” changes, call your provider— this could be a sign of potential problems.

Once I heard what had happened, I immediately wanted to give Meg and Tony all the support I could. I knew what was ahead of them and that if I could help them, walk along side of them, support them in any way, that was what I was going to do.

ELLEN PORTO a labor and delivery nurse/perinatal bereavement committee chair at Stamford Health

delivery, clergy and social work, have developed not only protocols, but also an entire process to help the families through what will be the most difficult journey of their lives,” says Ellen. “For the past eight years, we have held a ‘Remembering Our Babies’ ceremony each October for Perinatal Bereavement Month. This gives all the families who would like to attend a chance to come together and bond, remember and create a community of support. Each year we have focused a theme to remember our babies, wonderful guest speakers and many of our families will read a poem or speak from the hearts. It is such an emotional and truly beautiful ceremony.”

In addition to helping the families, the Bereavement Committee has also aided its own staff with task-management and improvement aspects of stillbirth conduct. “We as nurses are often the first person these families encounter when this difficult journey begins,” Ellen says. “Our committee has written protocols to help

staff with the very involved technical aspect of this process. The more we can help take the anxiety out of the paperwork and phone call aspect, the more the staff has time to focus on the care of these families.”

REMEMBER TOGETHER

To celebrate what would have been Brayden’s first birthday, Megan and Tony invited family and friends to gather in a short ceremony of poems and to say thank you for their support, that concluded with fifty monarch butterflies being released into the air. However, the everyday tribute to Brayden’s memory starts with a more intimate ritual. “When my alarm goes off in the morning, I wake and expect to hear him calling for my attention. Then I look over at my chest of drawers where his blue heart of ashes resides and reality comes flooding back in,” Megan says. She then has a conversation

with her son. “I ask him how he slept? Did he hear his daddy snore last night? Among many other things. Then, before I leave for work, I give him a big kiss and ask him to watch over me and try to help me have a great day. When I get home from school, the same routine happens. I give him a huge kiss and start my questions: How was his day? What did he do? I hope he had fun playing in heaven with his new friends.” Megan’s ritual is part of her healing journey, which she takes while also affirming the feelings of other parents who have experienced this loss. She is both vulnerable and honest. “Some days my armor feels heavy and bulky like medieval times,” she says. “Other times, it feels like the latest high-tech design that still protects me, but I’m able to move about the world freely. I am doing much better after my first year of firsts, but I still get sideswiped with a rush of feelings and gut-wrenching pain when I least expect it, and that’s OK. I do my best to feel all of the emotions—the good, the bad and the ugly.”

CHECK IN / Bereavement Services for Parents

parents, as well as aid in the result of a stillbirth. We spoke to Ellen Komar, Stamford Health’s senior vice president, patient care services and chief nursing officer, who shared with us an overview of the hospital’s bereavement services and the benefits of a perinatologist consultation for those high-risk or otherwise.

Studies have recently shown that nearly one and four stillbirths can be prevented. This past October, U.S. Senators introduced the “Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act of 2022,” which, if passed, would offer federal funding to support stillborn prevention services. Stamford Health has already committed to providing as much preventative care for expectant

How does Stamford Health provide critical healthcare and vital resources for women and families dealing with stillbirth loss?

Stamford Health provides individual bereavement services to patients experiencing a devastating stillbirth loss, in line with our Planetree Philosophy, to provide patient-centered care. Parents are encouraged to hold their infant, read to them and spend individual time with them. They are given a memory

box with special keepsakes to remember their precious baby, including hand and footprints. We have been so fortunate to partner with several community resources, including Benjamin’s Gift, whose mission is to provide financial support to bereaved parents for medical and hospital costs associated with stillbirth. The Star Legacy Foundation receives donated books to create libraries in hospital maternity and labor and delivery units for families experiencing pregnancy loss.

How can expectant mothers benefit from a consultation with a perinatologist to manage pregnancy concerns?

Perinatologists are high-risk obstetricians who manage highrisk pregnancies and provide consultation services for any patient that has concerning obstetrical issues. They work

very closely with your OB/ GYN physician to discuss any concerns and evaluate patients as necessary. Should a concern be identified, they are available to follow you through your pregnancy, working in partnership with your OB/ GYN. At Stamford Health, we have perinatologists on staff in our Women’s Specialty Center who work with patients and their physicians throughout pregnancy, and can even assist and counsel patients before becoming pregnant. In addition to coordinating care with a patients’ OB/GYN and other specialists, as needed, our physicians can provide a program of fetal-testing services tailored to a patient’s individual needs.

