founders Lloyd Allen and Gianna Bavido reflect on the journey, their partnership and what’s next. by samantha yanks
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editor’s letter A SEASON OF CREATIVITY AND CONNECTION
JULY/AUGUST 2025 / SAMANTHA YANKS
Summer is here, and with it comes an exhilarating sense of possibility — a season where creativity, community and discovery come together in perfect harmony. In this issue, we celebrate those who shape our world in remarkable ways, from the culinary artisans serving up the coolest scoops to the cultural mavericks reimagining the way we see and hear the world around us.
Gianna have crafted a space where every visit inspires trust, discovery and connection.
As we savor ice cream in the sun and embrace the laid-back elegance of outdoor living with the Kravet x Brown Jordan launch, also champion those who work behind the scenes to make a difference. Our education profiles spotlight four inspiring locals who are transforming learning for everyone—proof that impact knows no age. In this issue, on our Education Guide also offers choices on options as the start of school is mere months away.
1: With Alexandre Boutry-Orengo of AUGARTEN WIEN at Eleish Van Breems 2: Danielle Brienne and Nikki Glazer at Danucera at Gray Barns 3: Craig Melvin at his cover party at Eleish Van Breems 4: David and Sadie Yanks celebrating the 2025 Staples Girls Varsity Tennis season where Sadie was awarded the Coaches Award 5: Kristin Kennedy at Gray Barns for tyler böe and Horizons National 6: Kate Doerge at Veronica Beard for Penny’s Flight 7: Simona Levin at the opening of abc carpet & home 8: Reesa Lake and Anna Kai and the LTK x The Connecticut Edit lunch with Rhone at Artisan Southport
We’re especially thrilled to feature Lloyd Allen and Gianna Bavido, who, after 40 years of building Double L Market, continue to inspire with their passion and creativity. Their family-owned, community-driven market was founded in 1985 by Lloyd Allen as a roadside farmstand, and later developed into the indoor market it is today alongside Gianna Bavido. Double L has deep local roots: Its mission has always centered on providing clean and healthy food to the community, with a dose of education and fun. Their strong farmer partnerships, speciality offerings and exception customer care make it so much more than a market—it’s a community hub, an education center, a celebration of quality food. From farm-direct freshness to personalized customer care, Lloyd and
From global celebrations, like local legends making waves in music, media and design, we’re showcasing a season of style, substance and soul.
Thank you for being part of our community. Whether you’re enjoying a cone of your favorite flavor or exploring new ideas, I hope this issue inspires you to soak up every moment of this vibrant summer.
Here’s to creativity, connection and all the stories that bring us together.
SCAN TO VISIT US
HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP
founder’s page
“Oh, I never would’ve called the police if I’d known it was Charlie,” she said.”
OF DOG DAYS & A DOG
The idea of the “dog days” of August started with the Romans blaming Sirius, the brightest star in Canis Major (large dog), for hot, sticky weather and sacrificing a brown dog to appease it. Silly Romans.
For a July issue long ago, we did a story with Dick Cryer and his Golden Retriever on the cover. Our distributor said it would never sell. Something about dogs felt sweaty in the summer. But it sold big time. Silly man.
Anyway, my first dog was Charlie—formally, Penny’s Pride of Riverside—who grew to be a big handsome dark-red fellow with a huge head and chest.
We got him from Torchie Flinn, a nationally known breeder, who taught my duck-hunting husband how to make him a proper retriever. First, at her house by the reservoir, she lined up some old Goldens for an audience. Then, into the water she tossed a mallard, whose wings were tied down, and sent a young bitch to bring it to hand. When Charlie’s turn came, he dashed in, got pecked on the nose and backed away, barking. So, Torchie sent the female in again until Charlie, properly humbled, did it right.
He became a brilliant hunting dog.
Charlie was popular with people of all sizes. We had to put a hook-and-eye on the nursery door, because three-year-old Jonathan would climb out of bed at night to take his dog for a walk. One morning, the pair took off again, and we had neighbors on bikes shouting their names until our son appeared sobbing. “I was lost in the ferns!” Charlie could hear us calling but had never left his little master’s side.
Charlie was a lifeguard. When we swam off Willowmere dock, he’d jump into the water, put his big paws on our shoulders and push us back to shore. Once, he swam so far after our Sunfish that we had to pull the 90-pound dog into the cockpit. No easy feat.
Charlie was a therapist. Our Down Syndrome
nephew visiting from Cleveland was terrified of dogs but ended up kissing him goodbye— on the lips. We had to explain that a good ear scratch was an ample show of affection.
Charlie was a mother of sorts. He’d gently carry our kittens around in his mouth until they grew too heavy to hold.
Charlie could be mischievous. While the Burkes were away, they had a house fire. We took some of the kids and the sitter to our house, where a fireman interviewed her, leaving his boots on the doorstep. Except when he left, he found only one. Charlie had hidden the other in the bushes.
Then came the day I was sick in bed and got a call from the Greenwich Pound to come pick up my dog, who had been reported running through Ida Brace’s garden. Furious, I retrieved my Retriever and then called her. “Ida, if you ever have my dog arrested again, you’ll never be invited to another party at our house!” (She loved parties.) “Oh, I never would’ve called the police if I’d known it was Charlie,” she said. Within hours, McArdle’s delivered a huge bunch of gladiolas.
But Charlie was a hero, too. One night, we were robbed while Jack and I were on vacation. Unwittingly, the burglars had let Charlie out, and he barked on Bunny Nadel’s kitchen stoop next door until she put on a bathrobe and followed him home. The sitter found them standing at the front door, while the crooks escaped out the back.
In the Sixties, there were very few Goldens in town. Now there are many—rarely trained to be working dogs, which they love—plus lots of designer dogs like Pugles, Cockapoos, Schnoodles, Chorkies and Pomskys. Even Goldendoodles. Hmmm.
In any case, our Charlie had it all. We just called him Charlie, but Jack’s mother called him “a noble beast.” W
buzz
westport amps up its brooklyn vibe
it’s raining creative men! Our inbox has been awash with them lately. Whether making films, producing mega entertainment for kids, conceptualizing Brooklyn FC merch or designing a brand that demands we “play attention,” these westport dudes (and dads) have got it going on.
by jill johnson mann
Jonathan Linden Round Room Live
Stephen Shaw Round Room Live
Justin Bologninos Nowrider
Tom Lyons Brooklyn FC Merch
Andrew Goldberg White With Fear
CREATIVE MEN ROUND UP
Round Room Live
Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden
Westport dads Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden must be reallive superheroes in the eyes of their kids. The duo, co-presidents of Round Room Live, have transformed the family-friendly touring industry, producing live shows and exhibitions that wow attendees and win awards. With the success of tours like Baby Shark Live!, Blippi and Peppa Pig, Round Room Live has “mastered the model” of family entertainment, according to Forbes.
Drawing on his background working on tours involving major brands (The Rolling Stones, Oprah Winfrey, Marvel, to name a few) and his recent immersive experience as a dad of four, Shaw launched Round Room in 2016.
“Working with The Rolling Stones and other major touring acts was thrilling—those were formative years where I learned what world-class production really looks like,” says Shaw. “But as I got older and became a dad, my perspective naturally shifted. I started thinking more about experiences that could connect across generations—something I’d
when I knew we had something.” Linden also turns to his kids (13 and 14) for insight. “They’re growing up in a world with so many more choices than we had just a few years ago,” he says, “so it’s incredibly valuable to understand from their perspective which brands are gaining traction and why.”
Westport offered something grounding. It’s a town that values creativity, community and a strong sense of balance—qualities that mirror a lot of what I was looking to build not just in my personal life, but in the next phase of Round Room.”
want to share with my own kids.”
He and Linden had worked together at several companies since 2007. “The opportunity to join Stephen on the Round Room journey and create something of our own was not only exciting, but also a quick decision,” says Linden, who has impressive productions credits, including the Barbra Streisand and Oprah Winfrey tours as well as Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark and Rock of Ages (lead producer) on Broadway. Shaw comments, “The work we do now still has scale and ambition, but it also has heart—and that mirrors where I was in my life when I started the company.”
Shaw’s kids, age 3 to 11, are vital guinea pigs for Round Room Live. “They’re brutally honest,” says Shaw, “which is exactly what you want when testing an idea. If something doesn’t grab their attention in the first 30 seconds, I know we’ve got work to do. One of my favorite moments was during Baby Shark Live! rehearsals. I brought them in to watch and as soon as the music started, they were dancing in the aisle—not because I asked them to but because they were completely in the moment. That’s
Both dads moved with their families from the city in 2020 (Shaw in March, coincidentally at the start of the pandemic, and Linden in July—a contemplated moved, spurred on by it). “Like many, I was craving space, clarity and a deeper connection to home and family,” says Shaw. “After years of nonstop travel and living in fast-paced environments,
That phase has included branching out into sports. “The Formula 1 Exhibition stands as one of the most exciting and ambitious projects Round Room has undertaken,” comments Linden. There are now multiple shows touring globally and the London exhibition won “Best Visitor Experience” at the prestigious Access All Areas Awards.
Learn more: roundroomlive.com
“AS I GOT OLDER AND BECAME A DAD, MY PERSPECTIVE NATURALLY SHIFTED. I STARTED THINKING MORE ABOUT EXPERIENCES THAT COULD CONNECT ACROSS GENERATIONS—SOMETHING I’D WANT TO SHARE WITH MY OWN KIDS.”
Stephen Shaw
above: Stephen Shaw and Jonathan Linden, co-presidents of Round Room Live
above: Linden and Shaw at the opening of their smash hit tour: Baby Shark Live!
Nuvance
With
We’re
Nowrider
Justin Bologninos
And the winner of Most Unique Origin Story goes to... the brand Nowrider. Founder Justin Bolognino recounts how it all started: “My dear friend Viva Max retooled an ’86 red Chevy Suburban to run on vegetable oil, and in 2002 we painted the Nowrider logo on the hood of this giant gas guzzler, then drove it all the way across the U.S. and back. We stopped at Chinese food restaurants along the way to gas up. So the journey started there, but then I sat on the idea for over twenty years. We’ve now designed Nowrider into a brand focused on ‘apparel for being in the moment’ or simply ‘flow state apparel.’”
“We are at the center of the Venn diagram of the formality of golf, the relaxed nature of surfing and the day-to-day joy of being alive on Spaceship Earth,” says Bolognino. The brand’s tagline is “Play Attention” and a “Minister of Adventure” will narrate the Nowrider journey. The company has begun with a slow roll-out of an OG Collection of four hoodies to friends, family and influencers, with an official launch planned for later this year. Bolognino raves, “The Fluff Hood is the best hoodie I’ve ever owned.” He predicts tee shirts and golf apparel
will be next.
The chill approach to hitting the market is right on-brand. “Nowrider is first and foremost a concept, a mode of being or a way of life,” says Bolognino. “The only reality is the ever-present now. Learning to ride the waves of the moment is the inspiration for Nowrider.” He adds, “We think phones and social media have been majorly harmful to our kids (and adults, and…seniors!) and will be using the brand to encourage more outdoor, realworld, in-nature play.”
Nowrider is just one of a few ventures that keep the founder’s in-the-minute life packed, and it’s refreshingly tangible. “I’ve always wanted to own and launch a proper, in-the-world physical product, and Nowrider is my first attempt at doing so,” says Bolognino, who founded META, an immersive experience company, in 2010 (before Zuckerberg launched his Meta). Before that, Bolognino launched brands like Brooklyn Bowl and Capital Theater through his company Learned Evolution. While putting apparel out into the world, he also has a plan to launch a digital social network aptly named Unreality, under the META umbrella.
Anyone who needs rehab from social media unreality or fast-lane reality can experience Bolognino’s solution for recharging. “We own a retreat compound and music studio in the Western Catskills, called Silent G Farms, where we go to get creative or enjoy our twenty acres of nature,” he explains. “We rent the farm to retreats, families and companies. The feel of being at Silent G certainly inspires the Nowrider brand feel and mission.”
Bolognino and his wife, interior designer Elizabeth Bolognino, decamped from Brooklyn to the Catskills in 2021, with their three kids and puppy Billy Holiday.
right: Nowrider’s apparel is designed to encourage people to “find their Flow in both sport and life.” below: Nowrider is as much a state of being as a brand, with a focus on living in the moment. The company’s moto is: “Play attention.”
“I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO OWN AND LAUNCH A PROPER, IN-THEWORLD PHYSICAL PRODUCT, AND NOWRIDER IS MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT DOING SO.”
Justin Bologninos
“Once we got a taste of space and nature, there was no going back to NYC,” he says. “We immediately fell in love with Westport due to the unique way the houses are integrated into nature, the proximity to the beach, the incredible schools and the public arts and activities.”
Bolognino calls Nowrider a “definitively and proudly Westport-based brand” and plans to have a board of advisors made up entirely of Westport residents. Shop: nowrider.com
above: The “relaxed nature of surfing” is an inspiration for the brand.
PHOTOS: CONTRIBUTED
White With Fear
Andrew Goldberg
Emmy-Award-winning documentarian Andrew Goldberg is known for tackling important topics with a fearless passion, and his latest project might be a nail-biter for a less gutsy filmmaker. White With Fear “takes a sledgehammer to the Trump administration,” says Goldberg, but he’s not concerned about the flying debris because he wasn’t wielding the hammer, just the camera.
Goldberg interviewed controversial figures like Hillary Clinton, Steve Bannon, Rep. Jamie Raskin, former Fox News reporter Carl Cameron and The Lincoln Project co-founder Stuart Stevens, on the charged topic of
how racial bigotry is weaponized to undermine democracy. “The film does not have a narrator,” says Goldberg. “It’s mostly Republicans talking about their experience.” He says people watch the trailer and assume it must be “anti-white. But it doesn’t assert an opinion that is pro- or anti-white; it’s just what a group of politicians have done,” he explains.
What they have done is outrageous enough that one site (Movie Jawn) offered this review: “White With Fear is like watching an avalanche form in slow motion, feeling helpless while it gathers enough rage to bury us all.” Other critics described it as “masterful” and “absolutely required viewing,” but most film festivals didn’t want to touch it. Likewise, the major outlets responded: “We’re in the entertainment business, not the political business.”
Goldberg has produced 14 prime-time documentary specials for PBS in his career, including the Emmy-winning A Yiddish World Remembered. “After the George Floyd murder, there was a lot of conversation about white identity. I spoke to PBS about doing something about what it means to be white in America,” explains Goldberg. PBS didn’t bite. “That morphed and evolved
into the film we have today. Defining whiteness is vague and rife with political opinion. I decided to talk about how it affects politics,” he says.
Convincing public figures to be interviewed involved some negotiating. “The most interesting story was Steve Bannon,” recalls Goldberg. “He was going back and forth with me. He said, ‘I’ll do the interview if you get Hillary.’” Goldberg texted Bannon a selfie with Hillary after her interview. It was a surreal moment for him, in the hotel restaurant, watching her eating lunch a few tables away, secret service in tow, and texting Bannon. “He agreed,” says Goldberg. “I showed up at his house in D.C., where each house in the row had a row of flowers in front.” He and his camera person couldn’t help but notice: “The ones in front of Bannon’s were dead.”
White With Fear has had a theatrical run across the country,
and it recently screened to a packed house at Westport Library, as part of the always-stellar Andrew Wilk Presents series. Goldberg has known the fellow producer since long before Covid chased Goldberg and his family out of New York and into the fresh air of Westport. The town was familiar to them from stopoffs at the Wilks on trips up to visit relatives of Goldberg’s wife in Rhode Island. Goldberg also coincidentally has several other friends here, whom he met his very first week at an advertising firm in New York at 22, straight out of Rutgers. The Chicago native got an MBA at the University of Chicago and ventured into filmmaking in 1999.
Anyone who has yet to catch White With Fear and its can’tlook-away—or shouldn’t-lookaway—avalanche can stream it now on Amazon and Apple. Learn more: whitewithfear.com
above: The poster for Goldberg’s 86-minute documentary, which is now streaming on Amazon and Apple. below left: Goldberg interviews Steve Bannon, Trump’s former chief strategist, who reveals the administrations’ methodical strategy of flooding the eco-system with far-right conservative articles.
Brooklyn FC Merch
Tom Lyons and his team of Westport experts
When Tom Lyons, CMO of Brooklyn Football Club (Brooklyn FC), had five weeks to give Brooklyn FC a merch and e-commerce makeover ahead of their inaugural season, he turned to his Westport neighbors. It’s like a normal town’s version of going next door for a cup of sugar. Lyons just needed a new full-stack Shopify site and merchandise program—nothing that some dads at Coleytown Elementary and Temple Israel couldn’t pull together with talent, ingenuity and some Sherwood Diner breakfast meetings.
“It was important to me to work with people I know and trust, and Westport really is a hive of connections across every industry,” says Lyons. He worked with Ian Ederly, founder of Ecoy World (an e-commerce agency) and fellow Coleytown dad, and Omri Boiko, co-founder of TVP (a merchandising wholesaler and distributor), whose family attends Temple Israel with the Ederlys. “Ian is right out of Malcolm Gladwell; he is the quintessential ‘connector,’” says Lyons. “So I spoke to Ian, walking
back from walking our kids to school, and by that afternoon I was talking to Omri.” The trio, all of whom migrated here from Brooklyn, soon were meeting at the Westport Library to review samples and site flows.
“Ian and I would talk about the digital experience almost daily. Ian and his shop have done a ton more than build out the website; they have essentially built out the entire eCRM experience,” notes Lyons. Ian describes Ecoy as “a special-ops team for online retail.”
Of TVP, Omri says, “We work with a range of clients, from nonprofits and media brands to sports teams and celebrities. Our goal is to help bring our clients’ brands to life, creating a tangible connection with their fans and supporters.”
Lyons also sought advice from Westport-based sports management leaders Mike Forde and Jim Rossman, of Sportology. “Jim Rossman and I have been friends and colleagues for years, since our agency days,” says Lyons, who, as a lifelong sports fan, was lured to Brooklyn FC last year. “Jim is, without question, one of the smartest people I know and has been a mentor of sorts to me. When my family and I moved here from the city, he and I began to grab the occasional lunch at Nomad, Sherwood.
Mike is also a longtime Westport resident and has a ridiculously impressive sports and FC resume. Jim introduced us, and Mike has been very generous with his time for both me and the club—all for free. Jim was incredibly helpful in mapping out what types of brands I might look at as sponsors—all for a chicken sandwich.” See, it’s just like that cup of sugar.
When Lyons moved to Westport in 2020, his college friend here told him: “Welcome to the best decision of your life.” That sentiment becomes more spot-on by the day. “I was
afraid that Westport would be a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses kind of place,” says Lyons. “That would be okay, as my family is fine losing that kind of battle, but it would make socializing kind of a drag. But what I found, and what I think is evidenced in the example of Ian, Omri, Jim and Mike, is that the people here are very interested in cooperating and collaborating over competing.”
Ian Ederly comments, “Being able to contribute to shaping the future of a professional soccer team, especially as a native New Yorker and former Brooklyn resident, has made this project one of my favorites. Collaborating with great people and friends has made this feel more like a passion project than work. Tom and his family are our next-door neighbors and were among the first to warmly welcome us to Westport.”
The next generation is gearing up to make its mark, too. Ian’s kids (ages 7 and 3) “have been integral to the project, mainly by telling me what kind of merchandise they would like to see us create (toys!),” says Ederly. Boiko’s kids (6 and 2) and Lyons three girls (6-year-old twins and a 3-year-old) also chime in on what they like and model their Brooklyn FC gear at school regularly
right: Men’s Brooklyn FC Goalkeeper Home Shorts, $45. below: Twotoned Woodmark Brooklyn FC cap, $29.99.
right: Women’s Brooklyn FC Home Jersey: $95.
right: Brooklyn FC Goalkeeper Away Jersey, $95.
above: Brooklyn FC Woodmark Zip-Up Sweatshirt, $59.99.
Beach Reads
From dreams that become reality, a tragic romance, a determined ex and
an unexpected murder,
to a memoir from one
of television’s most popular
reality stars, these FIVE PAGE-TURNERS are hotter than the summer sun.
by emily liebert
DON’T OPEN YOUR EYES BY LIV CONSTANTINE
Annabelle Reynolds has the perfect life, or so it seems. Her husband adores her, they have two delightful daughters, and she thoroughly enjoys her career. Yet she’s inexplicably burdened by ominous dreams about her future, dreams that her physician husband is judgmental of. Initially, she, too, believes these dreams are a result of her overactive imagination. But when they start coming true, Annabelle realizes that they’re actually more akin to premonitions. And, suddenly, every decision she makes feels terrifying. What if she can’t stop horrible things from happening to her children? As her current life starts to collide with her destiny and secrets are revealed, she wrestles with how much control she can hold on to, and whether she can alter what’s meant to be.
THE SUMMER WE RAN BY AUDREY INGRAM
“Keep quiet and stay out of trouble,” said Tess Murphy’s mom, in the summer of 1996, when she was a teenager. Why? Because her mother had just taken a new job as a cook at an affluent Virginia estate, and she was nervous that her outspoken daughter might ruin the opportunity. What she never considered was that Tess would fall for Grant Alexander, the high-society boy next door. And that their love would grow fiercely. Two decades after the abrupt and heartbreaking end of their romance, Tess and Grant both run for Governor of Virginia, where secrets from their past threaten to shatter their lives. Told from multiple perspectives, this book focuses on the painstaking decision two people must reach in order to find happiness.
SO HAPPY TOGETHER
BY OLIVIA WORLEY
Jane, 24, is trying to succeed as a playwright and find love in Manhattan, both harder than she expected. When she meets Colin—who seems perfect for her—she feels like her luck has changed. So much so that she’s not even deterred when he breaks things off after six dates. She’s confident she’ll win him back…until Colin begins dating Zoe, who’s beautiful and nice. Still, Jane knows that Zoe doesn’t have what it takes to love Colin the way she does. She just has to prove it, which is why she sneaks into Colin’s apartment and discovers something so shocking that it will entangle them all in a dangerous web of lies, secrets, and murder. Bottom line: Some hearts get broken, and some get even.
DYING TO MEET YOU
BY SARINA BOWEN
Rowan Gallagher is a single mom and a gifted architect. Yet, on the inside, she’s a mess, obsessed with stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland after their breakup. As it turns out, tracking his every move is infuriating, especially when he’s dining out while she’s pitying herself at home. When he finally parks in their favorite waterfront spot, Rowan sets off to see who else is in his car. But instead of catching him with another woman, she witnesses his murder and becomes the primary suspect. Though she’s not the only one hiding things. As she searches for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her, too. Desperate to clear her name, Rowan spirals into the dark plot that killed him.
MY GOOD SIDE BY SCHEANA
SHAY
I n this intimate memoir from Scheana Shay, the Vanderpump Rules star peels back the layers of her true self— the good and the bad— taking readers on a nostalgia trip down memory lane, from being bullied as a child and an adult to her hot Hollywood black book, her acting career, setting the record straight about her relationship with Eddie Cibrian and her chart-topping podcast, Scheananigans. She dishes all of the drama from eleven seasons of VPR (yes, Scandoval!), her various heartbreaks (including a public divorce), her struggles with fertility and pregnancy loss, as well as the behind-the-scenes moments that were left on the cutting room floor. She also reveals how her outlook on love led her to become the mom she thought she may never be
emily liebert
Emily Liebert is the USAToday bestselling author of seven novels and a NewYork Times bestselling celebrity ghostwriter. Her books are available worldwide.
Education. Impact. Employment.
Westporters spread literacy, learning and jobs
F rom a 17-year-old to a 90-yearold, Westport residents are actively improving the opportunities available to those around them. From getting baby books into the tiniest hands across the state to educating women who didn’t finish high school, from giving scholarships to cancer patients to connecting young people with employers—learn all about these impactful initiatives and how you can get involved with these FOUR INSPIRATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
by jill johnson mann
LEVITT PAVILION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
ON SALE NOW
JUL 11 UMPHREY'S MCGEE
JUL 13 MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD
JUL 16 I’M WITH HER W/ KEN POMEROY
JUL 19 DARK STAR ORCHESTRA
JUL 22 SIERRA HULL
AUG 10 THE WOOD BROTHERS W/ MASON VIA
AUG 20 JOSH RITTER & THE ROYAL CITY BAND W/ BHI BHIMAN
AUG 22 JOHN OATES & THE GOOD ROAD BAND MORE SHOWS TO BE ANNOUNCED!
PLUS... OVER 50 SHOWS PRESENTED FREE-OF-CHARGE
READ TO GROW
The average middle-class child is likely to own 13 books at any given time, while the average lowincome neighborhood has one book for every 300 children (Changing the Odds for Children at Risk, Susan Neuman, University of Michigan). This is one of several eye-opening statistics on the Read to Grow website, that illuminate the urgency of the nonprofit organization’s mission. Read to Grow, which just celebrated its 25th anniversary, is committed to promoting early literacy and getting books for babies and youth into every home in our state.
Thanks to Read to Grow, a baby book and literacy packet go home with the parents of every newborn delivered at 19 Connecticut hospitals, and this material is also distributed to community centers and clinics
offering prenatal care. Read to Grow has donated 2.7 million books, served 1.5 million people and distributed almost 400,000 newborn literacy packets.
“Read to Grow is doing truly transformative work in the birthto-five space,” says Westporter Shari Kaufman, who has worked with the Branford-based organization for almost twenty years. “With my background in early childhood education and children’s publishing, I’ve seen firsthand how critical it is to start early when it comes to building a strong literacy foundation. The brain develops faster from birth to age five than at any other time in life. What Read to Grow is doing isn’t just important, it’s lifechanging. They’re ensuring that every baby born in Connecticut receives a book, and they’re equipping families with the tools and support to become their child’s first and most important teacher. Their bookmobile brings joy and access to children across the state—and for many, these are the only books in their homes.
I am passionate about this work because I believe real change in literacy starts at the very beginning.”
Read to Grow’s bookmobile brings curated books to underserved communities throughout Connecticut. A twenty-year study by Moriah Evans at University of Nevada demonstrated that the number of books in a home has a more direct effect on the eventual level of a child’s education than do the parents’ education and economic standing. Further studies show that of those struggling to read in first grade, 90 percent will be poor readers in fourth grade (Juel, 1988), and those kids are four times more likely to drop out of high school (America’s Early Childhood Literacy Gap, 2009). The bottom line is $240 billion in social service expenses and lost earnings and tax revenues. Read to Grow addresses the root of the problem, getting babies on track to be book lovers from Day 1.
read to grow: how to help
1. Donate.
2. Donate gently used books (which are given to families who request additional books, from birth through middle school).
3. Participate in one of Read to Grow’s fun Popcorn and PJ Virtual Family Storytime events, complete with meetthe-author talks.
4. Set up a book drive. See the “How You Can Help” section on readtogrow.org
MERCY LEARNING CENTER
Have you passed the Mercy Learning Center building in Bridgeport and wondered what it is? At its heart, Mercy Learning Center is an adult education program teaching literacy and life skills to women without high school diplomas. It also has a licensed early childhood education center on site, along with a free food and diaper pantry, and wraparound social services for students.
“Education has always been very important to me and my family. I truly believe that education equals opportunity and hope for all women, especially those in underserved communities.”
THEANNE FELDMAN Westporter/MLC Volunteer
Mercy Learning Center draws students from 19 towns and has no income requirements, but 84 percent of students live in Bridgeport, where the median household income is the lowest in Fairfield County, and 22 percent of adults do not have a high school diploma. Westporter Theanne Feldman has been involved with Mercy Learning Center as a volunteer and board member. “I learned about Mercy Learning Center when I was the Philanthropy Vice President for National Charity League Westport, around 12 years ago,” says Feldman. “Education
has always been very important to me and my family. I truly believe that education equals opportunity and hope for all women, especially those in underserved communities. Mercy Learning’s holistic approach is paramount to
firsthand.”
Lindsay Wyman recounts her favorite MLC memory: “One of our students was pregnant and giving birth last spring, and her classmates threw her a baby shower lunch. MLC students come from all over the world and showered her with love with traditions from multiple cultures. As she thanked them at the end of the shower she said, ‘Thank you for being my sisters. I am so lucky to be so supported here. There is love in this building.’ And that’s just it. There is love in this building— every day, in all forms, despite all the difficulties life may throw at us. We are proud to build an incredible, supportive, and loving community of women here who can conquer the world.”
THE SUSAN FUND 3
the success in the classroom. The state-licensed early childhood program is a fantastic model and promotes generational success.”
Feldman recalls many rewarding experiences “engaging with the women and children volunteering in the childcare, especially watching the pure happiness on their faces at the new playground that was just completed, which has transformed their experience.”
