New York Vintners: An Education in Wine

New York Vintners offers an unparalleled wine tasting experience. More than just a wine shop, New York Vintners gives visitors a taste of the good life through its amazing selection of gorgeous wines. Featuring both domestic and imported wines, New York Vintners selects wines with an eye on quality, trading in only the most exquisite varieties and regions available.

New York Vintners is perfect for both connoisseurs and novices to the wine trade thanks to the numerous classes held in store. The place offers classes in wine pairing, focusing on different cuisines and wines to complement them. The shop's selection includes many bottles you'd have a hard time finding elsewhere, and the staff's happy to recommend a bottle to try.

Visit the New York Vintners website to find out more about this wine shop.

New York Vintners
21 Warren Street
New York, NY 10007
(212) 812-3999

www.newyorkvintners.com
www.yelp.com/biz/new-york-vintners-new-york

Gelatissimo: Fresh, Authentic Gelato

Stop by Gelatissimo for a sweet treat in New Canaan. The cozy ice cream shop serves up gelato so authentic (and tasty), you might be surprised it's in Connecticut and not Italy. The friendly staff is happy to let you sample a variety of the flavors before deciding which one to enjoy. And there's typically a varied selection, including some rotating, seasonal flavors. It's all adeptly made: smooth yet dense; sweet without overpowering the flavor.

Some of Gelatissimo's popular flavors include Vanilla, Pistachio, Hazelnut, and Watermelon, and whatever you choose can be enjoyed in a cone or cup. You can add toppings, too, but you may not want to mask the flavor of this delightful gelato. If you're planning to visit, be sure to stop by the ATM, as Gelatissimo only accepts cash.

Gelatissimo
26 Forest Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-5000
gelatissimoartisangelato.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/gelatissimo-new-canaan

Shop Affordable Fashion Jewelry at Pennyweights

Adorn yourself with simple jewelry pieces that make a stylish statement at Pennyweights in New Canaan. This adorable jewelry line and shop has been catering to New Canaan’s most fashionable residents with elegant and vibrant earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Pennyweights offers a great selection of moderately-priced jewelry perfect for gifting as well as finding a little something for yourself.

The clean lines of the metal work that surround the boldly-colored stones make Pennyweights’ pieces perfect for casual wearers and jewelry enthusiasts alike. Select a beautiful pair of gemstone drop earrings for the special woman in your life, or choose a gold-plated, elastic bracelet that carries the message “Love” as a modest, everyday piece for those who are your nearest and dearest. Open daily, this little shop is a great place to pop in to find modern, one of a kind pieces. Visit the website for a gallery of the boutique's fine jewelry.

Pennyweights
124 Elm Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-7739
pennyweights.com
https://www.facebook.com/pennyweights
http://www.yelp.com/biz/pennyweights-new-canaan

Design Solutions: Style Your Life

If you’re looking for something unique to decorate your home at Stamford Corners Apartments, locals might point you in the direction of Design Solutions. This highly-rated home store has an incredible selection and the staff are great at helping you discover the perfect object for your room. One of the biggest sales points here is the wide variety of upholstered furniture – if you love the shape of a piece but not the surface, they can easily replace the fabric with something from their library. It’s an awesome and reasonably inexpensive way to create a conversation piece for a room. Design Solutions also sells a variety of lighting and wall art, and their bath department is exceptional. Even kids have something to enjoy here with a collection of well-designed toys built from sturdy natural materials.

Design Solutions
146 Elm Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-3116
http://www.yelp.com/biz/design-solutions-new-canaan

Get Your Morning Jolt at Espresso NEAT

Darien locals know that Espresso NEAT offers reliably good coffee in a warm, cozy atmosphere. If you visit during lunch, try indulging in a grilled chicken sandwich with caramelized onions served on whole grain bread, or go for a turkey and cheddar sandwich served on a rich, buttery croissant. Espresso NEAT is also a good place to pick up a cup of coffee and a muffin when you're on the go, as the staff is efficient and friendly in getting orders out quickly.

When you visit you'll probably notice that there's a group of regulars who seem friendly with each other as they each go about their business, some using the shop's Wi-Fi to catch up on email, while others study and still others relax while their kids play quietly nearby. Make Espresso NEAT a habit in your daily routine and you'll likely become part of this crowd!