To make an appointment with a perinatologist, go to stamfordhealth.org.

Ellen Komar

This spring, ECO-SENSITIVE LANDSCAPING MEETS LUXURIOUS

OUTDOOR LIVING .

More homeowners are opting for wild meadows over manicured lawns and gardens for the birds and bees as much as for the aesthetic.

Glengate’s principal designer and landscape architect, Cheryl Russ, combined “extraordinary beauty and sustainability” for this natural property.

there’s anything new in landscaping and gardening this spring, it’s us. From a confluence of unlikely factors— climate change, the Covid pandemic, an influx of New Yorkers seeking open space—we’ve come to view property as a sanctuary from the stresses of living in “interesting times.” We’re more appreciative of nature, more tuned in to the creatures with whom we share the earth, more aware of the human impact on the environment but also of our role, however small, in its welfare.

“For many of my clients, their yard is so much more important to them than it ever was before,” notes Heather O’Neill of Second Nature Landscape Design in Norwalk. “A lot of them weren’t coming home until after dark and barely saw their property except on weekends. Now, with a majority of people working either remotely or a hybrid of remote and in the office, they’re home a lot more and are taking a real interest in the animal life that comes onto their property and the changing colors of plants as the seasons change.”

Landscape architects and designers from Greenwich to Fairfield report an uptick in homeowners asking for meadows in place of lawns; pollinator pathways to attract birds, bees and small animals; rain gardens and drought- and flood-resistant plantings.

And yet this is Fairfield County, where living well is an art as well as an antidote to modern life. The same landscape architects are designing complete outdoor kitchens with grills, pizza ovens and smokers; outdoor fireplaces and firepits in handsome stone surrounds; infinity pools that cool the body as they soothe the spirit; and garden rooms for observing nature and for peace of mind.

That we can have it all is one of the great benefits of living where we do!

ne benefit of the Covid pandemic has been that it’s inspired more residents to take up vegetable gardening, a trend that began in earnest during the recession of 2008 and 2009.

Besides an interest in growing their own produce, people simply enjoy being outdoors and closer to nature.

“So many people were at home and not going away in the summer,” says John Carlson of Homefront Farmers in Redding. “That really continued the trend of outdoor living.”

For first-time home gardeners, Carlson walks the property with homeowners to identify locations with optimum sunlight.

“You really want six to eight hours to be able to grow the full range of crops,” he says. “There are plenty of vegetables that don’t require as much sun, but the most popular ones—tomatoes, peppers, squash— need the maximum amount.”

Also important is proximity to a source of water (though many of Carlson’s clients have

in-ground irrigation systems), plus a relatively level location. “It’s easier and less expensive if there's a level spot,” he says. “We’ve built on pretty steep slopes, which require stepping and terracing, but the effect can be beautiful and really dramatic.” Homefront Farmers’ gardens are raised and fully enclosed in white cedar, which is rot-resistant, and they also have wire netting. The effect is a clean, handsome, structure space, with pebbled walkways among the raised beds for easy access, weeding and harvesting.

This spring, homeowners are hiring professional gardeners like Carlson for gardens that produce serenity as well as produce, with space inside for a small table and a couple of chairs for sitting and relaxing at the end of the day.

Homefront Farmers constructs organic vegetable gardens of all sizes in the optimal spot on clients’ properties.

For this project by James Doyle Design Associates, changes in topography were embraced. The ground plane was manipulated to create form and interest, and the earth was cut to create areas for bioretention as well as manage runoff from the driveway.

property that are planted with wild grasses and flowering perennials to soak up rain runoff from roofs and downspouts, driveways, patios and the natural slope of the land. Rain gardens filter significant amounts of pollutants and sediments from rainwater runoff, while allowing some 30 percent more water to soak into the ground than a lawn.

“Basically, we contour the land near the source of the most rain runoff in the shape of a bowl or a long, serpentine depression, remove a foot or so of the soil that’s there and replace it with a mixture of sand and compost for better percolations,” says Eva Chiamulera, a landscape architect with Austin Ganim Landscape Design in Fairfield.

