Charity Begins in a Shopping Bag

The only thing better than drinking for charity is shopping for charity. You can do just that this weeked at the Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk Spring Tag Sale. They plan to offer high-quality merchandise, including:

- Clothes
- Books
- Toys
- Accessories
- Small electronics
- Sporting goods

You can check it out at the Junior League's local headquarters, 748 Post Road, Darien, CT. They say "no early birds," so I'll say the same. Regular birds welcome at 10am, Sunday, May 2nd. The event wraps up at 4pm. Proceeds benefit the organization's ridiculously long list of good deeds. See more by visiting their website.

Pearl of the Seaside

Who'd have guessed that Meatloaf would have a pretty daughter? Well...he did, and she's all growed up as a rocker in her own right. Her name is Pearl Aday, and she has a band sporting her own first name.

She has been showing off her vocals on tour and on Jimmy Kimmel Live. On Friday, April 30th at 8pm, she's back in the city where she went to elementary school, Stamford!

If you recognize her guitarist, he's Scott Ian of Anthrax. Newstimes.com reports that Pearl will be playing along with her famous husband at Stamford's Seaside Tavern. Tickets are $10 and available at Seaside Tavern's site.

Pets and Pino

Regular readers will be well versed on PAWS, a worthy charity that helps local cats and dogs. On Saturday, May 22nd, they are toasting their friends with tails at The Beardsley Gallery, located at 196 Danbury Rd, Wilton, from 5-8pm.

The event features a wine tasting, hors d'oeuvres, art viewing and silent auction to support their important mission. The exhibit is a collection of still life works called "Objects of Art" from a variety of contributors.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 each at the door. Tickets may be purchased by visiting the PAWS purchase website and looking for the first listed "Select Product," Beardsley Gallery Wine Tasting Event. Learn more about the event here.

All proceeds benefit PAWS animals, and they might just show up to party with you. To see pictures from past PAWS events, click here.

If you'd like to do more to help, PAWS is still looking for silent auction donations. Contact Roxy at (203) 750-9572 or by emailing roxy@pawsct.org if you have something silent-auction-worthy you'd like to donate.

(photo from jasonedward, flickr.com)

Support the People who Tell Cancer Where to Shove It

Chris Rodriguez from 107.1 The Peak radio station contacted me to let me know he was headed to Stamford to support an important cause.

Join Chris at Rack N Roll on Saturday, May 8th @ 8pm for Rack and Run, a concert to support the Leukemia Lymphoma Society's Team In Training program. Check out their nifty little "getting to know you" video here. Team In Training is the group that helps people prepare for the physical challenges of charity marathons, half marathons, centuries, hiking adventures and triathlons. (Just writing all that made me tired.) So they support the people who support the cause to tell blood cancer where to shove it.

The concert features five bands from NYC: Peephole, The Shake, Deadbeat Darling, If But When and Ten Feet Deep. Ok, so you may not have heard of these folks but I have it on Chris' good authority that they are "very talented and ORIGINAL." If one of them makes it big, you can say you saw them first. (And then I can say I told you so.)

The event also features raffled prizes. More info is available on the Rack N Roll Facebook page.

What's Black and White and Charitable All Over?

Shhhh...eat and dance quietly at the Junior League of Stamford-Norwalk's "Spring Spirits!" Fundraiser - there's a silent auction.

BUT you can dress loudly in stark black and white to match their event theme. They are celebrating their 88 years with the colors of the 88 keys on a piano.

The cocktail benefit event is slated for May 8th at the Meadowlands at the Darien Community Association, 6:30–10:30pm. Come for the diamond necklace raffle, the swingin Joe Holmes band and the hush hush auction where you can bid on:
- Spa goodies
- Children's treats
- Vacation adventures
- NYC outings

Group tickets are available, and single tix will run you $75 - but you'll get a Junior League shout out on their website and annual report. Visit the JL site to learn more or call 203-655-4662.

(photo from goodbyefeet, flickr.com)

Duke Duke Duke, Duke of Swirl

A lil' while back, I profiled a sultry summer band by the name of Swirl. Evidence suggests that they are awesome. And you, dear citizens, can see for yourself by checking them out at Barcelona in Greenwich on Thursday, April 22nd at 9pm.

You can read my four cents on the band here. You can also hear them sexing up the Born Shoes website. I'm digging the site - it's giving me the insatiable urge to sit on rocks and not brush my hair.

Fight Cancer with Cocktails on Wednesday Night

I'm an unabashed fan of charitable work through long stemmed glasses. I waited a bit longer than I should have on this one (my apologies) but on Wednesday, April 21st at 6pm you'll have an opportunity to do exactly that.

