As cities develop, property owners recognize that not every building can be a profit center. Sometimes you need to create space for an area’s cultural life to grow, and the Franklin Street Works is in Stamford a great example.

This contemporary studio and cafe has developed into a hub of the city's up-and-coming arts scene, and its mission is all-inclusive. Franklin Street Works consists of three separate gallery spaces and an attached cafe. founded by Kathryn Emmett. She's a former partner at a local law firm who decided to follow her passion and create a space where the art she loved could flourish, and she’s done a spectacular job. The galleries also host a variety of programs that serve to further illuminate the art on display. In addition, numerous workshops give hands-on art instruction to locals for free. The cafe is notable for serving high-end artisanal coffee, perfect for kick-starting your synapses in the morning.

Franklin Street Works
41 Franklin Street
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 595-5211
www.franklinstreetworks.org
www.yelp.com/biz/franklin-street-works-stamford

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/tech109

Lorca’s owner studied the art of making churros in Spain, but learned to brew great coffee right in Connecticut. Her two talents converged to result in her own cafe in Stamford. Fans of this great little coffee shop, bakery, and cafe love the ambiance, friendly servers, and yummy array of drinks and food. Of course, the main event is the churro, a spiral of fried dough sprinkled with sugar. Order some of them here and they'll arrive freshly prepared with sugary dipping sauces.

Lorca also serves croissants, muffins, and alfajores—better known as butter cookies with dulce de leche, coconut, and powdered sugar. St. James cake is gluten-free because it’s made with ground almonds instead of flour. The menu also includes a quiche of the day, ham and cheese croissant, grilled cheese sandwich with sharp cheddar, and the classic sandwich with bacon, egg, and cheddar grilled on a panini press.

Lorca
125 Bedford Street
Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 504-2847
www.lorcastamford.com
www.yelp.com/biz/lorca-stamford

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Michelle Tribe

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