For new owners of a neglected three-acre lot in the Greenfield Hill section of Fairfield, Chiamulera created two large rain gardens bordered by meadows, which are frequent neighbors. She connected the two with a strip of riverbed-like stones and crammed them with pollinator plants that change colors with the seasons and attract successions of birds and insects.

he prolonged heat wave and drought of last August and September were followed by torrential downpours and flashflooding, causing damage to gardens as well as to homes and businesses. As large bodies of water, like Long Island Sound, continue to warm, Connecticut meteorologists warn that we’re likely to see more weather extremes this spring and summer.

For properties prone to flooding, local landscape architects are creating rain gardens—long, narrow, depressed sections of the

“Beebalm and Eupatorium are in their glory from mid-summer into early autumn and are probably our biggest pollinator attractors,” she says. “Insects and birds perceive color differently than we do. Bees prefer mellower bluish-pink and purple-whites and some of the lighter yellows. Butterflies and hummingbirds like the reds and the oranges and brighter pinks and purples—they would’ve been really comfortable in the 1980s!”

To manage rainwater runoff and pollutants from the driveway of a Greenwich property, meanwhile, James Doyle Design Associates carved a 40’-by-20’ rain garden out of the land between the drive and the street. This “bioretention swale,” as it’s called, also captures pollutants from the runoff and filters them and excess water through a bed of sand and gravel that underlies plants—river birch, for example, and winterberry viburnum—that don’t mind getting their feet wet.

A rain garden, like this one by Austin Ganim Landscape Design, is often bordered by meadows. This method helps filter pollutants and sediment from rainwater, and more water can soak into the ground.

TOP PHOTO BY AUSTIN GANIM LANDSCAPE DESIGN, LLC; BOTTOM PHOTO BY ALLEGRA ANDERSON

mong the most popular plantings this season, landscape designers say, are pollinators—flowers, grasses and shrubs that lure bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to pollinate other plants, thereby producing seeds and fruit for us to share with the most important guests: other insects, birds and small mammals.

“I'm getting a lot of calls for a mix of grasses and native pollinator plants that look great but also attract insects and birds and small mammals,” says Jay Petrow of Petrow Gardens Landscape Design in Westport. Especially beneficial are goldenrod, echinacea and milkweed, among others, which attract monarch butterflies on their migration route north for the summer.

The interest in pollinator plants and pathways—corridors of native, pesticide-free plants—has led to a greater interest in beekeeping in Fairfield County.

“Pollinator pathways are a wonderful way to attract and help

sustain honeybees,” says Rick Glover, a Fairfield beekeeper who manages 65 beehives, lectures widely on bees and beekeeping, and sets up and maintains hives for homeowners in lower Fairfield and Westchester counties.

“The more flowers you plant that open throughout the year,” Glover adds, “the more nutrition and health you’re bringing to honeybees.”

For Cheryl Russ, principal designer and landscape architect at Glengate in Wilton, it is rewarding to work on environmentally friendly projects.

“Every year, we have more and more clients requesting nativeplant landscaping, pollinator gardens and meadows—and we are also thrilled to introduce Glengate clients to these concepts,” says Russ. “It’ a win-win when we can create something that is beneficial to our local ecologies and results in a luxurious setting for family life. The idea that eco-sensitive landscaping is too wild or messy is totally outdated;

it’s 100% possible to have both extraordinary beauty and sustainability.”

Russ offers some important guidelines to follow when going the natural route:

“Work with designers who are well-versed in selecting the perfect plants for your conditions and wildlife; the company planting your gardens should also be experienced in these types of landscapes—make sure installers are sourcing material that has not been grown with substances harmful to pollinators (such as neonicotinoids). ‘Eco’ does not mean set it and forget it. Whoever does your property care should know, for example, how and when to mow a meadow, and which kind of plant treatments and fertilizers are safe to use. The right professionals will help you create an incredibly rewarding landscape.”

In some instances, local laws require eco-friendly measures to be implemented.

“Given the environmental

sensitivity of many sites and the regulations in place by the local governing authority, buffer zones, rain gardens and the like are frequently mandatory," says Renée Byers, principal of Renée Byers in Greenwich.

