 Stamford, settled in
1641, is Connecticut's fourth largest city and
is the eighth largest city of the New England
states. Located on the shores of Long Island Sound only 25 miles from New York City, 40 miles from New
Haven, and 90 miles from Hartford,
the state capital, Stamford provides visitors
with the ability to explore historic New England, enjoy its beaches, and
commute to New York City.
The city is a vibrant eclectic urban and costal mixture
where modern architecture blends with historic buildings, it has also become a favorite of filmmakers, with many films and television shows being shot on location in Stamford.
We stayed at Hotel
Zero Degrees, a boutique 97-room hotel that opened in late October 2009,
and is located in the heart of downtown Stamford within walking distance of the
business district, cultural venues, restaurants, and nightlife, and the rail
station. Located in the former YMCA, the space has metamorphosed into an
attractive contemporary and comfortable hotel, and is conveniently located only
45-minutes from New York City.
Hotel Zero Degrees
The hotel offers outstanding amenities for its guests
including complimentary on-site garage parking, complimentary wireless Internet
access, a comfortable business area with two computers and a printer, 24-hour
complimentary Starbucks coffee, tea, hot cocoa and fresh fruit in the lobby,
and a complimentary breakfast buffet.
Guestroom
We thoroughly enjoyed the breakfast buffet consisting of a
selection of hot and cold cereals, scrambled eggs and bacon, an assortment of
croissants, sliced bread, and bagels for toasting, smoked salmon, assorted
pastries, fresh fruit, juices, coffee, tea, and hot cocoa.
Lobby
With its close proximity to the Stamford business district,
culture, and shopping, as well as being only 45-minutes by train from New York
City, Hotel Zero Degrees is perfect for business as well as leisure travelers
looking for contemporary comfort.
Read about the Hotel Zero Degrees in the Hotels and Resorts section.
Hotel Zero Degrees
909 Washington Blvd.
Stamford, Connecticut
06901
United
States
Telephone: +1-203-363-7900
Fax:
+1-203-363-7200
Email:
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Website: www.HotelZeroDegrees.com
Although only minutes from downtown Stamford,
Shippan Point, located on a peninsula hugging Long Island Sound, is an
affluent shoreline community that has a completely different feel from the city
of Stamford.
Stamford Culture and Museums
The Stamford Museum & Nature Center
The Stamford
Museum & Nature Center has diverse offerings for
visitors that include the opportunity to experience the Bendel Mansion &
Galleries, as well as the extensive architecture and sculpture on the
grounds. During our visit we had fun with the interactive exhibit, Gerberich's
Gadgetry: Art that Moves, (runs January 30 through May 23, 2010).
  
Sculpture on the Grounds of Bendel Mansion
Bendel Mansion &
Galleries is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm; and on Sunday from 11:00 am until 5:00
pm. Heckscher Farm
is open daily from 9:00 am
until 5:00 pm from April
until October; daily from 9:00 am
until 4:00 pm from
November until March. Nature's
Playground is open daily from 9:00
am until 5:00 pm
(weather permitting). Animal Embassy
is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00
am until 2:00 pm
from January until May; and is open during the Summer Tuesday through Sunday
from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm. The Observatory is open Friday nights from 8:00 pm until 10:00 pm (8:30-10:30pm summer) weather permitting; and the
Planetarium Shows are held the 2nd Sunday of the month at 3:00 pm.
 
Sculpture on the Grounds of Bendel Mansion
Admission is charged: Adults: $8, Seniors (65+): $6,
Students (18+): $6 (with valid ID), Children (4-17) $4, and Children 3 and
under: Free. Planetarium Admission: Adults $3, Children (age 5 and up) $2;
Observatory Admission: Adults $3, Children $2 Ages 5 and up.
