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

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/rocketboom

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

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Uddhav Gupta

Savor the flavors of India with a visit to Coromandel Cuisine of India. This Darien restaurant is a favorite among locals, and for good reason: its many slow simmered sauces and braised meats are well-spiced and tender. To sample them all, try the lunch buffet, where it's easy to try new dishes—and then to go back for more when you find something you like. Try the chicken madras, which gets its distinctive flavor from a hot curry sauce made with red chilis and mustard seeds, or dig into a plate of beef vepudu with its onions, herbs, coconut, and peanut masala sauce.

Don't forget to order some naan to wipe any last bits of sauce from your plate (both regular and garlic naan are favorites at Coromandel) and consider getting some spiced vegetable samosas, too, to round out your meal. Wash it all down with a refreshing mango lassi or stick with a large glass of water if you want to focus solely on the flavors of the food.

Coromandel Cuisine of India
25 Old Kings Highway North
Darien, CT 06820
(203) 662-1213
coromandelcuisine.com/darien.html
www.yelp.com/biz/coromandel-cuisine-of-india-darien

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Frenkieb