Join the Alliance for Cancer Gene Therapy (ACGT) for a Gala Cocktail Benefit at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich. ACGT is a national non-profit that combats cancer through support of gene and cell therapy.

The event honors researchers and features special presentations on developments in the field. Raise a glass for a good cause and learnin' a thing or two.

Email bcondon@acgtfoundation.org for tickets and information.

(photo from wickenden, flickr.com)

Girls Gone Shopping

Ahh! Good to get a little change of scenery. But I'm back, citizens, and eager to tell you what's going down downtown.

This one goes out to all the ladies. On May 1st from 10am-6pm and May 2nd from 10am-5pm at the Stamford Plaza Hotel (aka, the thing you might still think of as the Sheraton) check out the Fairfield County Women’s Expo. This event features so many giveaways and activities, it's made my head spin. Some examples that caught my attention include:

- Giveaways such as a cosmetics, jewelry, skincare, Conair products, massages, teeth whitening, stays at resorts and even a lap band bariatric surgical procedure (does not include all costs, but still!).

- Over 200 vendors, many of which will offer presents suited for Mother's Day.

- Health screenings (some requiring reservations by calling (203) 276-5990).

- Back massages by Stamford Hospital and hand massages by CoCo Nail & Spa.

- A 5,000 square foot Natural Living area spotlighting vendors specializing in eco-friendly products and services.

- Wine and Cheese.

- 15 different seminars.

- Demos on fashion, hair, beauty and (obviously) karate.

- Psychic readings (which might help you predict surprise karate attacks).

Best to check out the website for the four billion things I didn't tell you about. Perhaps I'll see you there - I'll be the one changing into various different wigs so I can get repeat massages.

(photo from mtowber, flickr.com)

Lil' R&R

I'm off for the week, citizens, for a little SN R&R.

Don't let the city fall apart while I'm gone. Until then, amuse yourself with this video ("You can be a single lady if you want.")

Much obliged!

(photo from jonycunha, flickr.com)

City Finance

I keep looking for a reason to think good things about Mayor Pavia. I'm proud to be a city cheerleader and a rabid optimist, but every time I turn around I see the word "Pavia" next to the word "cut." I know that budgets are tight, but we need to have a reason to think that improvements are around the corner for our city. I find the headlines demoralizing. A few of the news items I've seen include,

- Pavia cuts sidewalk construction and repair budget
- Pavia cuts city jobs
- In response to Pavia budget, fireworks cut this year
- Pavia will not fund Town Hall
- Pavia discusses library cuts

Leadership requires more than just tightening purse strings. What has he done to build on the positive attributes of the city? It's not a hypothetical question - I really want to know. Has he explored innovative ways to bring in more income and fulfill the city's potential? Fairfield county is one of the wealthiest areas in the country. There's money out there. People will come out to support the city if you give them a worthwhile reason to do so.

There are things he could do. What about:
- Tax the failure to develop the hole
- Ask local bloggers *throat clearing noise* to help out
- Host a fundraiser for the library or city schools (movie screening, silent auctions, Chelsea Clinton spin class (ok, so that one's a stretch))
- Ask for community input with town halls
- Sell local branded goods (Stamford mug, anyone?)

I'm sure there are a billion other amazing ideas out there more helpful and more creative than cut, cut, cut.

Pez on Parade

TOMORROW, the Stamford Plaza Hotel turns into a sugar shack - Saturday from 10am-3pm.

The Northeast Candy Collector's Expo opens its doors to you and me. It started out with PEZ, but it's grown to candies of many colors.

Admission is $5.

Learn more by reading the Stamford Times article and visit the event site.

(photo from Little Silver, flickr.com)

Photos Enhance Cafe Sundance

The Sundance Cafe at 105 Broad now features Vincent Rodriguez Street Photography.

Check it out from now until May 31st.

If you make a purchase, a portion of the proceeds will support the Ferguson Library.

(photo from Vincent Rodriguez)

Ooooohhhh...Mingling!

True or false: You have don't need any more business connections or friends and meeting new people totally sucks.

If you said "true," I pity your wrongness.

The correct answer is there's no such thing as too many friends and you can make a few more by checking out the event that a helpful commenter added called "Meet & Mingle" at Hotel Zero Degrees. Join in on April 20th from 5:30-7:30pm.

This event is cool for a couple of reasons:
- Wine
- And cheese!
- You (aka, I) can check out Hotel Zero Degrees without shelling out any money to stay in a town where you already pay good money to live.
- