Stamford, Connecticut - Historic, Coastal City |
Written by Debra C. Argen | |
![]() 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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).
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.
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.
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.
First Presbyterian Church ![]() 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 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.
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
Palace Theatre 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.
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
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
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.
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 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 is open for Tours Wednesday through Sunday at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 3:00 pm.
Bush-Holley Historic Site Norwalk Culture and Museums
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.
The Norwalk Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm. Admission is free.
Norwalk
Museum
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.
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
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 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 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.
Read about Ballet Folklórico de Mexico de Amalia Hernández in the Arts section.
Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Read other articles on Stamford, Connecticut in the Hotels and Resorts, Restaurants, Chefs' Recipes, and Arts sections.
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