She enjoyed her six years on the board and being part of the the search committee that found new President/ CEO Lindsay Wyman. “I am excited to see the growth and continued success under her leadership,” says Feldman. “It is hard to grasp the atmosphere of joy and camaraderie among the women and staff unless you are in the building. I urge all your readers to take a tour and if able to volunteer—either as a tutor, which is extremely rewarding, or one of the many other opportunities to experience MLC
Mercy Learning Center’s annual benefit will take place September 21 at Shorehaven Country Club in Norwalk. “It is an extraordinary evening to celebrate what is possible when we educate and empower women,” comments Feldman, who is on the Benefit Committee. “Hearing their stories and understanding that volunteers and donors have an impact on students’ lives is a rewarding experience for everyone in attendance.”
Susan Lloyd was a bright, Colgate-bound Staples senior when she was diagnosed with bone cancer. She had a leg amputated and showed all of her classmates what it means to be strong-willed and resilient. Sadly, in 1980, she lost her thirteen-month battle with cancer. Since then her mom, Ann Young, has demonstrated where that resilience came from. Ann recently celebrated her 90th birthday and 43rd year of service to cancer patients, through the charity she founded soon after losing her daughter. The Susan Fund has donated $2 million to Fairfield County students struggling with cancer. Over 90 percent of contributions go directly to scholarships.
Ann, still an active board member, took time to share with us the vital work The Susan Fund does and her own formula for vitality.
Share with us the origins of The Susan Fund. Susan passed away shortly after graduating from Staples High School in 1980. We received
above: Susan Lloyd with her brother David Lloyd (now a longtime ESPN anchor) who says, “She taught me about compassion and informed me with perspective. All these years later, her life still shapes my own.”
above: Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport was founded in 1987 and moved to this building, the former Sacred Heart School, in 1997.
above: Teachers at Mercy Learning Center share literacy and life skills lessons with students who learn tuition-free. below: President/CEO Lindsay Wyman.
around $12,000 in donations in her memory and connected with Candlelighters, a nonprofit that provides support and resources to families of children with cancer. After several years, we went out on our own and started The Susan Fund, a 501(c)(3) whose sole purpose is to provide educational scholarships to Fairfield County students who have been diagnosed with cancer.
In addition to the many students The Susan Fund has helped, how has it helped you cope with the tremendous pain of losing your daughter?
The truth is, you never lose the pain of losing a child. But I’ve always felt, when you’re down, do something for others, as it will help make you feel a little better. Being part of an organization that has provided 900+ individuals with Susan Fund scholarships has helped not only the recipients, but also helped to keep Susan’s memory alive.
Is there a recipient whose story stands out?
Over the years, I’ve run into many previous recipients, which is always a joy. Several years ago I was in the emergency room at Norwalk Hospital. The admitting nurse was a former four-time
Susan Fund recipient who immediately recognized me. She was delightful and so appreciative of the financial and emotional support we provided.
You recently turned 90! What is your secret for continuing to remain such an impactful member of the community?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to still be in good health, with great support from my family, friends and loved ones. Remaining active on The Susan Fund Board has helped me stay active and involved. Every year, the Board personally meets with all our applicants. We get so much out of hearing about their cancer and educational journeys. It’s a wonderful feeling to help these courageous individuals.
Do you still live in Westport?
Yes, we moved to Westport in 1966 and I’ve lived in the same house for 59 years!
Donate/learn more (read the beautiful tribute from Susan’s brother, ESPN anchor David Lloyd, on the “Meet Susan” page): thesusanfund.org
Donations by check:
The Susan Fund
458 Newtown Avenue Norwalk, CT 06851
CAMPUS FLYER 4
Staples junior Kevin Cano was looking for a summer job when the obstacles to finding one got his coder brain thinking. “I was trying to find a job locally, and I realized there is no resource to do this,” he explains. “LinkedIn and Indeed are more for professionals or older college students. There is a real need for high school students, and even some college students, who are looking for local jobs.”
Cano hatched a plan to build a site that would serve this set of job-seekers and the employers who need them. The 17-year-old juggled a Staples High School course-load with building the site and launching a business. Campus Flyer went live in February, giving Fairfield County students and employers—whether for paid jobs or volunteer/ internships, short-term or longterm—a place to connect online. Some job postings this spring included volunteers for the library book sale, a social media manager for an art studio, a construction job, a data and analytics intern, and a Saturday-night sitter. Students sign up by first selecting the school they attend in Fairfield County. “Fairfield University will also starting using
Campus Flyer in the fall,” says Cano, who is busy spreading the word among area schools and Chambers of Commerce. “The toughest part has been getting people to use it. Not that people don’t want to; it just takes effort to convince people to make an account and learn to use it.” The site is easy to navigate once they do and free for both job seekers and employers.
While challenging, Cano has really enjoyed talking with schools and employers. “I had a year of building the site and dealing with the legal and financial hurdles,” says Cano. “It was just an empty website. Now seeing people using it is really fun. I open the dashboard and see people logging in; it’s very pleasing.”
Cano expects to always offer users a free plan, but eventually add paid-plans with higher-level features so the site can begin to generate revenue. Employers do not undergo any formal screening, so as with sites like Facebook and LinkedIn, users should “vet what you are looking at and take precautions, just like anything else,” says Cano.
The budding entrepreneur hopes to pursue a dual degree in business and technology in college.
Sign up/learn more: campusflyer.com
above: Board members, front row (L to R): Kathleen DiGiovanna, Lesley Palange, Will Lloyd, Ann Lloyd, Susan Baron. Back row (L to R): Matthew Garnett, Kelly Frey Pollard, Diane Giannitti, Jeff Booth, Ed Grossman, Brandon Held. Not pictured: Heather Stabinsky.
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Healthy Hearts
HOW IN A HEARTBEAT IS PROTECTING HEARTS AND SAVING LIVES, ONE HEARTBEAT AT A TIME. by
elizabeth ginns britten
In the echo of a gymnasium, beneath the sound of bouncing basketballs and school announcements, a quiet but powerful revolution is underway: saving lives, one heartbeat at a time. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the No.1 killer of student-athletes in the U.S. and the leading cause of death on school campuses. It strikes without warning — often in children and teens who appear perfectly healthy. The scariest part? Most of these tragedies are preventable.
In Connecticut alone, more than 1,600 children are currently living with undiagnosed heart abnormalities — conditions that could lead to sudden cardiac death if left undetected. Enter In a Heartbeat, a nonprofit founded by Mike Papale, a SCA survivor and In a Heartbeat’s CEO who, along with fellow SCA survivor Caroline DeLasa, the foundation’s Resource Development and Marketing Manager, have made it their mission to change this. The duo has launched an ambitious, life-saving mission: a two-year plan to screen every middle and high school student in Connecticut for hidden heart conditions.
Their plan? Free youth heart screenings that include EKGs (electrocardiograms)— a simple, painless heart test that takes just a few minutes but could save a life. The results speak volumes: 52 children have been
diagnosed with potentially life-threatening heart conditions through these screenings and five lives have been saved thanks to AEDs (automated external defibrillators) donated by the organization to schools and community facilities.
“We’re on a mission to make sure no family ever has to lose a child to something that could have been caught early,” says Papale. “We survived SCA. Now we’re here to protect the next generation.”
The Reality Behind the Risk
What many parents don’t realize is that standard sports physicals do not include
cardiac screening. EKGs — which can detect 95% of heart abnormalities linked to SCA — are not routine, despite being highly effective. That’s why these grassroots screenings, held in schools and community centers across the state, are so vital. They could be the difference between life and death.
At every event, students are given a quick EKG from medical professionals. If abnormalities are detected, families are referred to pediatric cardiologists for further evaluation. The screenings are free and often result in life-saving early diagnoses.
“We are not just raising awareness,” says Papale. “We are taking direct, lifesaving action in communities all across Connecticut.”
The Challenge: It Takes a Community
While the screenings are free to families, they’re not free to run. Each event involves equipment, certified clinicians, coordination with schools and administrative costs. As the initiative grows, so does the need for financial support and strategic partnerships.
To accomplish its two-year goal of screening every Connecticut student, In A Heartbeat is seeking sponsors, donors and community champions.
Sponsorship opportunities include naming rights for screening events, logo placement on event signage and marketing materials, public recognition in press releases and social media, direct impact stories showing how your support helped save lives, and more. Whether you’re a local business, healthcare provider, parent group or philanthropic foundation, your support can truly make a difference.
“This is a solvable problem,” says DeLasa. “We have the tools. We have the team. Now we need the funding to reach every student.”
Be Part of the Solution
The ask is simple, says De Lasa: Help us screen. Help us save lives. Help us prevent tragedy.
Your support can directly save lives. You can help by inviting In a Heartbeat to your school, sports league or community group; you can share their mission and help them raise awareness about SCA. You can donate to sponsor screenings in your community, or partner as a corporate of healthcare sponsor. There’s a range of sponsorship opportunities ranging from $50 which covers the cost of one youth heart screening, to upwards of $5000, which sponsors a full community heart screening event. There are also corporate and healthcare sponsorships available.
above: Caroline Church de Lasa, Resource Development & Marketing Manager above right: Mike Papale, Founder and CEO
Scribes & Stories
SARA BLISS’S CONNECTICUT-BASED STORYTELLING STUDIO HAS A GLOBAL REACH SEASON
by samantha yanks
After two decades of helping others tell their stories—through books, brand launches and content campaigns—Sara Bliss found herself drawn to a new chapter. One that would allow her to bring together everything she had learned from working behind the scenes with visionaries like Aerin Lauder, Bobbi Brown, L’Etoile Sport and Alex Mill. The result? Scribes & Stories—a creative studio dedicated to telling bold, beautiful, brand-defining stories.
At Scribes & Stories, Bliss helps authors and brands translate their ideas into compelling narratives, from fulllength nonfiction books to sleek catalogs, punchy speeches and everything in between. Bliss personally concepts each project and assembles a bespoke team of writers, graphic designers and marketers to bring the vision to life. Every piece they produce is rooted in one belief: story is at
the heart of every great brand— and every unforgettable book.
For years, Bliss heard the same refrain from founders and creatives alike: “I know I have a great story… I just don’t know how to tell it.” She launched Scribes & Stories to be the answer to that challenge. Whether building a brand voice from scratch, producing polished email copy or crafting a book proposal destined for a Big Five publisher, their work is designed to engage audiences, leave a lasting impression, and drive results..
The response has been extraordinary. They’re currently collaborating with a dream list of clients across industries—hospitality, jewelry, interior design, fashion and philanthropy—each bringing their own passion and purpose to the table. It’s been a joy to help them refine their voice, elevate their message and bring
their stories into the spotlight. In addition to their studio work, Bliss created a series of virtual courses to serve aspiring authors who want to write their own books. Their flagship program, The Book Proposal Incubator, helps writers go from idea to agent-ready proposal in just nine weeks. Publishing can be a tough world to break into—especially if you’re not a celebrity or influencer. Her goal is to make the process transparent and empowering, and to help new voices break through.
Westport has been the perfect place to grow this vision. The creative energy here is magnetic. As a mother, writer, and founder, Bliss feels lucky to live in a community that values both artistry and entrepreneurship. Scribes & Stories is more than a business—it’s a love letter to the power of storytelling. And they’re just getting started.
above: Lainey Wilson performed at the Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in June 2024. below: The outside of the amphitheater features upcoming artists.
above: Sara Bliss
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Red Wagon Pumpkins LLC is based in Old Saybrook, CT
Red Wagon Pumpkins LLC is based in Old Saybrook, CT
Red Wagon Pumpkins LLC is based in Old Saybrook, CT
Speaking Up About Pelvic Health
WITH HSS WESTPORT AND WILTON’S DR. ELIZABETH BROWN
by jill johnson mann
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Stamford Health have teamed up to bring top orthopedic specialists right here to Westport and Wilton. One of those doctors is Dr. Elizabeth Brown, a physiatrist with expertise in pelvic health rehabilitation. “Pelvic health” is not a term we heard our grandparents utter. It’s probably not something people chatted about back in 1863, when HSS was founded (it’s the oldest orthopedic hospital in the country). But one quarter of women in the U.S. will experience pelvic floor disorders in their lifetime and men suffer too.
Dr. Brown is happy to take the conversation to the nether regions and offer some much needed relief.
Is the topic of pelvic health becoming less taboo?
It is. I think over time our society has become more open to discussing pelvic health and developing treatment options. With regard to the perinatal period especially, more literature has been coming out recently about treatment and guidance for the active pregnant and postpartum patient.
What are the common pelvic health issues women face?
At HSS Westport and HSS Wilton I primarily see perinatal patients, chronic pelvic pain, coccydynia and urinary incontinence. Pelvic health conditions span a wide spectrum of symptoms,
including constipation, pain with defecation, pain with intercourse, urinary frequency or urgency and pelvic pain with daily activities.
What are some solutions?
The first step is a thorough evaluation and discussion of symptoms. This often leads to physical therapy or pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT). In some cases, medications are indicated. There are various injection options, some of which target the pelvic floor. These can be trigger point injections or Botox injections, which are done at HSS Westport. Overall, I like to take a comprehensive and holistic approach and
above: Elizabeth Brown, MD, physiatrist specializing in pelvic health and spine at HSS Orthopedics with Stamford Health-Westport. above top: Senior representatives of HSS and Stamford Health along with First Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Selectwoman Andrea Moore at the ribbon cutting for the opening of the HSS Orthopedics with Stamford Health-Westport outpatient center. above bottom: Exterior of HSS Orthopedics with Stamford Health-Westport at 276 Post Road West in Westport.
address any lifestyle or activity modifications that might reduce pain.
Is there anything women can do preventatively, before/ during/after pregnancy?
I think the most important thing is to establish the team that is going to support you throughout your pregnancy and postpartum. In addition to your obstetrician, this might mean connecting with a pelvic floor physical therapist and/or pelvic health specialist who can see you before, during and after pregnancy to help manage your symptoms and safely guide return to activity. Staying active and exercising is essential to the health of the mother and baby. If there are any concerns about starting or returning to exercise in the perinatal period, the patient can be referred to the Perinatal Movement and Physical Wellbeing Resource Center at HSS.
Tell us about that.
This is a sub-group of the HSS Women’s Sports Medicine Center that supports the health and well-being of patients before, during and after pregnancy. It is a multidisciplinary group, including specialties such as physiatry, sports medicine, nutrition, exercise physiology and rehabilitation. The center offers a variety of resources, including nutrition consultations, physical therapy visits and physician guidance on return to exercise.