Stamford
Museum & Nature Center
39 Scofieldtown
Road
Stamford,
Connecticut 06903
United States
Telephone: +1-203-322-1646
Website: www.StamfordMuseum.org
First Presbyterian Church of Stamford
The unusual and eye-catching contemporary architecture of
the First Presbyterian Church,
designed by architect Wallace K. Harrison, and completed in 1958, has earned it
the nickname of "the fish church" due to its shape, yet it is the remarkable
stained glass windows that attracted my attention. The windows are made with 20,000
pieces of one-inch thick faceted glass that on a sunny day capture the light
and radiant magnificently. Also of interest is the stand-alone 260-foot Carillon Tower with 56 bells on the property.
Remarkable Entrance
First Presbyterian Church
1101 Bedford
Street
Stamford,
Connecticut 06905
United
States
Telephone:
+1-203-324-9522
Website: www.FishChurch.org
Saint Mary's Church of Stamford
As a counterpoint of architectural styles, Saint Mary's
Church, located on Elm Street, built between 1925 - 1928, is a
striking historic landmark in Stamford
with its twin spires and French Gothic design, soaring ceiling, and stained glass
windows.
Saint Mary's Church Interior
Saint Mary's Church
566 Elm Street
Stamford, CT 06902
United States
Telephone: +1-203-348-5196
Website: www.BridgeportDiocese.com/Stamford.shtml
The Hoyt Barnum House is representative of post-1675, which is the
Second American Building Period. The house was built by the children or
grandchildren of the founders of Stamford,
Connecticut, and is available for
tours by appointment only.
The Hoyt Barnum House
Its humble red
clapboard design is a sharp contrast to the eclectic architectural landscape of
Stamford that
includes contemporary glass skyscrapers intermixed with interesting historic
elements.
The Hoyt Barnum
House
The Stamford Historical
Society
713 Bedford Street
Telephone: +1-203-329-1183
Email:
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Website : www.StamfordHistory.org/hbh.htm
 The Palace Theatre,
a part of the Stamford Center for the
Arts, was originally built as a vaudeville house in 1927
and was restored in 1987. Edward and I have had the opportunity to experience
many performances there including such notable artists as Jazz Icons B.
B. King and Dave Brubeck,
as well as performances of Michael
Flatley's Lord of the Dance and Don
Giovanni Modern Version. Check the Palace Theatre website for upcoming performances.
Palace Theatre
61 Atlantic St.
Stamford, CT 06902
United States
Telephone: +1-203-325-4466
Website: www.StamfordCenterfortheArts.org/home.cfm
Rich Forum, a part of
the Stamford Center for the Arts,
opened in 1992 and is home to two theatres, the Truglia Theatre,
and the Leonhart Studio, for more intimate performances.
Rich Forum of Stamford
Edward and I have experienced many pre-New York Broadway
productions over the years at the Rich Forum, which is a well known stage for
shows prior to bringing them to New York. The Rich Forum
currently is the home of the Jerry Springer Show, Maury, and The Steve Wilkos
Show.
Rich Forum
307 Atlantic Avenue
Stamford, CT 06901
United States
Telephone:
+1-203-325-4466
Website: www.StamfordCenterfortheArts.org
Sculpture at the Palace Theatre of Stamford
Unlike other areas, the cities and towns of New England are very close in proximity to one another, yet each has its own
unique and interesting history, providing the opportunity to experience many different museums and cultural activities without having to travel great distances.
Greenwich Culture and Museums
Bruce Museum
Greenwich, located to the southwest of Stamford is the home of The Bruce Museum "promotes the
understanding and appreciation of Art and Science to enrich the lives of all
people." During our visit, in addition to the permanent exhibitions, there was
a fascinating exhibit entitled, Lincoln,
Life-Size, (runs from February 23, 2010 until June 6, 2010), with
fascinating photographs produced life size that capture the essence of the life
of the 16th President of the United States. In addition to the
indoor exhibitions there also interesting sculptures on the grounds of the
museum.