Espresso NEAT
20 Grove Street
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 202-7215
neatcoffee.com
www.yelp.com/biz/espresso-neat-darien

Brewing the Best at Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee

Conquer your next work week with a cup of Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee each morning. Owner Daniel Zumbach understands the importance of a good brew and roasts over 200 pounds of beans each day, ensuring his customers get the best possible flavor and intensity. Stop by the friendly, locally-loved coffee shop and enjoy the rich aroma of the roasting beans as you sip an iced cappuccino or café au lait.

Take a few cups to-go to make your workplace productive and congenial on a Monday or pick up a few bags of your favorite roast to enjoy a few cups to yourself while you relax at home.Zumbach’s makes customers even happier with delicious muffins and pastries to complement their coffee choices.

Zumbach's Gourmet Coffee
77 Pine Street
New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-2704
http://www.zumbachscoffee.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/zumbachs-gourmet-coffee-new-canaan

Flex Your Creative Muscles at Darien Arts Center

The growth of a cultural and arts scene in a town is just as important as a healthy economy, and residents of Darien have been lucky to be supported by the Darien Arts Center for almost 40 years. The organization was founded in 1975 to support appreciation and participation in the visual and performing arts.

Throughout the year, the Darien Arts Center hosts and sponsors classes in dance, music, painting, sculpture, and even martial arts, all for very affordable prices. The annual Darien Art Show is an incredible way to get up to speed on the vast creative talent in the area, with a panoply of paintings and other works on display. “Darien’s Got Talent” is a performance competition that draws a big audience of excited supporters looking to discover hidden talents among their neighbors. During the summer, the Darien Arts Center hosts a variety of cool programs and camps for kids of all ages.

Darien Arts Center
2 Renshaw Road
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 655-8683
www.darienarts.org
www.yelp.com/biz/darien-arts-center-darien

Stepping Stones Museum For Children: Interactive Fun in Norwalk

Spend a day with the kids at Stepping Stones Museum For Children. Children ten and under will delight in the interactive exhibits designed to educate while still being fun. The exhibits are broken down by age from infants to seven years old and up. Learn about science in the Energy Lab, design and construction at Build It, learn about healthy living in Healthyville, and explore nature in the Community Garden. Let kids play in the water at Water Works. The museum does provide a jacket but regardless you can expect the kids to get wet. Admission is $15 for children and adults. Kids under one are free.

Stepping Stones Museum For Children
Mathews Park
303 West Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06850
(203) 899-0606
http://www.steppingstonesmuseum.org
http://www.yelp.com/biz/stepping-stones-museum-for-children-norwalk

New Canaan Nature Center: Experience the Great Outdoors

Established in 1960, the New Canaan Nature Center has been educating and delighting local residents for more than 50 years. The Nature Center's paths and trails are open to the public, and they traverse diverse habitats, including meadows, woodlands, and marshy areas, as well as human-designed gardens and orchards. During the summer you'll enjoy the colorful blooms in the wildflower garden, while during winter visits you'll enjoy visiting the greenhouse where exotic species are nurtured.

Animal exhibits are also a central component of the Nature Center's educational programming, and you'll be able to walk through the center's seven aviaries, which house birds of prey like eagles, owls, and falcons. The Nature Center is a favorite among kids, and you’ll often encounter birthday parties, class trips, and recreational summer camps on site.

The New Canaan Nature Center grounds are open dawn to dusk seven days a week.

New Canaan Nature Center
144 Oenoke Ridge
New Canaan, CT 06840
(203) 966-9577
www.newcanaannature.org
www.yelp.com/biz/new-canaan-nature-center-new-canaan

Experience a High-Intensity Workout at JoyRide Indoor Cycling Studio

Darien locals rave about the facility at JoyRide Indoor Cycling Studio on Old Kings Highway, which gives fitness buffs a great place to burn calories. The Darien location debuted in 2013 after the studio proved a success in its first location in Westport.

A wide variety of classes are offered here, from the standard JoyRide, 50 minutes of high intensity cycling, to the even more difficult Tabata style training, which mixes intervals in with the ride to really get your heart rate elevated. The studio also hosts mat Pilates classes to tone and strengthen your core, a fitting complement to the cycling workout. Throw in 51/49 training, dance classes, and more, and you’ve got an exercise for just about everybody.

Class prices are very fair and the teaching staff comes highly recommended.

JoyRide Indoor Cycling Studio
25 Old Kings Highway N.
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 349-5454
www.joyridestudio.com
www.yelp.com/biz/joyride-indoor-cycling-studio-darien

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