Byers, who has seen an increase in clients wanting a more natural landscape, considers multiple factors when designing a project.

“Striking the right balance between beautiful, high-quality design and natural beauty is achieved by collecting all the data, from the owner’s program to environmental macro to microclimatic factors, and then taking cues from the surrounding architecture and natural landscape beyond,” she says. “It is important to examine the transition points and proportionality between the built landscape and the more wild parts, and to create harmony so the two truly speak to each other. In this way, each appears inevitable and effortlessly linked.”

James Doyle Design Associates describes this environment of flora and fauna: “Sustainability gives a connection with the natural world, and this safe habitat supports an extreme abundance of local insects, pollinators and wildlife.”

Using native pollinator plants and a mix of grasses, Jay Petrow of Petrow Gardens Landscape Design, creates a meadow that is attractive, yet still appeals to butterflies, birds and small animals.

JAY PETROW

he growing interest in beekeeping coincides, in turn, with a movement away from turf lawns and toward wild, open meadows.

Lawns are a relatively recent landscaping phenomenon. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that wealthy property owners began planting their yards in grass as a status symbol, mimicking European bowling and putting greens.

But while a carpet of Kentucky Bluegrass may be pleasing to the eye and feel good on bare feet, lawns can be detrimental to practically everything else— birds, insects, mammals, the environment at large. Keeping

After coming across this unspoiled property in Little Compton, Rhode Island, Heather O Neill of Second Nature Landscape Design used it for inspiration on a local project.

them green and weed-free demands excessive amounts of water and fertilizer that is toxic to water supplies and to the birds, fish and mammals that consume or come in contact with them. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, turf grass lawns, which cover up to 50 million acres in this country, consume nearly three trillion gallons of water a year and 70 million pounds of pesticides.

One influence on the meadow movement has been New Yorkers who moved to Fairfield County during the pandemic. In addition to boosting the residential real estate market, they brought with them an appreciation of meadows from their exposure to the High

Line, the former elevated freight rail line on Manhattan’s West Side that has been turned into a 1.45-mile-long public park and walkway through some 150,000 wild and cultivated plants, trees and shrubs.

But so have neighbors who, understanding the impact of lawns on the environment, have been replacing sections of it with open meadows. Where once they might have asked for neat, orderly spaces that relied on manicured lawns and boxwood edges, more now prefer wild grasses and perennials that change with the light and with the wind. Enhanced as a result is “the aesthetic value in people's eyes,” says Jay Petrow.

“Homeowners call for the ecological benefits of meadows and pollinators, but if they weren ’ t aesthetically pleasing, they wouldn ’ t want them.”

Adjacent to a swimming pool on a three-acre lot in Stamford, Petrow installed a small area of pollinator plants, then seeded the area with a wildflower mix to create a meadow border that’s pleasing to the eye as well as to the birds and the bees.

There’s more to meadows than meets the eye, though, and much more to maintaining them once they’re planted.

“It's not just a matter of letting your grass grow or not mowing it,” says Heather O’Neill. “Meadows need to be mowed twice a year

so that you don’t get big woody plants growing and turning into trees. People think, ‘Hey, I don’t need to mow my grass—I'll get a meadow.’ But what they end up with is something that looks like an empty lot someone hasn't taken care of in a while.”

For new owners of an old home on four acres in Southport, O’Neill is creating a substantial meadow with plugs of plants as well as seed in and surrounding an existing apple orchard. “The couple wants a natural-looking space that won’t require fertilizer or as much mowing as a lawn. They, like others, want to do their part to help the environment without committing their whole property to nature.”

This meadow rendering by Heather O’Neill is for a four-acre landscape in Southport that surrounds an existing apple orchard.

omething else transplanted New Yorkers sought in the suburbs during the height of the pandemic were swimming pools, not exactly standard features in Manhattan apartments and condos.

This spring, as in the recent past, local companies are installing pools with more thought to their place in the overall landscape.

For an eco-friendly project with rain gardens, landscape architect Renée Byers designed a pool and spa to complement a scenic riverfront view.

“At this special site along a tidal river, we kept the pool and spa orthogonal with the house and created linear sightlines from key points inside and outside the house to the pool area," says Byers. “We massaged the edges of the planting areas, made of flowing grasses, perennials, trees and shrubs, so that they weave in and out, and are repeated throughout the garden.”