Sculpture on The Bruce Museum grounds
The Bruce
Museum is closed on
Monday, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am until 5:00pm, and on Sunday from 1:00 pm until 5:00
pm. Admission is charged, Adults ($7.00), Seniors 65+ ($6.00), and
Students 5-22 ($6.00). The museum has free admission on Tuesday.
Bruce
Museum
1 Museum Drive
Greenwich,
Connecticut 06830
United
States
Telephone: +1-203-869-0376
Website: www.BruceMuseum.org
The Bush-Holley
Historic Site, located in Cos Cob, a sub-section of Greenwich, was originally
an artist's colony. During out visit we saw their permanent exhibit of historic
pieces from both the Bush and Holley families.Their current exhibit is on, "A Stitch in Time: Quilts from Collection
of The Historical Society of the Town of Greenwich," (runs March 3 - June 13, 2010).
Bush-Holley Historic Site
Bush-Holley Historic Site is open for Tours Wednesday through Sunday at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.
Bush-Holley Historic Site
39 Strickland
Road
Cos Cob,
Connecticut 06807
United
States
Telephone: +1-203-869-6899
Fax: +1-203-861-9720
Website:
www.Bush-Holley.org
Website: www.HSTG.org
Norwalk Culture and Museums
Norwalk Museum
Norwalk, located northeast of Stamford, is the home of the Norwalk Museum opened in 1973 from a donation by Manice
deForest Lockwood to house his personal collection of Norwalk Americana, the
museum moved to their current location,
once the South Norwalk City Hall, in 1994. During our tour of the museum we saw
a collection of Raggedy Ann Dolls and an exhibit of a Pharmacy from the 1800's,
which included a full size counter, scale, and a wall of draws that were used
to house the medicine of that time. A recent exhibit featured noted sports
teams and sports legends from Norwalk's
past.
 
Permanent Display at Norwalk Museum
The Norwalk Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Admission is free.
Norwalk
Museum
41 North Main
Street
South Norwalk,
CT
Telephone: +1-203-866-0202
Website: www.NorwalkCT.org/NorwalkMuseum/
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion
Photograph Courtesy of Lockwood-Mathews Mansion
The Lockwood-Mathews
Mansion was built in 1868 in the Second Empire style for banker-railroad tycoon LeGrand Lockwood and was later purchased by the Mathews family in 1876. The 62-room mansion features exquisite furnishings and architectural details, as well as interesting state of the art technology for that time period.
During our tour we were able to visit many of the rooms that
featured Victorian era period pieces.
First Floor Room
Photograph Courtesy of
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion
The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion is closed for the
Winter season and will reopen on April 7, 2010; tours are hourly Wednesday
through Sunday from 12 until 4:00pm, admission: Adults - $10.00, Seniors - $8.00, Children
8-18 - $6.00, Children under 8 - free.
First Floor Room
Photograph Courtesy of
Lockwood-Mathews Mansion
Lockwood-Mathews
Mansion
295 West Avenue
Norwalk,
Connecticut 06850
United
States
Telephone: +1-203-838-9799
Website: www.LockwoodMathewsMansion.com
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk includes an IMAX Theater and hundreds
of animals featured in their native Long Island Sound habitat. During our visit
we saw seals, river otters, and the colorful jellyfish whose graceful movements
look as though they were choreographed to a ballet. We also enjoyed looking at
the various ship models and gazing at the collection of charts and maps of the
Long Island Sound. The current exhibit entitled Go Fish explores our
important relationship with fish - past, present and future.
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
The Maritime Aquarium is open daily from 10:00am until 5:00pm and during July and August they are open until 6:00pm. Maritime Aquarium admission
only: Adults - $11.75, Seniors - $10.75, Children 2-12 - $9.75; there are an
assortment of other packages available. The IMAX Theater showings vary
throughout the year and is best to check the website (www.MaritimeAquarium.org) for
current listings and times.
Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
10 North Water
Street
Norwalk,
Connecticut 06854
United
States
Telephone: +1-203-852-0700
Website: www.MaritimeAquarium.org
Further northeast of Stamford is Fairfield, the Quick Center for the Arts, located on the campus of Fairfield
University, plays
host to a variety of music, dance, and theatre programs for all ages. Edward
and I recently attended the Quick Center for the Arts to experience the Ballet
Folklórico de Mexico de Amalia Hernández that celebrated the history of Mexican folklore culture and
dance with a spectacular evening of performances with 56 dancers and 16
musicians. Check the Quick Center website (www.QuickCenter.com) for upcoming performances.
Colorful Dancers
Read about Ballet
Folklórico
de Mexico de Amalia Hernández in the Arts section.
The Rope Dance
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
Fairfield University
1073 North Benson Road
Fairfield, CT 06824
United States
Telephone: +1-203-254-4010
Toll-Free: +1-877-ARTS396
Website: www.QuickCenter.com
Restaurants
When it comes to excellent French restaurants in Connecticut, Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS
located in the nearby city of Greenwich,
Connecticut,
stands proud. Owned by Chef Jean-Louis Gerin and his charming wife Linda,
this intimate restaurant focuses on fine dining essentials, excellent French
cuisine, a stylish ambience, and attentive yet unobtrusive service. Chef
Jean-Louis Gerin opened his award-winning Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS in 1985 and has
continued to win accolades, as well as loyal fans, throughout the years.
Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS
Edward and I had a wonderful experience at Restaurant
JEAN-LOUIS where we had Le Grand Tasting Menus to fully appreciate the
restaurant's style and Master Chef Jean-Louis' culinary vision.
Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS Dining Room
A few of the many highlights of our 5-course tasting dinner
included vichyssoise made with cubed potatoes, leeks, and a generous amount of
mussels in a flavorful broth; pumpkin and lobster bisque that was swirled with
a pool of crème fraiche and garnished with diced tomatoes and micro chives
scattered along the top; pan seared scallops on a bed of seaweed salad; red snapper that was steamed in jus with fresh
ginger and was elegantly presented on a bed of seaweed salad, and accompanied
by carrot balls and haricot vert in a beurre blanc sauce; tenderloin presented
on a mound of ratatouille, with cranberries, nicoise olives, cauliflower, and
snow peas in a rich sauce; and quail from Vermont in a devil sauce made with
white Armagnac and crushed black pepper.
Pan Seared Scallops
Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS has a flexible approach to dining that
includes a 5-course menu, Le Grand Tasting, which he changes nightly; a
3-course menu, La Ballade Gourmande; an a la carte menu; and for guests looking
for something smaller, there is a special menu with mini-prices at the
Chef-Bar.
Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS is open for lunch Monday
through Friday from Noon
until 2:00 pm, and for
dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:45
pm.
Read about Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS in the Restaurants
section and in the Chefs' Recipes section where Chef Jean-Louis Gerin
shares a delicious taste of Restaurant Jean-Louis with his recipes for Stone
Crab with Tomato Crumble; Drunken Red Snapper and Warm Fingerling Potato Salad;
Beef Cheeks Slowly Braised in Red Wine, with Onion Compote and Foie Gras;
Double-Baked Vegetable Compote; and My Grandmother's Chocolate Mousseto tempt
your palate before visiting the restaurant.
Restaurant JEAN-LOUIS
61 Lewis Street
Greenwich,
Connecticut 06830
United States
Telephone: +1-203-622-8450
Email:
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Website: www.RestaurantJEANLOUIS.com
Stamford, Connecticut and the surrounding area has much to offer whether you are looking to explore the history, the culture, or simply the beaches of New England, and with its close proximity to New York City, makes it a desirable getaway.
City of Stamford Sculpture
Read other articles on Stamford,
Connecticut in the Hotels and
Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, and Arts sections.
Stamford Sunrise on Long Island Sound
© March 2010. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com All rights reserved.
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