What about men? This is not exclusively a female problem?
Men certainly also have pelvic floors. Anyone with a pelvic floor can develop pelvic floor symptoms.
Are men hesitant to bring up these issues and what is your advice?
It can be challenging for anyone to bring up symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. My advice is to discuss any pelvic health concerns with your primary care physician, gastroenterologist, urologist and others. I frequently see men with pelvic floor symptoms in my practice. The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in men is thought to be
“I think the most important thing is to establish the team that is going to support you throughout your pregnancy and postpartum.”
dr. elizabeth brown
around 10 to 16 percent and most commonly affects those in their thirties to fifties (Schaeffer, 2008).
Tell us about the HSS Women’s Sports Medicine Center.
This is a group of clinicians at HSS committed to the care of the female athlete across their lifetime. The group comprises experts in sports medicine, physical therapy, exercise physiology, nutrition and psychology. They take a comprehensive approach to patient and athlete care, which might include discussion of pelvic health.
HSS Orthopedics with Stamford Health - Westport
276 Post Road West Westport, CT 203.391.2270
hss.edu/locations
Specialties
Foot and Ankle
Hand and Upper Extremity
Hip and Knee Replacement
Physiatry
Spine
Sports Medicine
Services
Physician Office Visits
Radiology and Imaging
Patients can also see Dr. Brown at HSS Orthopedics with Stamford Health - Wilton
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Post-summer skin often shows up as sunspots, dullness, fine lines and uneven texture. New Beauty & Wellness tackles these concerns with customizable modalities that can be layered in a single session for high impact, visible results.
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Meet the Maker
SARA NAGHEDI , FOUNDER OF CULT ACCESSORIES
BRAND NAGHEDI , HAS SERIOUS CELEB CRED.
Sara Naghedi, the visionary behind the cult-favorite accessories brand NAGHEDI, draws inspiration from the powerful women in her life—her mother, daughter, close friends and trusted colleagues. Her designs are a reflection of strength, functionality and timeless elegance.
The idea for NAGHEDI came to Sara during a pivotal moment in her life. While pregnant with
her daughter, she experienced an “a-ha” moment: neoprene, a material known for its durability and versatility, could also be stylish. With nearly 20 years of experience in the accessories industry, Sara was ready to challenge the cycle of disposable fashion. She noticed a void in the market— bags that were elegant yet unpretentious, beautifully designed yet resilient enough for everyday life.
above: Waste Not St. Barths Large Tote Knots below: St. Barths Medium Tote Striped Geo
above: Waste Not Nomad Medium Hobo Knots bag right: Founder Sara Naghedi
PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAGHEDI
Thus, NAGHEDI was born: a brand rooted in the philosophy that timeless design should outlast trends. Each piece is carefully crafted to be both fashion-forward and practical bags.
Sara’s love of travel also plays a key role in her creative process. Travel offers her a unique space to slow down, disconnect, and absorb the rich details of her surroundings. This global perspective is woven into the brand’s identity, with many of the bags and shoes named after iconic destinations around the world.
Personal style is central to the brand’s DNA. Sara herself leans heavily on wardrobe staples and classic silhouettes—an aesthetic clearly echoed in NAGHEDI’s collections. The brand’s pieces are understated yet striking, making them the go-to choice for women who want substance and style in equal measure.
It’s no surprise that celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence, Gisele Bündchen, Katherine Schwarzenegger and Jessica Alba have all been spotted carrying NAGHEDI bags. The brand has cultivated a loyal following, not just online through its own website, but also in major retailers like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and select specialty stores like The Fred Shop, right here in Westport, where she came this Spring for a trunk show.
In an exciting evolution, NAGHEDI expanded into footwear at the end of last year— bringing the same commitment to craftsmanship and timeless design to a new category. At its heart, NAGHEDI is more than just a fashion label. It’s a celebration of resilience, thoughtful design, and the modern woman’s lifestyle.
St. Barths Medium Tote Rope in Harbor right: Havana Medium Tote Striped in Amalfi
above and right: Portofino Large Cosmetic Bag in Montauk, Ipanema and Teak
left and below: Nomad Large Hobo in Teak and Montauk
right: Kyoto clutch in Ipanema and Rio
above: St. Barths Small Tote Striped Geo in Roma, Ravenna and Teak
home
above: Kravet Heirloom Damask Outdoor Pillow
In a highly anticipated debut at High Point Market, Kravet and Brown Jordan—both titans of design and craftsmanship—unveiled a groundbreaking outdoor furniture collection marrying timeless style with innovative materials. The new Kravet x Brown Jordan Collection marks Kravet’s first foray into outdoor furnishings, and represents a natural evolution for both brands.
Combining Kravet’s legacy in textiles and interiors with Brown Jordan’s leadership in outdoor luxury furniture, the partnership delivers a full suite of outdoor living products—from sleek sectional sofas and stylish dining chairs to accessories like poufs, umbrellas and fire tables. Each piece is crafted to reflect a balance of modern design, enduring quality and customization potential, utilizing a thoughtful mix of aluminum, sling, strapping, Dekton surfacing and Kravet’s signature fabrics.
“Brown Jordan is one of the most recognizable names in home design and a leader in the outdoor segment,” said Maria Brennan, SVP of Furniture at Kravet. “This is a natural collaboration for Kravet’s first outdoor collection, and we are thrilled to have created something that reflects both brands’ distinct aesthetics. It feels like Kravet—elevated, tailored, and timeless.”
Ben Collins, President of Brown Jordan, emphasized the synergy between the two companies: “This collaboration is a true powerhouse, seamlessly blending innovation and excellence. We’re excited to support Kravet’s expansion while also enhancing our own offerings with their exceptional fabrics, creating even more possibilities for designers and customers alike.”
The collection is designed to fit seamlessly into a variety of outdoor environments—from sunny patios and breezy porches to chic sunrooms and rooftop decks. With upholstered frames launching exclusively in Kravet fabrics, the pieces blur the line between indoor elegance and outdoor durability.
Steve Elton, Chief Brand Officer at Brown Jordan, added, “We’ve built our reputation on crafting outdoor furniture that’s as stylish as it is weather-resistant. We’re proud to bring our 80 years of innovation to this collection, and partnering with Kravet has elevated our shared vision of luxury outdoor living.”
With this launch, Kravet and Brown Jordan set a new standard for outdoor spaces—one where performance meets beauty and every detail invites comfort and creativity.
Table Throw with Meadow Stripe, Ikat, Arboretum, & Petite Floral
Cotton/Linen Napkins
above: Kravet
Medallion Outdoor
Pillow and Kravet
Medallion Outdoor
Lumbar Pillow
above: Kravet
above: Kravet
Heirloom Damask
TAKE COVER FROM THE SUN
CHECK OUT ALL SORTS OF WAYS TO CHILL WHILE STAYING COOL
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WEST OUT EAST
Mogambo Parasol with Clique Seat, price upon request, westouteast.com “Umbrella as confection.”
TUCCI PARASOL
Ocean Master Mega Max Voilare, price upon request, tucci.com, “Vacation vibes at home.”
Simona Levin
Founder of Winding Lane Design, Simona brings a classic approach to her designs — blending neutral palettes and relying heavily on architectural pieces and textures. Specializing in interior architecture and design, her portfolio includes residential homes in New York, Connecticut, Boston, Miami and Nantucket.
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Kiori Screen, price upon request, westouteast.com “Decor, backdropall in one.”
BUSINESS AND PLEASURE CO.
Patio Umbrella in Yellow, $1,499, businessandpleasureco.com “Retro feels at the beach.”
TUCCI CANTILEVER
Patio Umbrella in Yellow, $18,000, DWR.com, “The OG of outdoor umbrellas with an upgraded, weatherresistant faux teak finish.”
DOUGLAS WRIGHT Douglas C. Wright Architects HEIDE HENDRICKS Hendricks Churchill
JOSH GREENE Josh Greene Design
MELISSA REAVIS Hollander Design
THE INSIDE SCOOP
this photo: MOMU ice cream with a fresh, homemade waffle cone
by lily caplan and corbin chaney
1 Carvel/ Westport Ice Cream Shoppe
The building may look the same, but the classic Carvel, long a staple of the community, has officially left the scene. While the Carvel name is gone, fans of the beloved soft serve can breathe easy: the ice cream supplier remains unchanged. According to Google, the shop now goes by Westport Ice Cream Shoppe, and a new sign reading Soft Serve Ice Cream covers the old Carvel logo. So even though the branding has changed, the sweet, creamy soft-serve locals love is still very much here.
1025 Post Road E. Westport, CT
2 Cold Fusion
This July, Cold Fusion Gelato marks four years at its Main Street location in downtown Westport. Known for its handmade, Italianstyle gelato, the shop offers everything from classic flavors like vanilla and stracciatella to bold picks like Creme Fraiche and Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla. Owned by Westport residents Kelly and Eric Emmert, Cold Fusion is part of a larger brand that also distributes pints to regional supermarkets including Big Y, Market 32 and Roche Brothers from its Walpole, MA, facility.
“Cold Fusion is a clean label brand,” says CEO Kelly Emmert. “No artificial flavors, colors or
fillers—just high-quality, simple ingredients. We even grind our own pistachio butter. As longtime locals, we love having a store in the community where we’re raising our daughters,” adds President Eric Emmert. “Many of our staff are students from Staples and nearby towns. Supporting local is a big part of who we are.”
From its premium ingredients to its hometown heart, Cold Fusion is a sweet staple in the Westport community.
178 Main Street Westport, CT
3 Gofer Ice Cream
Gofer Ice Cream’s Westport location celebrates three years of operations in August. The franchise's eighth location in Connecticut serves up high levels of multiple sweet varieties. If you are in the mood for hard or soft serve ice cream, ice cream drinks (Floats, Blended Coffees, Milkshakes), Sundaes or their signature Gofer Razzle’s mixed with the topping of your choice, there is everything you could ask for in a sweet-filled adventure. Gopher Ice Cream furthermore has an assortment of services for your ice cream related needs, including Ice Cream Cakes, Catering, and portable Ice Cream Party Boxes full of fun. If you can “go for” ice cream, “Go-fer” Ice Cream has got you covered!
1240 Post Road. E. Westport, CT
4 Heibecks’ Stand
Another classic staple in the community but certainly one that stands the test time. Heibeck’s Stand has been serving up quality ever since its opening in 1931. Despite their delicious American fare, including hamburgers, hot dogs, tacos, lobster rolls and numerous other delectable classics, their ice cream certainly shouldn’t be slept on. Delicious hard and soft-serve ice cream, milkshakes, egg creams, edible cookie dough treats and ice cream soda’s can be found at Heibeck’s, culminating in a perfect atmosphere for those upcoming hot summer days. 951 Danbury Road Wilton, CT
this photo: Gofer offers hard or soft serve ice cream, ice cream drinks (Floats, Blended Coffees, Milkshakes), Sundaes, or their signature Gofer Razzle’s mixed with the topping of your choice.
5 MOMU
MOMU Ice Cream just hit its one-year mark, and Westport is loving every scoop. Located in Saugatuck, MOMU serves smallbatch, artisanal ice cream made fresh daily using locally sourced ingredients. Their inventive flavors reflect a blend of culinary training and a love for bold, nostalgic combinations. Local bakery Kneads is a regular guest star on the menu, with favorites like Kneads Bread (think French toast in ice cream form) and Cookies N’ Cream made with chopped Kneads Oreos. MOMU also draws inspiration from the Westport Farmers Market, using ingredients from beloved local spots such as Riverbank and Woodland Farms to create seasonal specials. With high-quality from Arethusa Farm, In Pursuit of Tea and Devoción Coffee, their commitment to excellence runs deep. MOMU is owned and operated by four friends, Brittany & Daniel Moreno and Emily & Christian Muñoz, who share a deep love for ice cream and creating joyful, nostalgic moments through their flavors. Everything is made in-house in
small batches using artisanal methods that highlight the best of what’s local. This summer, they’re hitting the road with a brand new MOMU ice cream cart, perfect for parties and special events. Be sure to stop by and enjoy a scoop (or two) on their revamped patio, complete with cozy fire pits.
575 Riverside Avenue Westport, CT
6 Mr Fosty's
The seasonal staple of Mr Frosty’s is serving up some of the best window-serve frozen treats in East Norwalk. With creative fusions of ice cream and toppings in their signature Tornadoes, their layered ice cream sundaes, known as (the very fitting) Cravers, or their variety of trendy items, such as their selection of Dubai Chocolate-related specials, Mr. Frosty’s is certainly unique. Including other delectable menu items, such as their Key Lime Pie, Dole Whip or Rainbow Cookie Ice Cream, scouring the menu will be a delightful experience.
6 1st St. Norwalk, CT
this photo: Cold Fusion handmade espresso gelato
7 Oggi Gelato
Oggi Gelato is celebrating its one-year anniversary, and the community has embraced the chance to enjoy authentic Italian gelato right in our backyard. The Norwalk shop—Oggi’s first U.S. location—opened last May, joining a lineup of international spots in Rome, Athens, Barcelona, Santiago and Milan. In addition to their creamy, handcrafted gelato, Oggi serves Italian pastries and rich, traditional Italian coffee. Ditch the cone and get your gelato stuffed inside a warm and fluffy Sicilian Brioche, handmade in Italy and shipped over, or enjoy it on top of a waffle! After a year of sweet success, they’re expanding to Fairfield. And there’s more: to mark the milestone, Oggi is unveiling a brand-new summer treat. You won’t want to miss it!
250 Westport Avenue
Norwalk, CT
8 Sunny Daes
Another oldie but a goodie, Sunny Daes continues to be a local favorite for frozen treats. Whether you're craving soft serve, hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, gelato, or a fully-loaded sundae, Sunny Daes has something for every kind of sweet tooth. Their menu features a wide range of flavors, candy toppings, cones and ice cream cakes—perfect for everything from
this photo: Sunny Daes is a classic Westport favorite.
a casual cone to a full-on dessert party. There’s nothing better than enjoying your favorite flavor on the benches outside the shop, surrounded by friends and family on a warm summer night. 30 Riverside Avenue Westport, CT
9 Sweet Ashley's (A Jonathan Moffly Favorite)
With 70+ rotating flavors, Sweet Ashley’s Ice Cream in Norwalk is a beautiful oasis for any ice cream connoisseur. The selfdubbed “Sweetest Spot in Fairfield County” certainly makes a case for themselves. Each and every flavor of ice cream has been made in-house with high-quality ingredients for their 30+ year history. Sweet Ashley’s carries rich traditional ice creams, refreshing sorbets, and dairy-free offerings. With already exotic flavors such as Lavender Chip, Holy Cannoli and the decadent Maple Bourbon Bacon, it may seem like every need for ice cream possible has been fulfilled. The most interesting part however? Sweet Ashley’s can make any ice cream you want. Literally. With a few days notice in advance, Sweet Ashley’s will create a 2.5 liter tub of whatever ice cream comes from your wildest dreams. Isn’t that sweet?
