All in one night

A grand night without spending a grand. That's the premise behind A Grand Summer Night. It is held every year in downtown Stamford. This year it falls on August 11th.

To promote the flourishing independent restaurant business, the “Friends of Stamford Downtown” organize this annual fundraiser to promote fine dining in downtown Stamford. Proceeds from the event are used to purchase outdoor art for downtown Stamford and help reduce the costs of significant downtown art exhibits.

I've attended this event for the past two years and highly recommend it. When you RSVP to the event through Downtown Special Services District, you are given a list of downtown restaurants. You choose one that you would like to have dinner at. Dinner and non-alcoholic drinks are included with the ticket, which is $80 per person. The price is a steal for some delicious courses and you'd be supporting the arts. It should be fine if you decide to wait until after the July 29th RSVP deadline but the following recommended restaurants might not be available:

Aria Restaurant
Capital Grille
Mitchell's Fish Market
Market Restaurant

The night begins at UCONN-Stamford (above picture) for hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Mingle with residents of the city while enjoying great eats. Wait, there's more. Complimentary gift bags filled with assorted goods from Conair, Avon Theatre, Stamford Town Center and Saks Fifth Avenue are provided for each guest. All restaurants are within walking distance of the university. Who can beat all of that?

A silent auction is held before dinner. Some of the prizes offered are from local craft stores, golf courses and travel companies. I recommend bidding on DiMare Pastry shop Dessert of the Month, Dinner at Strada 18 in South Norwalk or the UBS Parade Spectacular Family Package. You get a local taste of Stamford for a reasonable price with those best bets. At Latham and Columbus Park, pieces of art will be available for purchase.

You then continue on your fine dining journey to your chosen restaurant. A unique Downtown Stamford experience awaits you.

Famous faces, familiar places

Stamford is home to UBS, RBS, Ernst & Young, YES Network and WWE. Under that corporate shell is a city that is or was home to many famous Americans. You might bump into some of them on a night out in the city. As a resident of Stamford, I thought I would brag a little and provide a list of “I Bet You Didn’t Know” Stamfordites:

TV Personalities

Food Network star Ina Garten of “Barefoot Contessa”

Earl Hindman - played "Wilson" on the TV show "Home Improvement"

Entertainers/Journalists

Walter Cronkite

Actor Gene Wilder and Singer Cyndi Lauper

Actor Christopher Lloyd (“Doc from Back to the Future”) and band leader Benny Goodman

Pop/R&B singer Rihanna

Will Shortz, puzzle editor of The New York Times - Organized the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament held in Stamford until 2006.

Artists

Gutzon Borglum, sculptor of Mount Rushmore

Painter Nicholas Krushenick

Politicians

U.S. Senator and Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman

Former U.S. Representative Christopher Shays - Served on the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Financial Services and Homeland Security Committees.

Sports

Knicks assistant coach Herb Williams and former Yankees/Mets pitcher David Cone

Baseball legend Jackie Robinson

Football Hall of Famer Andy Robustelli

Former Mets manager Bobby Valentine - Owns a sports bar downtown where he frequently visits if he's not on ESPN.

Former NBA Commissioner J. Walter Kennedy - Also elected to two terms as Mayor of Stamford. The football field at Westhill High School is named after him.

Circus Circus

It is not 1913. Nor is it 1941. It might as well be. The last time the circus came to town was during these two years. Stamford was a town back then. Now it is a city. The tradition continues.

“Long before the conception of a shopping center, the land where Ridgeway Center is located was filled with people coming and going…only with different activity. Children played, people picnicked, and at least one day a year, Stamford residents gathered between Summer, Bedford and Sixth Street. The great Ringling Brothers Circus came to town complete with three rings, two stages and dining tents set apart on Summer Street south of Sixth Street."

Elephants might not be walking with trunks tied to tails parading down Atlantic Street but the large, white tents displaying the Big Apple Circus sign now stands.

For the past month, the newly renovated Mill River Park (see separate post below) has host the Big Apple Circus entertaining a Stamford audience in the center of the city. Acts include gravity-defying acrobats, juggling clowns, dancing dogs and a daredevil grandma. A daredevil grandma? You have to go to the show to see what that one is about.

The circus brings back old Stamford. Photographs and articles from The Daily Advocate show a small town with annual parades and circus acts. The Stamford Town Center now stands in the old circus parade route, but that doesn't matter. The past has made a comeback. The downtown looks different but the trapeze acts remain the same.

The community is once again coming together to celebrate the tradition of an old American pastime. In a state where P.T Barnum was renowned for his traveling circus, the Big Apple brings that enjoyment back for all ages.

After this weekend the circus is leaving Stamford so be sure to visit and make a day out of it. The setting may have changed, but the excitement has returned.

Photos and citation compliments of the Stamford Historical Society

The Heart of the City

Many major cities lie by a river. They were founded along that river. For Stamford, it is the Mill River. The first meetinghouse in 1644 was by that river. A school was built in 1702 on its west bank. A general store was at its mouth. Manufacturing in the 19th century relied on the mills laid along the river:

"Relying on the water power of the Mill River as water fell over the dam near Main Street, between 1850 and 1852 George Watson operated the only pottery known to have existed in Stamford."