In addition to a “buffer zone between the river and swimming pool, the mown lawn was reduced to allow for generous rain gardens," adds Byers. "These

filter stormwater and are an extravaganza for pollinators.” Other factors to consider are how clients plan to use the outdoor space and what kind of pool works with their lifestyle.

“Over the past two to three years we’ve seen a focus on creating multidimensional outdoor environments,” says Dan Koller, chief operations officer at Shoreline Pools in Stamford. “We’re now finding people who think about a pool holistically and how they would use it on a day-to-day basis. Is it for swimming laps or more for socializing?”

Accordingly, the design will configure steps and spa to one side for end-to-end swimming and have expanded steps or benches along one side for sitting and talking.

The company is also continuing to see a preference for clean lines and sleek, contemporary design. And there’s ongoing interest in automated heating and lighting systems that can be operated from digital devices, vanishing or infinite edges, LED lighting for nighttime swimming, and filtration upgrades for improved water quality.

When designing a swimming pool and outdoor environments, Shoreline Pools builds something specific for clients based on how they plan to use it on a daily basis.

AWARDS FOR THIS DESIGN INCLUDE:

Connecticut American Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award for Residential Design

New York American Society of Landscape Architects, Merit Award for Residential Design athome FC, Winner, Landscape Design for Over One Acre

Designed by landscape architect Renée Byers, the swimming pool and separate spa are enveloped in pollinator-friendly plantings, including both natives and ornamentals. Large native Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) trees were planted to provide shade and enclosure to the garden.

helped her client achieve a casually elegant style, described as “a perfect mix of Nantucket meets

Interior designer Christina Roughan

Monaco.”

he efforts we’ve made to create ecologically sensitive yards hasn’t taken away from the desire to luxuriate in the great outdoors. Here again, the pandemic only increased the opportunity to do so at home.

“Backyards were where people wanted to be around family and friends,” says Tony Aitoro of Aitoro Appliances in Norwalk. “They weren't going out to restaurants as much, and they realized if they had some cool equipment they could cook just as well as the chefs.”

Where the company used to sell stand-alone grills, homeowners now want grilling islands that include pizza ovens and smokers, Green Egg

ceramic grills and outdoor kitchens equipped with sinks, garbage disposals, refrigerators and storage cabinets. At the highest end are hand-made, stainless-steel, hybrid gas and wood-burning Kalamazoo grills made for coastal areas like Fairfield County’s Gold Coast. They are the centerpieces of grilling islands that can exceed 12 feet in length and cost as much as a quarter of a million dollars.

The surprise is that not a lot of property is needed to create a home resort for living outdoors all summer and into the late fall. For a half-acre lot in Greenwich, for example, James Doyle designed a long, narrow entertaining area with outdoor kitchen, fire pit, pool and outdoor

furnishings—all on one level.

When it comes to outdoor kitchens, experts use a discerning eye to achieve the right aesthetic.

According to Renée Byers, “Poorly placed grills and outdoor kitchens mar many promising suburban landscapes.” To avoid this issue, Byers recommends creating spaces that complement the home's architectural style and maintain key views.

“We try to marry the kitchen's geometry with the house and terraces, and use materials consistent with those in the rest of the landscape,” says Byers. “By their nature, outdoor kitchens are contemporary elements, but by pulling together the right material palette, they can become a timeless element that works even with older homes.”

To maximize outdoor entertaining options, interior designer Christina Roughan helped a family of five create a pool and poolhouse ideal for casual gatherings for friends and family of all ages.

“Our clients wanted an outdoor oasis where their children could bring friends, and the adults would enjoy themselves in a space that was nice but not too formal,” says Roughan. “One of their friends called it ‘a perfect mix of Nantucket meets Monaco.’ Wow! What a wonderful compliment!”

WELCOME VISITORS

Homeowners aren’t the only ones reaping the fruit of sustainable, high-end outdoor design.

Landscape architects report an increase in the number of honeybees, butterflies, hummingbirds and swarms of beneficial insects in local backyards these days. So are coyotes, bobcats and black bears— all helpful visitors keeping the deer population in check.

More than ever, our sanctuary belongs to our fellow creatures, too. Living in harmony with them, and with family members and friends, will be the real fruit of our labors this planting season.