248 East Avenue Norwalk, CT
10 Van Leeuwen
No ice cream shop is truly established until it’s survived its first summer, and Van Leeuwen is ready for the heat. The beloved brand opened its fourth Connecticut location this past February, right in the heart of downtown. Known for its rich, creamy scoops and commitment to quality ingredients, Van Leeuwen has built a loyal following nationwide. One of their mottos sums it up perfectly: “To make good ice cream that makes you feel good. Because a life without anything good is bad.” Whether you're into classic flavors or adventurous vegan options, Van Leeuwen is bringing the cool to downtown just in time for summer.
31 Church Lane Westport, CT
this photo: The sweet smell of Van Leeuwen's delicious flavors and homemade cones cooking will let you know you’re in the right spot.
Below:
At Oggi Gelato, artisan gelato is handmade daily.
PHOTOS: SUNNY
coming up next at the play house
JULY 9
Meet the real Carrie Bradshaw in her one-woman show!
JULY 11
Part of the Barnstormer Series, held in the Lucille Lortel White Barn Center.
JULY 14
One of the classic films screening at the Playhouse this summer!
JULY 16
An evening of song by four-time Grammy Award winner and one of the country’s pre-eminent singersongwriters.
JULY 20
The Grammy Award-winning Bluegrass/Americana band from Asheville, NC.
EVENT SPONSORS: ROZ & BUD SIEGEL
JULY 24-26
A Concert Celebration of the Great Musicals of Stage and Screen. 4 performances only!
Single tickets for the 2025-2026 season - on sale to the public TUESDAY, JULY 15!
REGISTRATION OPEN! Playhouse Golf Tournament at Birchwood Country Club in Westport - MONDAY, JULY 21!
Scan for a full list of events!
Nominations being accepted in the following categories:
Most Involved in the Arts
Most Dedicated Committee Member
Outstanding Philanthropist
Outstanding Teen Volunteer
Best Friend to Children
Best Health Advocate
Lifetime Achievement
Best Friend to Seniors
Most Involved Couple
Corporate Good Neighbor
people&PLACES
Planning Parenthood
Planned Parenthood of Southern New England (PPSNE) had a huge turnout for its annual Spring Luncheon—600 enthusiastic supporters at the Hyatt in Old Greenwich along with 100+ virtual viewers. PPFA past President Cecile Richards, legendary fighter for reproductive freedom, was honored posthumously with the Community Impact Award; and Speaker Stacey Abrams, voting rights activist and the first Black woman ever to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party, received a standing ovation. Co-chairs were Susan Beyman, Keri Cameron, Jane Carlin, Lindy Lilien and Mini Nunna. It raised a record $1.4 million in support of reproductive healthcare for 52,000 patients across Connecticut and Rhode Island. plannedparenthood.org W
1 Samantha Bee at the mic 2 Stacey Abrams with co-chairs Jane Carlin, Susan Beyman, Keri Cameron, Lindy Lilien and Mini Nunna 3 Drew Klotz, Patti Kennedy Fenney, Audrey Klotz 4 Melody Rollins Downes, Isabel Kallman, Gabriela Bockhaus, Miriam Gohara, Janna Andrews, Leena Gupta Patidar 5 PPSNE President & CEO Amanda Skinner at mic 6 Daniel Sinasohn, Katharine Timbers, Josiah and Kristen Miller 7 PPFA President & CEO Alexis McGill Johnson at mic 8 Gail Turkeltaub, Megan Silva
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MOFFLY MEDIA’S BIG PICTURE / BOB CAPAZZO AND KRISTEN SCHUELER PHOTOGRAPHY
PLANNED PARENTHOOD / Hyatt Regency Greenwich
Kitty and Devin were members of the varsity swim team at William and Mary, and they were paired up as “buddies” for the season’s swim meets. The goal of a buddy is to make sure someone is always cheering for you while you’re racing. Little did their coach know that pairing up these two would be a lifelong match. The friendship blossomed into a loving relationship over the course of six years, despite living in different cities and being apart in the early days of Covid.
The engagement happened at Binney Park. With a charcuterie board and a cold bottle of rosé in tow, Devin proposed as they were crossing one of the bridges.
The Rev. Terry Elsberry officiated at the ceremony at Christ Church in Greenwich, and a reception followed at the Belle Haven Club. The couple’s most memorable moments from under the tent were their first dance to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” and the father of the bride surprising them with a performance of “Kiss Me, I’m Irish.”
The bride, daughter of Thomas and Barbara Arenz, graduated from Greenwich Academy and William and Mary. Kitty works for Gold Coast Search Partners in Manhattan.
The groom, son of Jack and Terry McNulty of Virginia, graduated from Gonzaga College High School, in Washington, D.C., and William and Mary. Devin works in private equity at Compass Diversified in Westport.
The newlyweds honeymooned in Italy and Greece. They call Greenwich home. W
KITTY
1 Kitty with her bridesmaids in front of the church
2 The newlyweds 3 This dress was made for exits
4 James Mostofi, Theresa, John, Elizabeth and Ryan McNulty, Elizabeth Arenz Hosbein, Kitty Arenz, Devin McNulty, Caroline Arenz, Hugh McNulty, Diana Tramontano, T. Speres, Sai Andanamala, Otto Voettiner 5 Devin and Kitty 6 Kitty and Devin with their beloved dog, Lady 7 In the getaway car
8 Hugh, Theresa, Ryan, Elizabeth, John, Jack, Terry, Devin McNulty, Kitty and Barbara Arenz, Charlotte Braunschweig, Tom Arenz, Elizabeth Arenz Hosbein, Andrew Hosbein, Caroline Arenz, Rhett Braunschweig
9 Barbara Arenz, Nancy Barbe, Helen FitzPatrick, Cathy Carangel 10 The cutting of the cake 11 The first dance 12 Barbara Arenz, Charlotte Braunschweig, Tom Arenz 13 Mark and Carol Becker, Annie and Bill Drake 14 Barbara and Tom Arenz 15 And off they go
above: Watercolor of the farm stand by American contemporary artist H. Craig Hannah.
this photo: Lloyd at the original 16’ x 16’ farm stand at the bottom of Kings Highway.
right: Gianna is wearing a top, pants and jacket from Vince in Westport. Lloyd is wearing a linen shirt from Bloomingdale’s Men’s Store and pants from Theory.
DOUBLE L TURNS 40
HOW LLOYD & GIANNA MADE A WESTPORT MARKET A CULTURAL HUB
THE FOUNDERS OF DOUBLE L SHARE HOW A ROADSIDE STAND GREW INTO A GOURMET DESTINATION, AND HOW HIS LATEST CREATION, “SCREENTIME,” IS BLENDING TECH AND THEATER.
this photo: King’s Highway farm stand at its peak.
left and right: Double L Market’s inviting storefront reflects its commitment to fresh, local, and sustainable goods. middle: “Where is Lloyd” leaflet appears at the Double L as many ask this question. The answer is he is working on ScreenTime the musical while coming in early mornings to taste and approve products.
Each cheese in the case is handpicked — not just for taste, but for the story it tells, the region it represents, and the joy it sparks. middle: Phil Schneider with a Double L signature gift box. right: Artisanal yogurt, wild mushrooms, local milk, and housemade pesto — just another day in the
left:
fridge at Double L.
left: The book Being Martha by Lloyd Allen. middle: Assorted pastries from local bakeries like Sono Bakery and Balthazar. right: With Gianna’s eye for elegance and Lloyd’s nose for quality, each produce display becomes a seasonal still life, almost too pretty to eat.
BY
Samantha Yanks: 40 years in business, and Double L is where most people around this town call their “happy place.” The town loves you. Sounds like congrats are in order.
Lloyd: 40 years, that’s a good long while. Of course, all of this brings us joyous feelings of fulfillment and accomplishment, especially the reference “happy place,” people tell us that a lot. Since the day I put up four posts and an awning on Kings Highway North along the Sasco Creek with that beautiful waterfall cascading behind the farmstand, this town and surrounding community has supported me. It just came to me one day. Rippe’s Farm was gone and the town was without a farmstand. I want to mention important things. Westport is special in so many ways. It’s a fun town. Playful. Culturally diverse, well educated, gracious, polite, has an outstanding school system, and on and on. What I, what we, are able to offer, what we can present here, has a lot to do with the very makeup of this town.
SY: What made you think you could do this: start a farm stand from scratch. I know your background was in fashion design and music.
Lloyd: I had walked away from eight years in the fashion business to try my hand in music, Epic gave me a singles deal and I did MTV’s first fashion music video. I was 32 years old. It was my 15 minutes of fame. Fast forward to the farmstand. My brother was with Chiquita Corp. and introduced me to Fred Jarjura, the original produce buyer for Stew Leonard’s. He took me under his wing, I walked the Hunts Point Terminal Market in the Bronx six nights a week for six years, 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. in the morning and all he kept saying to me: “You will never win the price game, you are only going to buy the best.” From that point forward that is all I’ve done. I’m still here forty years later. And while I’m mentioning mentors, there’s one other, Ralph Bono, an Italian immigrant. He and his brother had an open-airfarm stand down on Arthur Avenue. Ralph went on to be the display man for Balducci’s on Tenth Avenue. One of my first nights in the market I’m standing in front of this grape display, a wall of green grapes, and I reach out to taste one. A voice from behind me yells “Don’t ruin my display, take the whole stem!” When Ralph retired he came and worked for me for two summers and when Ralph did a display, it was like Picasso had just painted a still life. He also said, “You carry every package to the car.” We’ve done it ever since. It’s not a chore, it’s a chance to get fresh air, visit with another, a pause in routine.
SY: Boy you had some really great mentors. The world needs more of them.
Lloyd: Since ’85 I’ve been mentoring kids. It’s so
40 years, that’s a good long while. Of course, all of this brings us joyous feelings of fulfillment and accomplishment especially the reference ‘happy place’, people tell us that a lot.
important to inspire young people, pass on what you know. And mentoring is a two-way street, we both learn, teach each other. Parents come to me, and all I can promise them is that I will give them love and discipline. A mother said to me, “My daughter was a wallflower when she came to you. Now she’s on Wall Street.” Just last month I had breakfast with a young man who worked for me that I had not seen in 38 years. He has his own sports affiliation advertising company with four offices nationwide, and he said he owed it all to me. That I pushed him hard, made him do things he didn’t think he was capable of doing. And here’s a good one, him teaching me. One day he said to me, “You know, we sell that one restaurant, why don’t we try to sell some more”. At 18 years old this kid set up our wholesale company. Before we knew it, we controlled the restaurant market in Fairfield County. Stuff like this is what makes it all worth it. Kids, well they are grownups now, all pop in to say hi. Double L alumni. How’s this for a story? I saw West Side Story performed at Staples. You could have moved the show to Broadway. My season started and I told Justin, a Staples student, to go get Maria and the Jets, anybody from the cast that needed a summer job to come apply. I got Maria and a few of the Sharks and Jets and while they worked they sang along to musicals every day, all day. The customers loved it. They inspired me to write two musicals. We were recording inside barns and big refrigeration units. It was a blast. We performed one at the City Hall theater. The other show, more about that later; it’s in early production now.
SY: So back then, you had a Ruff and Tumble Farm Stand, you’ve been indoors for 15 years and it’s become this beautiful creative collaboration between you and Gianna.
Lloyd: It’s a partnership of inspiration and shared ideas. Gianna’s resolute vision of staying true to clean foods and her eye for beauty has brought this baby to where it is now.
SY: So what’s your story, Gianna? You grew up in Spain?
LLOYD
Gianna: I was born here in the States. My parents, both artists, decided on a whim to move from New York City to Italy, where they had lived a short while before my sister and I were born. I was three and my sister was six months old. The ship we were on stopped in the port of Malaga, Spain. They fell in love with the place and we stayed for 15 years. I grew up in a small mountain village called Mijas. I just took Lloyd there last year. It’s still pretty idyllic. The same butcher, bread store, outdoor market, is still there today. I grew up farm to table not even realizing how lucky I was. The egg lady would walk
this photo:
From juicy peaches to vibrant greens, Double L’s produce is hand-selected for flavor, beauty, and the joy it brings to the table.
Gianna’s obsession for researching and procuring clean specialty products that meet our customers’ quest for healthy food with my knowledge of buying fresh produce has transformed this market into a gourmet destination.
LLOYD
left: Grown with love on a small organic family farm in Oxnard, CA, these impossibly sweet strawberries are a seasonal favorite at Double L. right: Simon Bowden and his famous sourdough breads.
left: Sarah Casel from Calf & Clover dropping off her raw milk.
right: Phil Schneider helping customers load items into their car.
through town every day, in the summer she had strawberries too. Mom cooked everything fresh and I did not come across packaged food until I returned to the States. I graduated from NYU while working as a copy girl at the New York Post I had begun in journalism and ended up with a French Literature major, don’t ask. I got a great position at a top talent agency representing fashion photographers and hair and makeup artists, repping the likes of Bert Stern and Laura Mercier. I learnt a lot about styling and composition.
Lloyd: I’d been in New York for five years by that time. I’d driven up from Texas.
Gianna: Lloyd gets a kick speculating that we actually crossed paths at the 1964 World’s Fair, he was on a Boy Scout troop trip. I was in a stroller.
Lloyd: Or it could have been Studio 54.
Gianna: Right, I would have been dancing; meanwhile, you were inside working on celebrity parties for the likes of Bianca Jagger and Liza Minelli, or Dolly Parton with all the hay and horses. He’s got lots of stories to tell! Our paths finally crossed in the late ’90s at Weston Middle School. We had both settled in Weston with our families. We each have two children. Lloyd had formed a theatrical troop and was working with kids, his son and other students. It was called “The Peanut Gang Players.” They did shows based on The Peanut book series. Well, this led to Cable Kids News That’s where we officially met. Students would cover school news stories and we would help edit and flesh out the stories with them. That’s the first time we worked together. He taught me “shoot to edit.” He has an incredible eye!
