Volta: A Chic Stamford Cafe

Located on Spring Street in Stamford, Volta is a chic spot with a unique menu. Sure, Volta's got coffee and espresso drinks, but it also offers a full menu of delightful crepes, gelato, and unique sandwiches and salads. Craving a crepe? Volta makes them with ingredients like nutella, maple syrup, and dulce de leche, along with other more savory options like smoked salmon and avocado. Or try the beet carpaccio salad. Complement your meal with a refreshing glass of made to order fruit juice. And don't forget Volta's other main attraction: gelato. It's available in a variety of flavors, each of which is worth trying. With such great tastes, it's no wonder that Volta is a quite popular Stamford spot.

Volta
30 Spring Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 883-8841
http://www.yelp.com/biz/volta-gelateria-creperia-stamford

Don’t Forget to Vote!

Today is Election Day!  Don't forget to visit your local polling place to cast your vote and make your voice heard.

Big Patties: Five Unique Hamburger Ideas

The humble hamburger is a great go-to meal, especially when you don’t have a lot of time. But with a few simple ingredients, you can elevate the fast food staple into something truly special. Here are five ways to make your burger a little better.

Make a patty out of ground turkey and mix it with a little dill. Stuff the middle with a chunk of Brie cheese and grill until the meat is cooked and the cheese melts. Serve on a roll with pickles and lettuce.

Mix Chinese five-spice powder into your ground beef to give it a rich, complex flavor. Once the patty has cooked, glaze the top with a soy ginger sauce and serve with cilantro, cabbage and pickled carrots.

Make a Chicago-style hot dog burger by topping a traditional patty with sweet relish, chopped white onions and hot peppers. A little ketchup and mustard will bring this one over the top.

For a classic French bistro take on the hamburger, gently caramelize onions in a pan and ladle them generously over the cooked burger along with a slice of Gouda cheese and crisp, thick-cut bacon. Serve on a buttery brioche roll.

To give your burgers a special kick, mix in adobo seasoning, red onion and finely grated lime peels into your ground beef. Grill ears of corn until kernels are just cooked, strip the kernels off and mix them with queso fresco and a little bit of mayonnaise to top the burgers.

Highlights of Driving Across Route 66

Historic Route 66 is full of gorgeous vistas and is a great slice of America. There's a great variety of stops along the way, too, as these fantastic highlights illustrate.

Sand Hills Curiosity Shop
This delightfully strange shop in Erick, Oklahoma, professes itself as a haven of redneck culture. Full of fun and interesting items about Route 66, music will often pop up here as well. It's a unique stop brimming with personality.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library
This museum contains the largest collection of original papers and items from the Lincoln family in the world. With multiple exhibits filled with interesting material, the museum is a must for any history buff.

Jesse James Museum
There's no better way to celebrate this iconic route than a visit to a museum devoted to iconic outlaw. This museum in Stanton, Missouri, operates under the belief that Jesse James lived well into the 20th century, and the evidence presented is a wonderful addition to James' mythic status.

Cadillac Ranch
Just west of Amarillo, Texas, this unique monument was the brain-child of a group of artistic hippies living in the area. They buried a bunch of Cadillacs, nose-down, into the ground, and people have come to admire (and spray paint) them for decades since. Grab a can and stop by!

Tesuque Flea Market
Right by Santa Fe, New Mexico, this market is a bustling collection of many people and cultures. You can find a lot of cool stuff here, from fantastic Native American artifacts to good imported all over the world.

Navaratna: Vegetarian Indian Cuisine in Stamford

Vegetarians — and, really, anybody who appreciates flavor — will be delighted by Navaratna, an Indian restaurant in Stamford specializing exclusively in vegetarian cuisine. On the menu you'll find tasty dishes comprised of veggies, lentils, rice, lively spices, and aromatic herbs. Appetizers at Navaratna include options like medu vada and sambar idli; entrees include zesty curries, dosas, and dishes of cashews, almonds, coconuts, and dried fruit. Complement your meal with a delightful lassi, a sweet beverage treat. And be sure to leave room for dessert! Whether you're a strict vegetarian, an omnivore, or somewhere in between, you're likely to find something to enjoy at Navaratna.

