LumberYard Pub: Redding’s Favorite “Local”

The Lumberyard Pub in Redding is a popular spot for wings and game watching. Regulars swear this sports bar has the best wings in Connecticut. Mondays feature 55 cent wings, which draws a crowd for Monday night football. The menu is standard pub grub with burgers and sandwiches. There are daily specials like Tuesday Trivia with half price burgers. The Lumberyard Pub is family owned and dedicated to the giving back to the community. Each month they showcase a local non-profit and donate part of their profits to the charity. Memorabilia decorates the walls and the atmosphere is welcoming, just like a good sports bar should be. It gets packed for big games, call ahead if you’re coming with a large group.

Lumberyard Pub
2 Main St
Redding, CT 06896
(203) 544-7287
www.lumberyardpub.com
www.yelp.com/biz/lumberyard-pub-redding

Wilton Organic Gourmet: For Your Health

Wilton Organic Gourmet is a natural food store and holistic market opened by an experienced Clinical Nutritionist in 1987. Whether you are taking the first steps towards a healthier, life-style or are committed to cooking with organics, you can always learn something from the knowledgeable staff and healthy tips posted throughout the store. The shop has all the essentials for stocking your pantry. A juice bar squeezes healthy and delicious drinks, and you can grab one of their pre-made sandwiches or a cup of soup for a healthy lunch.

Wilton Organic Gourmet
33 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897
(203) 762-9711
www.facebook.com/wiltonorganicgourmet
www.yelp.com/biz/wilton-organic-gourmet-inc-wilton

Snag a Seat in the Loft at Coffee Barn

Coffee Barn has only been a part of Wilton's landscape since 2012, but in that short lifespan it's already amassed a loyal following. That's partly because it offers an alternative to the big-name coffee chains without asking you to give up the quality of coffee you've grown accustomed to—and it's partly because of the barn.

True to its name, Coffee Barn is housed inside a historic barn in Wilton. Its owners spotted the barn and made it their mission to breathe new life into it. They did just that, and today the barn is a warm space replete with weathered woods and rustic accents. There's even a loft where you can grab a table and overlook the rest of the cafe while you sip. Try the dark roast house blend, which features Mexican and Panamanian beans, or one of the seasonl lattes, such as caramel and Nutella in the winter.

Coffee Barn
329 Danbury Road
Wilton, CT 06897
(203) 665-6909
www.coffeebarnwilton.com/
www.yelp.com/biz/coffee-barn-wilton

Café Oo La La: A Chic Lunchtime Eatery in Stamford

Café Oo La La took the idea of fast, fresh Parisian cafe fare and combined it with American cuisine to create a reliable lunch option that many Stamford residents love. From grabbing a sandwich on busy day to catering a corporate meeting at your office, Café Oo La La can accommodate just about any of your lunchtime needs.

The restaurant’s menu is filled with breakfast pastries, omelets, and handmade espresso drinks to get your morning started on the right foot, as well as healthy sandwiches and wraps once the afternoon rolls around. Warm soups are perfect for chilly winter days, while light, crisp salads taste delicious any day of the week.

Inside, Café Oo La La is sparse and chic, complete with two-seater cafe tables, a sleek espresso bar and lots of natural light. Glass pastry cases are filled with mouthwatering treats, and it’s almost impossible to leave without sampling at least one!

Café Oo La La
2325 Summer Street
Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 353-3300
www.cafeoolala.com
www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-oo-la-la-stamford

Stamford Museum & Nature Center: Where Art, Nature and Science Intersect in Stamford

The Stamford Museum & Nature Center is a unique cultural landmark that combines art, pop culture, and nature in a way that's fun for visitors of all ages. This Stamford-area attraction comprises more than 80 acres of nature trails, which are ideal for exploring the area’s native wildlife and natural wonders.

The rolling meadow hosts numerous picnic spots if your nature walk works up an appetite, and kids of all ages will love to visit the animals at the center’s Heckscher Farm. Exhibits change regularly in the Bendel Mansion Museum Galleries, but you’ll always find stunning displays of modern art and science. At the top of the Stamford Museum, a fully-operating observatory contains a 22-inch research telescope that offers visitors over age 5 a chance to view the starry night sky.

Whether you come to enjoy nature, to learn about science or to immerse yourself in art — or a combination of all three — you'll likely enjoy a visit to the Stamford Museum & Nature Center!

