Fairfield Community Foundation

http://www.fccfoundation.org

As many of you know, at least those who scroll beyond “Bars” and “Look Good,” this site includes write-ups of local charities and foundations. Why? Three reasons: 1) it’s amazing how many wonderful opportunities exist for giving, 2) it’s alarming how few of the 2,243+ organizations we’re actually aware, and 3) researching them independently is as tedious as cleaning Vaseline off your carpet with toilet paper and baby shampoo.

The FCF understands this and was created to make giving a lot of easier.

What they do: The FCF helps you “select those [organizations] that match your charitable passions and provide well-run programs that achieve results…. [and] help local nonprofits operate at peak efficiency so they get the most good out of every dollar. You can also join other like-minded donors to engage in collective giving.”

Who they are: FCF’s leadership is composed of local community and business leaders.

Where your money goes: To ensure money is used most effectively, grants focus on 6 areas –
  - Education and Youth Development
  - Economic Opportunity (including affordable housing, workforce development, and immigrant success)
  - Health and Human Services
  - Arts and Culture/Arts Education
  - The Environment/Environmental Education
  - Nonprofit Capacity Building

Click to read the rest ... "Fairfield Community Foundation"

Give     Darien     Fairfield     Greenwich     New Canaan     Norwalk     Stamford     Weston     Westport     Wilton    

Catch a Healthy Habit

39 Unquowa Road, Fairfield

I figured I was one of, say, 5 people in Fairfield County who gets excited about a raw vegan cafe. No, I’m not a raw veganist (woah, that sounds vulgar), I just enjoy almost any food as long as it has plenty of salt. So I entered the bright, happy café on a beautiful afternoon and fully expected to be the only customer. But there were plenty of people waiting for fresh juices, smoothies, and lunch. These weren’t health food junkies, either: they were normal people enjoying a snack or meal that doesn’t come with a health warning or pangs of regret. And for raw vegan fare, it’s damn good.

Robin’s note: I ordered one of their specialties: Sesame Noodles made from kelp “noodles.” What, you may ask, is a kelp noodle? As Glen, co-owner, explained, “we strip the outside of the kelp—you know, seaweed—and we’re left with… gelatinous…” then he tapered off, possibly sensing how disturbing his explanation had become. But when my dish arrived, it was not the quivering mass of jelly-strands I envisioned. It looked like sesame noodles! And it was delicious, as was the rich, dense brownie I ordered in case the seaweed-fest didn’t work out. Afterwards I felt super-healthy and I look forward to returning for their Pasta Primavera.

Who you’ll see eating here: Women and men ages 30-50.

Their specialty: Sesame Noodles and BBQ Burger

What you should order: Spring Sushi, brownie

What you may not know but should:
  1. They sell bagged raw –food snacks, and granola and host a number of events, including superfood workshops and cleansing diet workshops.
  2. It’s the only raw foods cafe in the state and it’s not a franchise—so please support this wonderful eatery!
http://www.catchahealthyhabit.com

Dining     Fairfield    

Little League Challenger

Darien, http://www.dybs.org
Norwalk, http://www.leaguelineup.com
Stamford, http://www.leaguelineup.com
Wilton, http://www.wiltonlittleleague.org
Fairfield, http://www.eteamz.com
Greenwich, http://www.littleleague.org

I was never very good at sports. I loved them, though, and signed up for every thing: basketball, softball, field hockey, lacrosse… back when we signed up for sports and were spared the disgrace of try outs. It was common knowledge I’d be useless with a ball but, shoot, I could yell and cheer louder than anyone else on the team. So I did, and instead of runs, baskets, goals, and things that actually won games, I made them very noisy. At the end of the seasons, I received spirit awards. Okay, they weren’t MVP, but at least I contributed.

When I read about the Challenger Division, a team of mentally and physically challenged children playing baseball with the help of volunteers, I was touched. Here is an opportunity, I thought, to reward spirit and teamwork as the end result of a game: a laudable, often overlooked goal, and I bet I’m not the first cheerleader to agree.

What they are: “…a program that enables mentally and physically-challenged youth to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities.
“The philosophy is to give all children the chance to play baseball in a setting that is fun and supportive. A big part of this, for the players, is to experience the sense of belonging that comes with being a part of a team, as well as the spirit of friendly competition through games with other Challenger teams from neighboring towns. In Challenger baseball, scores don’t count - everybody is a winner. It’s all about acceptance, self-esteem, positive learning experiences and team spirit.”