Lloyd: We would get coffee together. Work at each other’s homes.
Gianna: I have fond memories of those times. We were friends. I enjoyed our intellectual repartee.
SY: And now, here you are married?
Gianna: Yes, but that did not happen for a long while. We kept in touch over the years. He’d invite me to events like his Being Martha book signing and I’d invite him to my art shows, I sculpted for years. I hadn’t heard from him in a while when I received an email that he was re-opening the Double L on the side of the road in Southport. And I went of course!
SK: Lloyd?
I had just finished my book on Martha Stewart; my back was killing me from sitting in a chair for a year and I had called Sal Gilbertie and told him I needed some physical exercise, did he have anything? He thought I was joking but the next thing you know I’m watering 28 greenhouses a day, herb pot by herb pot. I loved it. The season winds down, and I get a call from Justin, who worked for me when he
He walked me to my car and signals me to lower the window and says to me, ‘You look xxxx-ing amazing.’ All I remember is my heart was beating a mile a minute and I had to pull over. I called my best friend and told her what had just happened. Get this. She asks, ‘Was it Lloyd?’
was 15 years old at the King’s Highway farmstand. He’s buying organic food for Fresh Direct in New York City, wants something new, and asks if I’d like to go back on the side of the road. I say “let’s do it” and we go looking and find a broken down nursery in Southport on the Post Road. Here’s the twist. I had my old email list from earlier years, and I sent out an announcement to everyone that I’m back on the side of the road with a new address. So there I was and sure enough, Gianna pulls in for a visit. I take her on a tour. I think I might have given her a taste of fruit. I show her the beautiful weeds out back blowing in the wind. It was the right place at the right time.
SY: Is this how you remember Gianna?
Gianna: Clear as day. I drove up to this crazy, broken-down old nursery building. There he was, sitting with Justin. I saw him before he saw me. Something was different. He looked so relaxed. I remember he looked so happy. We hugged, and he took me by the arm as I’ve seen him do with so many others, to show me around. Yes, he fed me something. He took me out back to show me the weeds, of course. Something felt different. He walked me to my car and signals me to lower the window and says to me “You look xxxx-ing amazing.” I drove away, I don’t know how far I got, all I remember is my heart was beating a mile a minute and I had to pull over. I called my best friend and told her what had just happened. Get this. She asks, “Was it Lloyd?”
Lloyd: It was a magical summer. Something about being on the side of the road, open-air, wild and free. I had a pickup truck parked out back, we’d sit on the tailgate, eating tomato and mozzarella and lots of peaches. We were both in transition from our previous relationship.
Gianna: Within two years we were living together. I was working with Lloyd on the back end, keeping the books for the market while teaching Spanish in New Canaan and finishing off a masters in social work at Fordham. Lloyd took good care of me, made me lunch every day and had dinner ready for me when I got back from night classes. It’s always been teamwork with us. Then, Covid! I’m working remotely. My dad is sick and moves in with us with my mother and daughter. Lloyd’s locked inside a building with Phil and six girls packing out 50 boxes a day for curbside pickup. We all have similar stories.
GIANNA
Lloyd: And then the real reckoning. The pandemic is winding down, and customers want in. It was daunting just to think of reopening the store again after being a warehouse for over a year. So much had changed and we were no longer just a fruit and vegetable market. Customer requests made us evolve into a specialty grocery store as we had
strived to procure everyone’s needs and wants. Gianna: So much changed during this time personally for us. My dad passed away at home in my arms. Priorities drastically shifted. I remember talking with my supervisor about the pulls I was experiencing and he simply said. “Lloyd’s been there for you, it sounds like it’s time for you to be there for him”. There was no hesitation on my part.
Lloyd: Gianna and I are suddenly working side by side and guess what? We find out we love working together! I’m broad brushstrokes; Gianna has this wonderful penchant for detail and elegance; it was like magic, and we were surrounded by a like minded, food-loving crew, one formidable team. Gianna’s obsession for researching and procuring clean specialty products that meet our customers’ quest for healthy food with my knowledge of buying fresh produce has transformed this market into a gourmet destination.
Gianna: Then we really sealed the deal when we eloped that next year to Anguilla after living together 14 years. It’s funny: people ask us if we tire of working together every day. We really don’t. We truly enjoy each other’s company, driving in to work, hashing out ideas, laughing. The creative process never ends. Don’t get me wrong, we are both the eldest sibling and extremely opinionated, but here’s something I think is important, something my mother noted early on: “You have a deep respect for one another,” and that continues to this day, and he really is my best friend.
SY: It is pretty unique. I can see how your talents meet. “Gianna, you bring a sense of style, add an elegance to Lloyd’s rough ‘n’ ready roadside attitude. But there’s more than just Double L. Tell me about this latest adventure, this cybermusical? ScreenTime. You’ve played me some of the music; the topic is right on target.
Lloyd: The crazy thing is I wrote it 20 years ago. Remember when I told you I had the West Side Story actors working for me one summer? They inspired me. At the time AOL and their chat rooms had just changed everything. And I had an idea for a cybermusical called DeSkToPsToRy. I was lucky to have an incredible mentor Gene Feiss who founded the Roundabout Theatre, which is now the American Airlines Theatre. He threw my first script into the trash can. He was on the Tony committee and took me to Broadway shows for two years meanwhile teaching me the art of writing a musical. AOL actually considered it but the timing wasn’t right for them. So I put it aside. A year ago I wanted to start writing my blog again so I called Steph over at CTbites and told her I needed a deadline to break the writing block. The piece just so happened to be about Joshua Meznik, the man
Gianna and I are suddenly working side by side and guess what? We find out we love working together! I’m broad brushstrokes; Gianna has this wonderful penchant for detail and elegance; it was like magic, and we were surrounded by a like minded, foodloving crew, one formidable team. LLOYD
behind the new restaurant Josie and Tony’s. I wove his background in musical theatre into the article and in the process revisited DeSkToPsToRy. It struck me that I had written this 20 years too early and that technology had finally caught up to my original vision.
Gianna: He had played the music to me years earlier, but it was like the tear sheets he’d shown me in Vogue magazine of his clothing designs, it was all in passing.
Lloyd: It began to percolate and the realization seized me that it was all there. So I told Gianna the time for this show was now and it’s called ScreenTime and I couldn’t get it out of my mind. Gianna: The store is exploding, and this man wants me to work with him on a musical. I called a friend and broke down, and I remember telling them “I don’t even like musicals,” how do I go on this trip?
SY: How did you get through this?
Gianna: OMG, we literally went back into therapy for this one. By the way we are firm believers in tune-ups. We are sitting there and our therapist says to me, “You know it’s not going to go away.” Fast forward and here I am loving every minute of it. Truth be told, it’s a beautiful love story and it’s all in the music.
Lloyd: It’s a romantic comedy. The workings and challenges of a relationship in this technological world we live in. The personal pull of it. How does one find balance in this brave new world? We love our phones and hate them at the same time. Throw in a dash of an AI character and you’ve got a love triangle and all the complications that make up a story everyone will see themselves in. We are getting ready to preview, four to five scenes, at the Westport Library on Sunday July 20 at 2 p.m. I’m so excited, it was clear to me from the beginning that the library was the perfect place for a showcase. One of the songs, “I Love Reading Books,” made me realize this.
SY: Didn’t you tell me something about ScreenTime literally streaming on social Media?
Lloyd: Yes I did. Go to @screentimethemusical on Instagram. A lot of friends and social media influencers are getting involved in the process. No matter what media platform you use: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, you can follow along as the show is building out. Rehearsals, choreography, scene development, even live moments, and you can interact with all of it; comment, audition, duet a song, dance to a number you like. On top of it all, the amazing team and technological possibilities the library has to offer is going to make this an interactive experience like no other both at the show and online.
this photo: Gianna’s hair by Liz Lorenti, LFA Salon Westport CT and makeup by Kanha Sisley of Paris.
signs of the times
From farm(stand) to table
f resh paint
Double L’s iconic handpainted signs have humble origins. What started as an inexpensive way to identify fresh produce, delivered daily, has become an identifier of the market. What’s in season lures you in, from cider to corn, fresh fish to free range chicken.
delivery notes
With new expanded deliveries in Fairfield County, each box comes with a watercolor note. In addition to Greenwich and New York, Double L now delivers to more towns in Fairfield County including New Canaan, Darien, Fairfield and Westport!
penmanship matters
The cardboard signs with handwritten product descriptors sit perfectly atop everything from potatoes to pears and each varietal has a call out. In the potato area, fingerlings, pee wees and purple sweet potatoes each have their own sign.
photograph by ANDREA CARSON
R EADERS � P ICKS
THIS PHOTO
Pastry perfection, courtesy of Raphaël’s Bakery in Greenwich
BEST american + creative menu
THE COTTAGE
Chef Brian Lewis brings serious culinary chops to the table, and we’re always lucky to score a seat. At The Cottage, he’s serving food that feels both familiar and totally fresh, like he’s taken your favorite dish turned it inside out, and made it way better. The cult-favorite steamed buns are a must, but it’s often the quiet dishes, like a seasonal vegetable small plate or a simple pasta, that steal the show.
RIGHT
Elysian Fields lamb rib with wild ramps, rhubarb mostarda and rosemary lamb jus
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FOOD + DRINKS
If you know, you know —and if you don’t, well, consider this your cheat sheet. Our food scene has leveled up, and this year’s winners prove it. We’re talking about the kind of places that locals hit on repeat: the go-to bakery with a line out the door, the BBQ worth driving for, the viral bagels that live up to the hype and the neighborhood spots led by nationally recognized chefs. Get ready to discover (or rediscover) the very best that our towns have to offer, according to the people who actually eat here.
photograph by MELISSA OLGUIN
BEST RESTAURANTS
Best Service
The Americano
261 Main St., Stamford, 203-276-8918; theamericanobar.com
4180 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-255-0800 | 515 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-854-5600 | 222 Summer St., Stamford, 203-348-4800; see all locations at barcelonawinebar.com
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST hotel restaurant
L’escale nails that rare mix of elegance and ease—it’s my go-to for everything from cocktails and apps to a full dinner. The food, the view, the vibe ... it just never misses.
Cristin Marandino, Editorial Director
BEST SPECIALITIES
American
The Cottage 49 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-769-1220 | 256 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-557-3701; thecottage.kitchen
Asian/Asian Fusion Kawa Ni 19A Bridge Sq., Westport, 203-557-8775; kawaniwestport.com
Chinese
Little Kitchen
423 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-454-5540; littlekitchenwestport.com
Mediterranean Layla’s Falafel 2088 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-384-0100 936 | High Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-461-8004 | 1535 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-955-1583 ; see all locations at laylasfalafel.com
Spanish Barcelona Wine Bar 4180 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-255-0800 | 515 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-854-5600 | 222 Summer St., Stamford, 203-348-4800; see all locations at barcelonawinebar.com
Thai Little Thai Kitchen 4 West Ave., Darien, 203-662-0038 | 21 St. Roch Ave., Greenwich, 203-622-2972; littlethaikitchen.com
BEST italian // CASA ME
If you can snag a reservation, bring a group and game-plan the menu like it’s a team sport. Casa Me—"my house," for those brushing up on their Italian—is all about passing plates, pouring another glass and pretending you’re on vacation somewhere along the Amalfi Coast. Cin cin!
LEFT
Lasagna Cavolfiore Rossette with cauliflower bolognese, parmigiano, pecorino and ricotta PHOTO
BEST ice cream
VAN LEEUWEN
Here’s the scoop: Honeycomb, Earl Grey Tea and Sicilian Pistachio are fan favorites for good reason, but don’t sleep on the vegan options, like Strawberry Shortcake and Cookies & Cream Caramel Swirl. Add in their ever-rotating lineup of collabs, and it’s no wonder people line up for a scoop. Or two. Or a whole pint.
LEFT
Ice cream sandwiches worth unhinging your jaw for
PHOTO BY
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EDITOR'S PICK
BEST burritos
I love going to Valencia Luncheria in the warmer months, sitting on the “beach” and trying something new. Their menu has so many options, it’s hard to choose!
Eileen Murphy, Editor, New Canaan, Darien + Rowayton
ABOVE Sweet or savory? At The Granola Bar, you don’t have to pick sides.
BEST breakfast // THE GRANOLA BAR
The Granola Bar is what happens when a breakfast spot decides it doesn’t have to choose between healthy and indulgent, and wins at both. It’s the kind of place where you can start your day with a turmeric latte, a breakfast burrito the size of your face or a parfait so good it has its own following (looking at you, Crunchy Elvis).
BEST CASUAL FOOD
Bagels
PopUp Bagels
1814 Post Rd., Fairfield | 12 Riversville Rd., Greenwich | 266 S. Main St., Newtown | 971 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-297-8819; popupbagels.com
BBQ
Hoodoo Brown BBQ 967 Ethan Alley Hwy., Ridgefield, 203-438-6033; hoodoobrownbbq.com
Bowls + Noodle Bar/ Noodles
Mecha Noodle Bar 1215 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-8222 | 116 Washington St., Norwalk, 203-295-8718 | 151 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-801-7577; see all locations at mechanoodlebar.com
Burritos
Valencia Luncheria 164 Main St., Norwalk, 203-846-8009; valencialuncheria.com
Frozen Yogurt 16 Handles
1300 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-9841 | 219 Bedford St., Stamford, 203-817-0707; see all locations at 16handles.com
Hamburgers + Family-Friendly
Little Pub
531 E. Putnam Ave., Cos Cob, 203-717-1147 | 2133 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-612-4567 | 41 Saugatuck Ave., Westport, 203-227-0511 | 26 Danbury Rd., Wilton, 203-762-1122; see all locations at littlepub.com
Ice Cream
Van Leeuwen
114 Heights Rd., Darien, 475-328-9289 | 375 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 475-275-0951 | 88 Elm St., New Canaan, 203-594-1288 | 31 Church Ln., Westport, 718-701-1630; see all locations at vanleeuwenicecream.com
Pizza Colony Grill 1520 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-259-1989 | 515 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-866-5252 | 172 Myrtle Ave., Stamford, 203-359-2184; see all locations at colonygrill.com
Salads Aux Délices 25 Old Kings Hwy., Darien, 203-662-1136 | 3 W. Elm St., Greenwich, 203-622-6644 | 1075 E. Putnam Ave., Riverside, 203-698-1066 | 1035 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-557-9600; auxdelicesfoods.com
LEFT
Try a kouign-amann or a cardamom bun, fondly referred to as Cardi-B
BEST bakery // FLOUR WATER SALT BREAD
Early mornings in Darien, Greenwich and now New Canaan, you’ll find locals queued up before the doors even open, eager to secure a loaf of Rob VanKeuren’s legendary sourdough. But getting to that bread is only half the battle. Once inside, you have to make it to checkout without giving in to the temptation from the cases stacked with flaky croissants, pillowy bomboloni or colossal coffee cake, and wanting one of everything.