Stamford Museum & Nature Center
39 Scofieldtown Road
Stamford, CT 06903
(203) 322-1646
www.stamfordmuseum.org

Black Forest Pastry Shop: Treat Your Coworkers to Tasty German Pastries

In the Stamford area, Black Forest Pastry Shop is the resident German bakery for all of your chocolate, cake, and pastry needs. This downtown Greenwich shop bakes all of its delicious confections from scratch each day, and it even offers handcrafted lattes for those who want to pop in for a coffee and a pastry on their way to work.

Black Forest Pastry Shop specializes in hot cross buns, traditional German pastries, and colorful cakes for special occasions, as well as cookies and tortes that can be purchased by the dozen. The casual interior is filled with glass pastry cases overflowing with intricately decorated sweets and breads, and its friendly employees are always on hand to take a custom order for a wedding, birthday party, or corporate function.

The shop is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays.

Black Forest Pastry Shop
52 Lewis Street
Greenwich, CT 06830
(203) 629-9330
www.blackforestpastryshop.com
www.yelp.com/biz/black-forest-pastry-shop-greenwich

Sterling Farms Golf Club: Where Golf, Dining and Theater Are a Hole in One

Sterling Farms Golf Club is a beautifully remote, scenic golf facility designed for players of all skill levels. This unique course is located on park-like grounds that comprise 144 acres of a once-operating dairy farm, and although it was first designed in 1969, it has since been renovated by renowned golf course architect Robert McNeil.

The par 72 course features 18 holes of varying levels of difficulty, and its heated driving range offers ample practice space all year round. Experienced golf pros hold private lessons at the course for those who want to improve their game, and there are frequent tournaments if you want to show off your skills. Have dinner at the Sterling Restaurant or even take in a movie after your golf game at the course’s historic Curtain Call Theater located on the grounds!

Sterling Farms Golf Club
1349 Newfield Avenue
Stamford, CT 06905
(203) 461-9090
www.sterlingfarmsgc.com
www.facebook.com/SterlingFarmsGC

The Paper Store: Much More Than Just Stationery

The Paper Store is a must-see shop for stationery enthusiasts in the Stamford area, as this adorable gift store is filled to the brim with unique paper goods, greeting cards, and thoughtful gifts galore. Contrary to its name, the store sells much more than just paper, and you may find yourself browsing its colorful shelves for a full afternoon!

Clothing items and handbags from popular names like Vera Bradley make great gifts for a loved one or even for yourself, while cell phone covers and other electronic accessories are offered in bright, bold patterns. The Paper Store also sells customizable jewelry items from brands like Chamilia and Kendra. The baby section is filled with adorable trinkets and clothing items that any new family would love to receive as a gift, and there is even a wide selection of toys for older children.

The Paper Store
2215 Summer Street
Stamford CT 06905
(203) 324-6907
www.thepaperstore.com

Everything Old Is New Again at the Fairfield County Antique and Design Center

What really makes an antique mall special is the dealers who choose to show their wares there, and the Fairfield County Antique and Design Center is proof positive of that. Opened in 2013 by local dealer Geoff Walsky, it’s quickly grown into a popular shopping destination with over 20,000 square feet of floorspace.

What’s exciting about the Fairfield County Antique and Design Center is that it hosts an invigorating mix of dealers, from veterans with decades in the business to collectors with unique wares that stand outside the norm. (Shoppers rave about the vintage clothing and home decor items on offer here.) Because the space is so huge, budget a fair amount of time to explore it all!

On Wednesday nights, the Fairfield County Antique and Design Center hosts auctions for higher-ticket items that draw a crowd. Adjacent to the antique center is the Leclerc Contemporary Gallery, run by the same owners, which displays a powerful collection of modern art for sale.

Fairfield County Antique and Design Center
19 Willard Road
Norwalk, CT 06851
(203) 826-8575
www.fairfieldantiqueanddesign.com
www.yelp.com/biz/fairfield-county-antique-and-design-center-norwalk

Let the Good Times Roll at Bowlmor Lanes in Norwalk

Formerly known as AMF Rip Van Winkle Lanes, Norwalk's Bowlmor Lanes is replete with amenities that make this bowling alley a favorite among locals. Traditionalists will appreciate the venue's reliable equipment, 38 refurbished lanes, a bar area with cold brews and pub snacks, and weekly league play, while those seeking an experience with more flair can expect some top-class amenities and entertainment options. These include craft beers and custom cocktails, laneside food and drink service, and an arcade with billiards, air hockey, even laser tag.

Professional event planners can even help you organize a great birthday party, office outing, or fundraiser at Bowlmor!

Bowlmor Norwalk
701 Connecticut Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854
(203) 838-7501
amf.com/ripvanwinklelanes
www.yelp.com/biz/amf-rip-van-winkle-lanes-norwalk

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