Navaratna
133 Atlantic Street
Stamford
, CT 06902
(203) 348-1070
http://www.yelp.com/biz/navaratna-vegetarian-indian-cuisine-stamford

Happy Autumn!

As the mosaic of nature's colors arrive, the pumpkins grow in the cornfields, and the cornucopia of harvest festivals enrich our area, we want to wish you a Happy Autumn.

The Avon Theatre Film Center: Stamford’s Historic Movie House

The Avon Theatre is a fixture in Stamford's historic downtown district. This not-for-profit art-house cinema screens eclectic movies including independent, foreign, documentary, and classic films. It's not the same stuff you'll find at the multiplex, but then again The Avon Theatre isn't your typical cinema! Its architecture's a treat in itself: the theater's housed in a building with art deco touches, making a trip to the movies feel a bit like a trip back in time. Adding to the ambiance are original 1930s era murals commissioned by local Stamford artist Oscar Glas, depicting scenes of Stamford's history. A trip to The Avon Theatre is truly unlike any other movie-going experience. Check the Avon's website for upcoming movies and showtimes.

The Avon Theatre Film Center
272 Bedford Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 967-3660
http://www.yelp.com/biz/avon-theatre-stamford

The High Line: New York City’s Most Unusual Park

The far west side of downtown Manhattan is an interesting bit of land—originally a bustling port, what is now known as the Meatpacking District has seen the majority of its industry flee to Brooklyn and beyond as rents increase in the city. Moving in are galleries, clubs, and restaurants. Towering above the neighborhood is the High Line, a disused railroad track that used to connect warehouses but has been vacant for years. Recently, the City of New York transformed a stretch of the High Line into an elevated park, accessible by a number of stairways. Featuring spectacular views of the Hudson River, the park is also home to a rotating food concession, with each vendor having 29 days to impress visitors before being replaced. In addition, the park hosts rotating public art exhibitions from a variety of creators. It’s a spectacular and original part of New York history brought beautifully into the present. For more information, visit www.thehighline.org.

The Capital Grille: Stamford Steakhouse

Why travel down to the city? At The Capital Grille, you can enjoy a tasty steak in a classic atmosphere, right in Stamford. Once winner of the Culinary Federation's Achievement of Excellence Award, The Capital Grille is a chain that brings great steaks and more to lucky diners across the country, including Stamford locals. With a welcoming ambiance and friendly, attentive service, it's a good spot for dining with friends, family, or business associates. On the menu you'll find a variety of dry-aged steaks, like the Kona-rubbed sirloin and the porcini-rubbed Delmonico, together with unique flavors like the 8-year aged Balsamic. The Capital Grille also offers a very extensive wine list, making it possible to find just the right wine pairing for a special dinner. These numerous options might just make The Capital Grille one of Stamford's best steakhouses.

The Capital Grille
230 Tresser Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 967-0000
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-capital-grille-stamford

Dragonfly Restaurant and Lounge: Relax in a Hip Atmosphere

Looking to unwind after a hard day's work? The Dragonfly Restaurant and Lounge might just be your spot. A popular bar with a full menu, Dragonfly presents a sophisticated atmosphere, with mellow music and retro furnishings that's made the place very popular among Stamford locals. The bar menu's extensive, with top notch whiskeys, scotches, and cognacs, along with mixed drinks. On the food menu, you'll find delicious small plates such as chicken satay, calamari, Kobe burger, smoked gouda ravioli, and herb roasted eggplant. After about 10 p.m., Dragonfly metamorphoses into a popular night spot, attracting a clientele of young professionals. With good music, good food, and good drink, the Dragonfly Restaurant and Lounge is a Stamford hot spot.

Dragonfly Restuarant and Lounge
488 Summer Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 357-9800
http://www.yelp.com/biz/dragonfly-lounge-stamford

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