Eat & shop there, not there.

At some point in our lives we have found ourselves in a city or town not knowing where the eat or shop. In America national franchises like TGIFridays, McDonald's or Home Depot have provided us with the convenience of a familiar place where we already know what's in store. Literally.

We type the name into our GPS or cell phone to find the address and voila, we feel like we're home again. In Stamford, many national chains have overrun the city leaving the mom and pop places empty. These small establishments are ten times better and provide you with a friendlier and more complete Stamford experience.

If you visit Stamford, I have provided a list of some mom and pop alternatives staying away from the monopolizing chains:

Eat here: Colony Grill
Not here: California Pizza Kitchen

Shop here: Karp's Hardware/Keough's Hardware
Not here: Home Depot

Eat here: Sunny Daes Ice Cream/Gofer Ice Cream
Not here: Carvel/Baskin Robbins

Eat here: Fusaro's Italian Market
Not here: Boston Market

Eat here: Sierra Grill
Not here: Taco Bell

Shop here: High Ridge Farmer's Market
Not here: Stop & Shop

Eat here: Ocha Restaurant
Not here: P.F. Changs

Eat here: Villa Italia Restaurant
Not here: Olive Garden

Shop here: Palmer’s Market
Not here: Whole Foods Market

Shop here: Springdale Florist
Not here: 1-800-Flowers

Eat here: Capriccio Cafe
Not here: Cosi

Eat here: Crabshell Restaurant
Not here: The Capital Grille

I go to these places frequently. It makes Stamford feel more like a town.