I remember the Mill River as a collection of sedimentary waste. It was ignored in my childhood. There was the pink tent festival in Mill River Park and Japanese cherry trees planted along its banks, but the river remained dormant. They covered up the foundations of the city. The history of Stamford lay covered in neglect.

People ignored it everyday as they drove along Washington Boulevard. The park was home to abandoned shopping carts and plastic bags. The city's proposed plans sat on the table for years. Hotels and offices sprung up in the area but the park laid in dismay.

Action began with the revitalization of Columbus Park in downtown Stamford on the eve of the 21st century. In 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moved in to restore the river's ecosystem. The Mill River Restoration Project began.

They removed a 100 year old dam and revived the heart of Stamford. Engineers chipped away at history and opened up the river so that it flows back into Long Island Sound.

Industry moved elsewhere since the 1800's and no longer relies on the Mill River. Exotic plants and species are back. The city's natural settings have been restored. More buildings surround the river since Stamford was founded, but nature made a comeback. The first meetinghouse is now the Trump Tower. The general store is now the Government Center. The school is now the Hampton Inn.

The downtown looks different. What a difference a river can make. Stamford has only seen taller buildings and a wider skyline. The only thing that has been restored to its natural beauty is the Mill River, where Stamford began 400 years ago.

"Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters." - River Runs Through It

Works cited

http://www.stamfordhistory.org/made-in-stamford.htm

Pitch #2 - LiveStamford.com

Pitch Sentence

LiveStamford.com is a comprehensive guide that explores all essential information needed to live and learn about the city of Stamford, Connecticut.

Elevator pitch

The city of Stamford, Connecticut has a lot of visitors every year. They come for business because of its large corporate sector. They come for pleasure because it lies along Long Island Sound near New York City. They come to “The City that Works” wishing to make the best of their time.

LiveStamford.com is a website that combines all other websites on Stamford. It consolidates and organizes information taken from the Stamford Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Special Services District and review sites. It then takes that information and includes reviews from local residents.

The site will organize everything from hotels and restaurants to local events and real estate. It will provide only the best and accurate reviews. Visitors to the site will have access to the history of different neighborhoods as well as the best restaurants and local attractions.

It will also cover secret deals found outside the usual tourist attractions. An extra feature called “The Frugal Stamford” will provide different guides outlining what to see around the city based on the total amount that is entered.

The site will be a simple, low cost design with easy usability and will incorporate videos, pictures, personal experiences and interesting facts for these places. Support for the site will also come from local ads on the web pages.

The city is growing and being restructured everyday. LiveStamford.com provides an easy solution to the visitor or new resident who wants to explore what resources the city has to offer.

Promotional Release

LiveStamford.com is an interactive online guide that outlines all resources needed to explore and enjoy the city of Stamford, Connecticut. It provides information on everything from restaurants to real estate for the visitor or new resident of the city.

The site includes a calendar of events for every season and budget, and offers guides on what to do in Stamford without straining your wallet. Reviews from local residents and past visitors will accompany this material.

In addition to these unique features, LiveStamford.com combines local information and conveniently features them on one site. The visitor will find real help from the people who live in Stamford. This is the best resource in providing accurate information to help you plan your next trip.

For more information visit www.LiveStamford.com.

Pitch #1 - SHSF

Pitch Sentence

The Students for the History of Stamford Foundation (SHSF) will educate students in the Stamford Public School system on the historical importance of the city through hands-on activities and projects.

Elevator Pitch

Students need to learn the historical importance of their backyard. Every square foot of Stamford, Connecticut has a lifetime of history. Every footstep a student takes around the city tells a story.

The main goal of the foundation is to have students use the knowledge and lessons they have learned on the history of Stamford to help them become future leaders in any facet they endeavor.

In partnership with the Stamford Historical Society, the SHSF will provide lesson plans for Stamford Public School teachers on famous historical landmarks around the city. The lesson plans will also show the historical significance each topic has had on American history.

Through exhibits in the classroom provided by the Stamford Historical Society, students from all grade levels will learn how Stamford has changed throughout the centuries. Topics studied will include: Transportation in Stamford, changing neighborhoods, schools and parks as well as memorials and famous landmarks.

The budget for this foundation is low. Volunteers from the Stamford Historical Society will assist teachers who will incorporate these lessons into their curriculum.

The impact business has had on the changing face of Stamford has been very crucial to what the city has become today. Learning about the past produces valuable ideas for the future.

Promotional Release

Educate students using resources found right in the city of Stamford. Its extensive history shows how the city started as a small farming village and rose to a center of industrial growth and prosperity.

The Students for the History of Stamford Foundation (SHSF) provides lessons to teachers on the history of Stamford and raises awareness of historical preservation. It encourages students from the Stamford Public School system to learn important historical information on various landmarks and neighborhoods.

Through interactive exhibits and lessons, students learn the changes different innovations have had on the growth of Stamford. The design and content provided by the foundation explore categorized time frames providing a historical and educational benefit for the schools and community.

For more information on the SHSF and its programs, please visit http://www.stamfordhistory.org/students.

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.