Click to read the rest ... "Little League Challenger"

Give     Darien     Fairfield     Greenwich     Norwalk     Stamford     Wilton    

Taco Loco

3170 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport

Yes, gentle readers, it’s named the “Crazy Taco” (or, according to Google Translate, “Crazy Plug”… yeah. Gross.) There’s very little “crazy” going on at this fabulous Mexican spot, where the food is fantastic but no one cares because the margaritas are AMAZING.

My faithful readers know of my undying quest for the best marg in FC and, ooh baby, it’s at this wacky, loony taco spot. They use Cuervo Silver tequila and Grand Marnier—no strange plastic-bottled tequila for these slushies!

The restaurant exterior blossoms with colorful flowers and the décor evokes an authentic Mexican cantina as envisioned by a Connecticut resident.

Robin’s note: They have a lovely wrap-around porch upon which we partook of our meal and marg(s), enjoying the waning summer evening sky while the hard iron chairs engraved a cross-hatch pattern onto my numbed butt.

Their specialty: While the staff has difficulty committing to one specialty, we were able to drag out of them that their fajitas are quite popular.

What you should order: Fajitas. Oh, and margaritas.

What you may not know but should: They’ve received a million awards for their food and drinks, so none of what you just read is news.
http://www.tacoloco.com

Dining     Fairfield    

Ann Taylor Loft

1499 Post Road, Fairfield
100 Greyrock Place, Stamford
17 Main Street, Westport

Three years ago, if someone told me I could either A) shop at ATL, or B) kiss a Madagascar hissing cockroach, I might have paused a moment and thought, “Well, that particular type of cockroach doesn’t bite and is considered among the more docile of the cockroach family.” Yeah. I wasn’t a huge fan of ATL. Then something happened. ATL began morphing into something sort of J. Crew wannabe-ish. Not great, but interesting. Then Gary Muto (formerly of Gap) took over and – holy cow! It’s terrific!

Their silk dresses are chic, feminine, and wearable. The tops are fun with tasteful embellishments, in primarily cotton and silk. The styles flatter with clever cuts, ruffles, and beautiful colors, not by smashing cellulite with built-in girdles or shrouding “problems areas” in tents of poly-blend lace. Plus, the prices and clearance sales are reliably fantastic.

Robin’s note: Gary Muto took over from past-ATL president Donna Noce Colaco who left a season or two before their fashion flourished. Funny enough, she is now president of Chico’s, the store that sells voluminous clothes to menopausal women who fancy themselves “artsy.” I assume it’s a good fit for both of them.

Who you’ll see shopping here: Women of all ages and backgrounds.

Their specialty: Silk dresses and embellished t-shirts.

What you should buy: Great cardigans and dresses.

What you may not know but should: ATL operates over 500 stores around the US, so its designs have to flatter a bunch of figures and make customers think they’re thinner than they really are. As a result, sizes tend to run large. 
ww.anntaylorloft.com

Fashion     Fairfield     Stamford     Westport    

Fresh Air Fund

http://www.freshairfund.org

Last year my husband and I decided to host a 6 year old boy, Eddie*, from the Fresh Air Fund. For two weeks that summer I became the mother of 4 instead of 3. It was a living hell. Imagine a playdate that lasts 334 1/2 hours too long, riddled with late-night bouts of homesickness.

However, I liked Eddie. So, despite all reasons to the contrary, we invited him back this year. When my husband picked him up in New York, he exclaimed, “I can’t wait to see Miss Robin!” He ran into my arms as though his whole year culminated in being with us once again. This time, we delighted in being together: the arguing mitigated dramatically, as did his homesickness. Eddie swam every day with us, went to the playground, went to parties, played baseball, and was genuinely and visibly thrilled with every thing we accepted as part of our normal summer routine. As difficult as the past visit had been, through it we had learned how to interact and succeed as a “family.”

Toward the end of his visit he popped his head out of the swimming pool and I saw he was drooling. He laughed and wiped his face and exclaimed, “I slobbered on the tire swing yesterday, too! I slobber when I’m having fun.” With that, he popped back into the water. I never thought I’d be so happy to see someone slobbering in my pool. That must be why God created chlorine.

The day before we drove him back to the city, he said, “Miss Robin, wouldn’t it be fun if I could stay here all summer?” Well, maybe. But I can’t wait to see him again next summer.

Click to read the rest ... "Fresh Air Fund"

Give     Darien     Fairfield     Greenwich     New Canaan     Norwalk     Stamford     Weston     Westport     Wilton    

The Lilly Pulitzer Litmus Test

The quality* of a Fairfield County vintage/consignment store directly correlates to the average price of its Lilly Pulitzer sundresses:

  1. Roundabout, Greenwich & Westport: $69, if available.
  2. DWR, New Canaan: $65
  3. Designer Label Consignment, Westport: $45
  4. Twice is Nice, Southport: $20

*Quality includes store atmosphere, ease of shopping, price, and rarefied designer selection.

Fashion     Fairfield     Greenwich     New Canaan     Westport    

Isabelle et Vincent French Bakery

1903 Post Road, Fairfield

Mmm… located conveniently across from Dairy Queen (kill two birds with one stone and all that), this patisserie is a welcome dose of culture to a stretch of thoroughfare crowded with podiatrists and sandwich shops named after bugs (Roly Poly). The chocolate fountain at the entrance is enchanting and an appropriate harbinger of things to come; namely luscious pastries perfectly ensconced in chocolat (that’s not a typo – that’s French) and thickly layered with cream and butter.

The bread is magnifique, with flavorful baguettes such as Bacon & Onion, Parmesan & Thyme, and Olive. Each pastry is generously portioned and the triple-layer mousse with colorful macaroons atop is simply gorgeous. Everything—from the tiniest pink macaroon to the largest baguette—is made completely from scratch in the shop.

Martha Stewart loves this place, along with most newsworthy folks in the Western Hemisphere.

Robin’s note: There are three seating zones in the bakery: a lovely dining table area, tall stools, and a small window counter (through which to watch the Dairy Queen). All are quaint, but none terribly appropriate for a toddler who had to stretch out his neck and put his chin on the table to see his pastry. Fortunately, he was fine because toddlers are too young to know that’s not a great way to eat.

Who you’ll see eating/shopping here: Mothers buying pastries for their families and friends or seated with a child.

Their specialty: Almond and chocolate croissants, Napoleons.

What you should eat: Almond croissants: we watched the cooks make them, then we had one.

What you may not know but should:
  1. They’ve won a bunch of awards in the 3 years they’ve been in Fairfield.
  2. They should take the creepy dolls out of the chocolate case.
http://www.isabelleetvincent.com

Dining     Fairfield    

Twice is Nice

3519 Post Road, Southport

This consignment store caught my eye the first time I blew by it in my minivan on Post Road. It’s situated on an odd corner and I typically drive by it too quickly to brake without causing a five car pile-up and, as you can see above, it falls short of warranting that kind of pain and suffering.

But the other day I found myself cruising along with a rare spare moment and unusually light traffic. So when I found myself careening past the store, I slammed on the brakes, hooked a U, and screamed into the parking lot with nary a police car in sight. (Note to law enforcement officials: It never happened. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the traffic safety.)

Anyhoo, the tiny lot was packed and I practically had to grease the sides of my ride to squeeze into a parking spot. The store was packed, too, with gobs of gew-gaw and gaggles of gabbing women. Most were buying something, be it a $24 wood-framed mirror or an armload of Lilly Pulitzer sundresses at $16-22 a pop.

Robin’s note: In a fit of breathless hysteria, I snapped up a ~$450 Tracy Feith sundress for only $16. Then I got home and noticed the atom-sized lettering on the label “for Target.” Bluh.

Click to read the rest ... "Twice is Nice"

Fashion     Fairfield    

Margarita Man

Margarita Man
Mike Beetem, 860-790-1234

Every year my husband and I celebrate Mexican Independence Day with a large party. Being American, we change their day of freedom to whatever happens to work best for us, typically a Saturday night. So “Cinquo de Mayo” cheekily becomes “Secondo de Mayo” or “Octavo de Mayo” or whenever (and however we feel like translating it.) We think this is cool but it will probably be one of those dorky things that haunt our children far into their adult lives.

So when the stress of planning a party and knowing you’ll someday destroy your children’s social development starts becoming less fun than what you envisioned, it’s time to call… Margarita Man!

Margarita Man, aka Mike Beetem, saved my party and made me so happy I forgot about the other stuff that was bothering me. I simply told him when and where and he delivered a beautiful machine – all gussied up in a grass skirt and silk flowers – the afternoon of my party. He supplied the delicious mix, I supplied the tequila and the triple sec. After giving us a quick tutorial (1. Pour it in, 2. Flip the switch) he told us he’d pick up the machine the next day (which he did, precisely when he said he would).

And the party? WOW. Nothing says “Viva la Independence!” like one too many Margarita Man margaritas!

Click to read the rest ... "Margarita Man"

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