BY
PHOTO
GARVIN BURKE
R EADERS � P ICKS
Spicy Miso Ramen with charred corn, scallion, egg, tofu and miso noodles
BEST asian / asian fusion
KAWA NI
The tables are close, the playlist superb, and when you hear that cowbell clang, you know you're in for a good night (sake bombs or not). It’s loud, lively and consistently delicious, thanks to a menu that riffs on Japanese izakaya fare but isn’t afraid to take detours.
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BEST DROP-IN SPOTS
Breakfast
The Granola Bar 1020 Post Rd., Darien, 475-328-0994 | 1876 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-692-4311 | 41 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-883-5220 | 700 Canal St., Stamford, 203-883-0304 | 275 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-557-0945; thegranolabar.com
Brunch + Café/Bistro
Terrain Garden Café
561 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-226-2732; shopterrain.com
Coffee Shop
Coffee for Good 48 Maple Ave, Greenwich, 203-979-4898; coffeeforgood.org
Deli
Firehouse Deli 22 Reef Rd., Fairfield, 203-255.5527; firehousedelifairfield.com
Diner
Sherwood Diner 901 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-226-5535; sherwooddinerct.com
Food Truck
The Tasty Yolk storefront: 2992 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, 203-545-9311; thetastyyolk.com
Health/Organic Food
The Art Space Café
455 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-604-0309; thenorwalkartspace.org
Juice Bar + Vegetarian
Green & Tonic
7 Strickland Rd., Cos Cob, 203-869-1376 |
665 Commerce Dr., Fairfield, 203-345-0995 |
21 Forest St., New Canaan, 203-594-1851 |
17 Jesup Rd., Westport, 203-557-6392; see all locations at greenandtonic.com
Sherwood Diner is Westport’s go-to; a local landmark with retro charm, a modern ever-changing menu that evolves without losing its roots—which is rare—and a spinach artichoke dip that gives Hillstone vibes. I'm there several times a week. I'll have “the usual," and they know exactly what that is.
Samantha Yanks, Editor, Westport, Weston & Wilton
BEST MARKETS+MORE
Bakery
Flour Water Salt Bread 20 Grove St., Darien | 160 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich | 53 East Ave., New Canaan; flourwatersaltbread.com
25 Old Kings Hwy., Darien, 203-662-1136 | 3 W. Elm St., Greenwich, 203-622-6644 | 1075 E. Putnam Ave., Riverside, 203-698-1066 | 1035 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-557-9600; auxdelicesfoods.com
Liquor Store
Total Wine & More
380 Main St., Norwalk, 203-840-0007; see all locations at totalwine.com
Seafood Market
Fjord Fish Market
1015 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-202-9473 | 158 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, 203-661-5006 | 22 East Ave., New Canaan, 203-966-2200 | 1835 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-255-9331; see all locations at fjordfishmarket.com
Wine Shop
Harry’s Wine & Liquor Market
2094 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-259-4692; harryswine.com
Party-sized bites that capture New England summer
BEST caterer MARCIA SELDEN CATERING
Known for their meticulous attention to detail and inventive menus— think tuna tartare cones, truffle mac and cheese bites and elegant spins on comfort food— the Selden team blends culinary finesse with crowdpleasing fun. Behind the scenes, they approach each event with the precision of a restaurant kitchen and the warmth of longtime hosts.
THIS PHOTO
BEST margaritas // BARTACO
No shortcuts here; every margarita is made with freshly squeezed juice and hand-selected spirits, creating a drink that’s perfectly balanced, never fussy. It's not overly sweet, just solid, whether you’re keeping it classic, seeking something spicy or trying one of their seasonal specials. And when you’re sipping on the patio by the Saugatuck, with that salty rim and the cool water views, there is nothing better.
LEFT
A healthy cocktail? Bartaco’s Green Margarita blends pineapple, mango and spinach for a drink that feels almost too virtuous to be this good.
PHOTOS: BARTACO BY DAKOTA ROBERT ROSS; JOSIE & TONY'S BY COLIN CLARK
R EADERS � P ICKS
BEST BAR BOASTS
Beer Selection
Hop & Vine Taproom
30 Spring St., Stamford, 203-517-9047; hopandvinect.com
Josie & Tony’s 20 N. Main St., Norwalk; josieandtonys.com
Microbrewery
Two Roads Brewing 1700 Stratford Ave., Stratford; tworoadsbrewing.com
Mobile Bar + Pub
Little Pub 531 E. Putnam Ave., Cos Cob, 203-717-1147 | 2133 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-612-4567 | 41 Saugatuck Ave., Westport, 203-227-0511 | 26 Danbury Rd., Wilton, 203-762-1122; see all locations at littlepub.com
Hudson Malone 323 Main St., Westport, 203-635-7400; hudsonmalone.com
Sports Bar
The Blind Rhino 3425 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, 203-362-5001 | 15 N. Main St., South Norwalk, 203-956-7243; theblindrhino.com
Wine Bar
Barcelona Wine Bar 4180 Black Rock Tpk., Fairfield, 203-255-0800 | 515 West Ave., Norwalk, 203-854-5600 | 222 Summer St., Stamford, 203-348-4800; see all locations at barcelonawinebar.com
BEST martinis + non-alcoholic/mocktails + wine list // JOSIE
& TONY'S
You may need a member to get in the door, but it’s the drinks that make you want to stay all night. Behind the bar, James Lucchesi shakes things up with creative cocktails (try a Clarified Caprese or summer-ready Aperitiki options).On the wine side, owner and sommelier Josh Mesnik curates a 200-bottle list that leans heavy on Champagne, Burgundy and Italian stunners, with something for every mood and meal.
ABOVE
Owner Josh Mesnik named the restaurant after his grandparents.
SHOP + STYLE
Why trek into the city when everything you need is right here? Skip the train, your next fashion fix, sparkling accessory or home upgrade is just around the corner. From chic finds on Greenwich Avenue to standout decor spots along the Post Road, these local gems prove you don’t have to go far to shop like a pro.
photograph by SERGIO KURHAJEC
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BEST men’s fashion + men’s shoes + women’s fashion
MITCHELLS/RICHARDS
With complimentary tailoring and trusted advisors who know your wardrobe as well as you do, Mitchells and Richards create a shopping experience that’s as refined as the collections they carry. It’s little wonder they remain a perennial favorite among discerning readers.
BELOW
Blue ombré silk wrap dress (her) and windowpane sportcoat (him), both by Kiton
BEST FASHION
Accessories + Teen Fashion
Apricot Lane 1499 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-292-9888; apricotlaneboutique.com
Consignment
Roundabout
48 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, 203-552-0787 | 1061 High Ridge Rd, Stamford, 203-355-9250 | 606 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-227-4334; roundaboutcouture.com
Department Store
Darien Sport Shop
1127 Post Rd., Darien, 203-655-2575; dariensportshop.com
Designer Boutique Togs
9 South Ave., New Canaan, 203-972-2871; togsct.com
Event Dresses/Bridal Gowns/Bridesmaid Dresses
Marietta C. Designs
436 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich; mariettac.com
Eyewear Warby Parker 122 Heights Rd., Ste. 218, Darien; 88-492-7297 | 344 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 475-275-9684 | The SoNo Collection, 100 N. Water St., South Norwalk, 203-648-9689; warbyparker.com and thesonocollection.com
Jeans B Chic 78 Old Ridgefield Rd., Wilton, 203-210-7037; bchicct.com
Lingerie + New Shop La Source 132 Heights Rd., Darien, 203-276-8886 | 44 Elm St., New Canaan, 475-558-9101; lovelasource.com
Men’s Fashion + Men’s Shoes + Women’s Fashion Mitchells/Richards 359 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-622-0551 | 670 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-227-5165; richards.mitchellstores.com and shop.mitchellstores.com
Swimwear
Everything But Water 84 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-622-1878; everythingbutwater.com
Women’s Shoes
Shoes ‘N’ More 251 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-629-2323 | 1074-1076 Post Rd., Darien, 203-202-7702 | 121 Elm St., New Canaan, 203-972-8484 | 275 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-227-4224; see all locations at shoesnmore.com
department store
DARIEN SPORT SHOP
Great for treating yourself or picking up the perfect gift, this family-run institution spans three floors with an expert edit of brands like Peter Millar, Ulla Johnson and Faherty.
R
BEST lingerie + new shop // LA SOURCE
Jessica Curtis Johnson’s chic boutique includes a selection of designer delicates, silk robes, cozy pajamas and sophisticated swimwear. Whether you need a consultation or self-care essentials, the staff’s specialized attention makes every visit feel personal and worth the stop.
THIS PHOTO
The Darien Commons location is awash is blush neutrals.
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BEST JEWELRY
Designer Jewelry
Lux Bond & Green
136 Main St., Westport, 203-227-1300; lbgreen.com
Estate Jewelry
Steven Fox Jewelry 8 Lewis St, Greenwich, 203-302-9439; stevenfoxjewelry.com
Everyday Jewelry
JL Rocks
5 Riverside Ln., Greenwich, 203-990-0043 | 292 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-454-4541; jlrocks.com
Hand-forged platinum engagement ring featuring a 2.76C radiant cut HSI2 diamond flanked by 1.04C trapezoid side stones, $49,870
14K yellow gold blue topaz tower earrings, $2,800 JL ROCKS winner of best everyday jewelry
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST decor
Beehive makes me want to be the kind of person who swaps out their decor for every holiday and season. Until then, I’ll keep popping in for inspiration, picking up the occasional perfect piece and chatting with the fabulous staff . Megan Gagnon, Editor, athome in Fairfield County
ABOVE Barely-there hand-crafted glass railings ensure an unobstructed view from this vanishing edge pool.
BEST pool design // GLENGATE
From initial sketches to the final splash, Glengate handles every detail with the kind of design-first approach that turns a backyard into a private resort.
BEST HOME
Antiques/Vintage Store
Fairfield County Antique and Design 39 Knight St., Norwalk, 203-826 8575; fairfieldantiqueanddesign .com
68 Water St., Norwalk, 203-957-8686; chloewinstonlighting.com
Linens
The Linen Shop 21 Elm St., New Canaan, 203-972-0433; thelinenshopct.com
Outdoor Furniture
Serena & Lily 35 Elm St., Westport, 203-635-8000; serenaandlily.com
Paint
Farrow & Ball 32 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, 203-422-0990; farrow-ball.com
Pool Design
Glengate 47 Old Ridgefield Rd, Wilton, 203-762-2000; glengatecompany.com
Rugs
Redi-Cut Carpets & Rugs 1620 Post Rd. E., Westport, 203-349-6686; redicarpets.com
Stone
Gault Stone 11 Ferry Ln. W., Westport, 203-227-5181; gaultstone.com
BEST kitchen + bath WATERWORKS
Voted a reader favorite for good reason, this polished Post Road standout offers a refined selection of kitchen and bath fixtures, fittings and surfaces that seamlessly blend form and function. The space itself is thoughtfully designed to inspire, with vignettes that highlight the brand’s signature mix of timeless materials and modern craftsmanship.
THIS PHOTO
A bathroom board built around the Riverun integrated two-way thermo lever
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SERVICES + TO-DOS
You’ve got things to do, places to be and maybe a few muscles that need loosening along the way. That’s where this year’s winners come in. From the facialist that locals swear by to the dog groomer who might just love your pup more than you do, these are the MVPs of everyday life—the fitness pros, beauty experts, family lifesavers and daily go-tos that keep your corner of the world running smoothly.
BEST makeup shop // BLUEMERCURY
Bluemercury is the beauty store for people who actually use their serums (and yes, we’ll happily take a sample). It’s packed with the heavy hitters; luxury skincare, the latest in makeup and its own M-61 line, a clinical-grade collection that’s built a loyal following for one simple reason: It works.
RIGHT
A countertop’s worth of glow-up gear
EDITOR'S PICK
BEST mani/pedi
For a pampering experience, I love the lavender pedicure at Posh in Darien. All spa pedicures include a foot massage, which is a relaxing bonus. The service is excellent, and I always run into someone I know. Elizabeth Hole, Editor, Custom Publishing
BEST FITNESS + GEAR
Activewear
Athleta
350 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-625-0129 | 103-107 Main St., Westport, 203-454-0001; see all locations at athleta.gap.com
Beyond Fitness 1051 Long Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-842-2999; beyondfitness.studio
Indoor Cycling
Cycle x Strength 1010 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-617-1264; cycleandstrength.com
Pilates
Black Rock Pilates Studio 2889 Fairfield Ave., Bridgeport, 203-335-1987; blackrockpilates.com
Specialty Fitness Studio
Greenwich Jiu Jitsu Academy 219 E. Putnam Ave., Cos Cob, 475-282-6825; greenwichjiujitsu.com
Yoga
Connecticut Power Yoga 1372 Summer St., Stamford, 203-539-1852; ctpoweryoga.com
ABOVE Both Delamar Spa locations use Biologique Recherche products for skincare appointments.