In designing this outdoor kitchen, Renée Byers took cues from the architecture of the home, wrapping the work area in matching stonework, and creating a flowing stair for access.

GEORGE BYERS

• APRIL 24 • 2023

HYATT REGENCY GREENWICH | 11:30 A.M.

CO-CHAIRS: CAROLINA CARDOSO, JUDY COLLINS, ERIN JENSEN

Visit our website to purchase tickets or tables and to learn more about sponsorship opportunities. www.reachprep.org

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

SAVE THE DATE

The Domestic Violence Crisis Center’s

stamfordmag.com

21st Annual Spring Luncheon

May 18, 2023

Tokeneke Club | Darien, CT

FUN & FOOLERY

Who among us doesn’t enjoy a good laugh or prank as long as nobody is insulted or maimed? Practical jokes are a kind of art form, not just reserved for April Fool’s Day. We can all remember dandies that bear repeating.

When we newlywed Mofflys visited Wooly Henry in Lake Forest (he’d one day live in Greenwich), we’d never seen the huge white elephant of a house the Henrys had just bought. After dark with all lights blazing, it looked like the Queen Mary. A butler named Hearther answered the door, took my fur coat (my mother’s) and introduced us to Master Woolcott, a three-year-old in a Fauntleroy outfit riding his tricycle around the marble foyer. He then rang for the elevator, escorted us up to a luxurious guestroom and asked if he might draw my bath and bring me a martini. I said yes to both, though I’d showered that morning and hated Martinis.

Back downstairs for cocktails with forty people, none I’d ever met, Hearther hovered over my chair with the shrimp, reached down and goosed me. I screamed, and everybody exploded with laughter.

In actual fact: To economize, the Henrys usually lit only half the house; our room was really the master bedroom, and the butler was a Princeton classmate in a uniform borrowed from the Onwensia Club. Everybody, including Jack, was in on it. I could have killed him.

That took planning, but some pranks are spontaneous. During one Christmas party at Harbor Point, Jack excused himself from dinner in the candlelit recreation room to go upstairs and found Lynn Rohrer trapped in the loo. She couldn’t unlock the door but had managed to open the window. Ever the gentleman, he went outside, helped her climb out into a snow drift and re-enter through the front door. Then they looked at the living room and had a brainstorm: With everyone still below singing carols, they’d have time to rearrange the furniture so

when people came up for coffee, it would look like a whole new house! And they went to work. End of story: It did look like a whole new house, and we were never invited back.

And another: When Effie and Gene Connett applied to Riverside Yacht Club, Bill King and Edgar Walz said they’d have to be interviewed by the Commodore. Bill Cullman arrived at the Walz’s house in his whites, chatted with Gene, then asked Effie if they’d mind sharing a pool locker with the Hanafees and Van Gals. (Between them, they had twenty-one children.) Then the Kings wrote ridiculous lyrics to “Rule Britannia,” which new members supposedly had to sing at the Lighting of the Winter Log. Effie was a wreck. But the jig was up at the Lighting when Gene asked another guy wearing a new member carnation, “Do you know the words to that song?” And he replied: “What song?”

Meanwhile in Old Greenwich, Leo Jiranek and Verne Westerberg were waging notorious prankster wars. Verne once hired a pair of models to walk around Lucas Point in bathing suits and hand out fliers for free massages at Leo Jiranik’s Massage Parlor, the poor guy’s house on North Way.

The best prank our gang ever pulled was shanghaiing Mary and Bill Clowney (brother of Riverside’s Frank Clowney) from Cleveland to the Rolling Rock Club in Ligonier, Pennsylvania—a couple of hours drive—for a one-day golf tournament. Meanwhile, we’d hired their favorite sitter to spend the weekend with their four kids; and once the golfers drove off, we stormed their house and packed their clothes, including black tie for an Awards Dinner—awards like a raw beef kidney quivering in a silver cup for the Biggest Liver.

But we forgot The Pill. Nine months later little Lester Clowney was born—an accidentprone fellow who kept doing things like falling out of windows but always lived to tell about it.

Have any tales to tell? Do share. I’ll save them up for another column. No fooling.

“End of story: It did look like a whole new house, and we were never invited back.”