BEST PAMPERING
Blowout
H Salon 75 Hillside Rd., Fairfield, 203-255-0798; hsalonfairfield.com
Color + Women’s Styling/ Salon
The Color Café 23 Benedict Pl., Greenwich, 203-769-1929 | Color Cafe North, 456 Main Ave., Norwalk, 203-642-4163; colorcafestudio.com
Day Spa
Noelle Spa 1100 High Ridge Rd., Stamford, 203-322-3445; noelle.com
Eyebrow/Eyelash Services Lanphier 20 West Ave., Darien, 203-656-4444; lanphier.us
Facial
BA Skin Lab 59 Grove St., Ste. 1A, New Canaan, 203-594-9898; baskinlab.com
Makeup Application
Amber Papastavros Westport; amberpapastavros.com
Makeup Shop
Bluemercury 1015 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-656-9660 | 254 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-863-0005 | 120 Main St., New Canaan, 203-972-7100 | 57 Main St., Westport,
203-222-9222 | 62 Main St., Westport, 203-227-6900; see all locations at bluemercury.com
Mani/Pedi
Posh Spa & Nail
1077 Boston Post Rd., Darien, 203-309-5454 | 195 Greenwich Ave., Greenwich, 203-900-1099 | 401 Post Rd. W., Westport, 203-222-8830; poshct.com
Massage Delamar
500 Steamboat Rd., Greenwich, 203-661-9800 | 275 Old Post Rd., Southport, 203-259-2800; delamar.com
Medical Spa
Element Medical Aesthetics 80 Main St., New Canaan, 203-594-1907 elementct.com
Men’s Styling/Salon
Paul Albert Salon
2060A Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-222-2250; paulalbertsalon.com
Spray Tan
Bronzed by Coy 231 Post Rd., Westport, 203-908-0184; bronzedbycoy.com
Waxing/Hair Removal
Aristy Beauty Studio 228 Mill St., Greenwich, 718-593-5525; aristybeautystudio.com
BEST DAILY ESSENTIALS
Auto Shop
JR Auto & Truck Repair 10 Orchard St., Fairfield, 203-588-0290; jrautoandtruck.com
Bookstore
Westport Book Shop 23 Jesup Rd., Westport, 203-349-5141; westportbooksalesventures .org
Car Wash
Splash Car Wash see all locations at splashcarwashes.com
CBD Store
Your CBD Store
38 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, 203-489-2549 | 5 River Rd., Unit C01, Wilton, 203-210-7770; getsunmed.com
Dry Cleaners
Fabricare Cleaners
264 Heights Rd., Darien, 203-655-3381 | 2130 Post Rd., Fairfield, 203-256-2725 | 5 Holmes St., Norwalk, 203-229-0001 | pickup service in
Fairfield County, 203-229-0001; fabricarecleaners.net
Entertainment Venue
Westport County Playhouse 25 Powers Ct., Westport, 203-227-4177; westportplayhouse.org
Children’s Music Lessons Wilton Music Studios wiltonmusicstudios.com
Children’s Parties Totsy Turvy Cafe and Play totsyturvycafeandplay.fun
Youth Fitness Training Wilton Family YMCA Gymnastics Training Center wiltonymca.org
College Prep Courses New England Education Consultants needucationconsultants.com
Toy Store Awesome Toys & Gifts awesometoys.com
DAILY ESSENTIALS
Auto Shop
Accurate Auto Repair accurateautonorwalk.com
Bookstore Westport Book Shop westportbooksaleventures.org
Car Wash Splash locations.splashcarwashes.com/ westport
CBD Store Your CBD Store yourcbdstoregreenwich.com
Dry Cleaning + Tailor Dean Cleaners of Westport deancleanersofwestport.com
Entertainment Venue Westport Country Playhouse westportplayhouse.org
Event Space MoCA Westport mocawestport.org
Event Space/Wedding Venue + Local Hotel The Inn at Longshore innatlongshore.com
Florist Compo Farm compofarmflowers.com
Gift Shop She La La shelala.com
Pet Groomer/Pet Spa + Veterinarian Spot On Vet spotonvet.com
Pet Supplies/Clothing Earth Animal earthanimal.com
Portrait Photographer January Stewart Photography januarystewart.com
Wedding Photographer Bruce Plotkin Photography @bruceplotkinphotography
Shoe Repair Westfair 203-259-5587
Stationery/Formal Invitations The Write Stuff thewritestuffct.com
Storage Westy westy.com
Healthy Smiles
TOP DENTISTS OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY 2025
Whether you need a simple check-up or dental surgery, selecting the right dentist is an important decision to make. Fairfield County has a wealth of leading practitioners, so we’ve streamlined the process by creating our 2025 Top Dentists Guide. To assemble the annual list we relied on the experts at topDentists™, who have more than seventy years in combined experience compiling peer review referral guides in the legal, dental and medical fields. The company recognizes elite dentists chosen by other dental professionals through a comprehensive selection process. With more than 200 local practitioners at the top of their field, our directory can help you find the right dentist in whatever specialty you need. »
Scan here to view our digital TOP DENTISTS LISTING!
DENTAL ANESTHESIOLOGY
ABRA DILISIO
Pediatric Dental Sedation Specialists of Connecticut 37 North Avenue, Norwalk 203-817-2534 pdssct.com
ENDODONTICS
BRIAN AMOROSO 259 Stillson Road, Fairfield 203-333-3636 amorosoendo.com
ALEXANDRA BYRNE 5 Eversley Avenue, Norwalk 203-803-1849
TRISHA CHARLAND Coastal Endodontics 148 East Avenue, Norwalk 203-857-1284 coastalendoct.com
JOEL B. CHASEN
Advanced Endodontics of Connecticut 95 Armory Road, Stratford 203-377-1331 advancedendo-ct.com
Aesthetic Dentistry of Fairfi eld 2600 Post Road, Southport 475-258-7683 adfct.com
JEFFREY D. O’CONNELL Gold Coast Dental 1177 Post Road, Fairfi eld 203-292-9292 goldcoastdentalpros.com
MIN SUNG YOON
Evergreen Family Dental & Southbury Smiles 1300 Post Road, Fairfi eld 203-259-7870 evergreenfamilydentalgroup. com
WILLIAM ZAPATA
Dental Specialists of Darien 24 Old Kings Highway South, Darien 203-408-2720 dentalspecialistsofdarien.com
Top Dentists
The Process Behind the List
To create our Top Dentists directory, we utilized the experts at topDentists™, which has more than seventy years in combined experience compiling peer-review referral guides in the legal, dental and medical fields. The research company, which started topDentists in 2007, uses a thorough selection process to recognize dentists who are chosen by other dental professionals.
INTRODUCTION
This list is excerpted from the 2025 topDentists™ list, a database that includes listings of more than 210 dentists and specialists in the Fairfield County area. The list is based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dental professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at usatopdentists.com. For more information, call 706-364-0853; write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903 or visit usatopdentists.com.
SELECTION PROCESS
“If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”
This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results.
The nomination pool of dentists consists of all dentists listed online with the American Dental Association as well as dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees.
Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given a careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received and status in various dental academies can play a factor in our decision.
Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.
Of course, there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere
Disclaimer
This list is excerpted from 2025 the topDentists™ list, which includes listings for over 210 dentists and specialists in the Fairfield County area. For more information, call 706-364-0853; write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; email help@usatopdentists.com or visit usatopdentists.com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2010-2025 by topDentists, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.
Dr. Evan D. Christensen, Dr. Arielle Chassen Jacobs, Dr. Veena Ramesh
ENDO ASSOCIATES OF GREENWICH
4 Dearfield Dr suite 206, Greenwich, CT 06831 (203) 293-2422 • eaofgreenwich.com • eaofgreenwich@gmail.com
Welcome to Endo Associates of Greenwich!
We are excited to have opened our newest location in Greenwich, CT and join the Greenwich community. We proudly offer a modern, Endodontic practice, dedicated to preserving your natural smile with precision, comfort and compassion. Our team consists of Drs. Evan D. Christensen Dr. Arielle Jacobs and Dr. Veena Ramesh. All of our doctors have been consistently named as Top Dentists in their respective communities of Fairfield, CT and Scarsdale, NY. With our Greenwich location, we’re expanding not just our geographic reach but also our dedication to delivering state-of-the-art treatment using the latest technologies in a calm, patient-focused setting. At Endo Associates , we understand that root canal treatment can often come
with anxiety. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to blend clinical precision with genuine compassion and comfort. Our beautiful, contemporary office in Greenwich was designed to reflect that philosophy— welcoming, peaceful, and equipped with cutting-edge technology to ensure optimal results and a smooth patient experience. Whether you’re referred by your general dentist or seeking a second opinion, we strive to exceed expectations at every step. From diagnosis to follow-up care, we’re here to make your journey to restored dental health as stress-free and effective as possible. We’re honored to be part of the Greenwich community and are excited to build lasting relationships with patients and dental professionals alike. Thank you for welcoming us—we look forward to serving you for many years to come.
If you add up all the years Dr. Goodwin has been in the Dental Field as a Hygienist and a Dentist, you will see she has been taking care of teeth for over 20 years. “Time has flown by. I’ve had the opportunity to see so many changes in Dentistry.” Technological advances really help her days go by with less stress. At her family practice in Cos Cob she uses the safest equipment and the most up-todate technology available. While there are many things I love about being a Dentist, treatment planning with the local specialists in town is very exciting for me. Being a solo Dentist at my office can get lonely sometimes, so it is great to work and collaborate with a group of talented dentists I also call my friends. I love watching kids I see at 3 or 4 years old grow up. Being a general dentist I can appreciate different stages of growth and even watch them have their own children. But the best
part about my job is the worklife balance it provides me of a mother of 2 active boys. I can get into work early, treat patients all day, and make it to their events after school. It is most important to me not to miss my children growing up, and Dentistry allows me to do just that. Our practice has continues to serve our community for over 20 years. We provide state-ofthe-art treatment in all phases of dentistry, including after hour emergency care. We engage in continuing education to stay up to date with the latest technologies to best serve our patients and families. We get to know our patients very, very well. Our staff have been with our practice a LONG time. We love seeing our patients all over town. I love when kids run up to me to show me their wiggly teeth or when patients introduce me to their families. It’s a great feeling and the reason I love being a Local Dentist.
GOODWIN DENTAL
Danielle Goodwin
Dr. James T. Aris is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Inspired by his love of the sciences and fine arts, Dr. Aris knew early on that he wanted to pursue dentistry as a profession. Since finishing dental
school, he has logged over 3,000 hours of continuing education. Dr. Aris’ extraordinary commitment to education allows him to perform sophisticated procedures including full-mouth reconstructions, root canals, implants and stunning veneers. He is among
MASTER OF THE ACADEMY OF GENERAL DENTISTRY ADVANCED DENTISTRY OF WILTON SPECIALTY: General & Cosmetic Dentistry
the top one percent of general dentists in this country who have earned a Mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). “Patients come first. That’s what drives us to seek out world-class educators to bring back world-class dental knowledge for the benefit of our patients.” Dr. Aris is also a PACE-approved provider of dental continuing education with the AGD.
In addition to his Mastership Award, Dr. Aris was named Scholar of the Dawson Academy, where dentists come together to gain a better understanding of not only teeth, but also the muscles and systems that control them. Dr. Aris completed an intensive one-year course on Advanced Full-Mouth reconstruction at NYU Linhart Continuing Dental Education. He is a member of the Spear Study Club and recognized as a Leading Physician of the World and Top General & Cosmetic Dentist.
Dr. Aris and his team offer compassionate care and are dedicated to making all patients feel comfortable from the minute they walk into the immaculate dental practice. This is especially important, he feels, for younger patients. “Attitudes and habits established at an early age are critical in maintaining good oral health for life,” stresses Dr. Aris. “Each member of our team is passionate about providing the highest quality of care.”
Dr. Aris’ practice is state-of-the-art and includes Planscan CAD/CAM, which he praises for “accurate form and function” as well as same-day results for crowns. “I’m inspired on a daily basis by the patients I’m fortunate to serve,” he emphasizes.
A Love Letter to Westport
by lisa cummings
Iremember one of my first visits to Westport, when I lived in New York City back in 2008. My husband and I had friends here. We would get invited to their parties. We weren’t parents yet. Our friends had kids at Bedford Middle School. Everyone seemed to be living their best lives. Easy access to the city, right on the ocean, excellent public schools, some tennis, golf, grilling by the pool, great restaurants. I said, “I think the people in the suburbs have more fun.” It’s true. My husband and I moved to Westport two years later in 2010.
The house we live in now is the first house we looked at. We bought a traditional farmhouse-style home in beautiful Greens Farms that had just been gut-renovated. We fell in love with it and moved here in September of that year. Eden, our daughter, was born a month and a half later.
It’s been 15 years now and not one regret. It’s where we started our family, got our first dog and made some core memories. I’m from the Boston area and spent my summers on Cape Cod, so Westport felt very similar. It was easy to make connections because this community offered so much.
You can dial it up or down here. That’s what I love about Westport. One week I could be at a fundraiser or fashion show at The Westport Library, and the next week I could be meeting a girlfriend at the Farmer’s Market or having a casual family lunch at The Sherwood Diner (I never get sick of the kale salad with salmon or chicken). The shopping downtown has gotten more elevated, which I love. Some of the brands, like Unsubscribed and Vuori, are great, but I also love popping into Roundabout for designer consignment.
We love supporting Bedford Acting Group
and Staples Players since my now-teenaged daughter has a huge passion for theater, singing and the arts. How lucky are we to have access to all of this?
On a given day, if I’m not working in my art studio on an illustration job, you might find me at the Double L Market for the best fish, meat and produce to grill that night. Lloyd and his wife Gianna feel like family. I might hit a Pure Barre class, which has been a consistent highlight of mine throughout the years, but I also love my Compo Beach walks and weekly tennis clinics at Sylan Tennis Club.
Truthfully, what I love most about Westport is sitting out by our pool with our dogs, all the hydrangeas in full bloom, reading, and watching our daughter hang out and swim with her friends. It feels like a fullcircle moment.
for the evening
Wednesday, September 10
Trefz Forum, The Westport Library
BOOKED for the evening, The Westport Library’s signature fundraising event, will celebrate its 26th edition by honoring a beloved and renowned actor and a champion of literature.
Sarah Jessica Parker will be this year’s awardee, feted in the Library’s Trefz Forum on Wednesday, September 10.
BOOKED for the evening annually honors an individual whose work reflects the purpose of the Library: to nurture a love of learning and to enhance our understanding of the world. Previous BOOKED for the evening award recipients include 2024 guest of honor Billie Jean King, as well as luminaries such as Tom Brokaw, E.L. Doctorow, Calvin Trillin, Wendy Wasserstein, Pete Hamill, Martin Scorsese, Arthur Mitchell, Doris Kearns Goodwin, David Halberstam, Oscar Hijuelos, Adam Gopnik, Will Shortz, Patti Smith, Barry Levinson, Jon Meacham, Nile Rodgers, Lynsey Addario, Ron Chernow, Alan Alda, Justin Paul, Frederic Chiu, Itzhak Perlman, Shonda Rhimes, and Laura Linney.
Tickets for the event go on sale to the general public later this summer.
Please visit westportlibrary.org/booked-for-the-evening for details, and email Westport Library Development Director Robin Powell at rpowell@westportlibrary.org about sponsorship opportunities.
Moffly Media is the official media sponsor of BOOKED for the evening
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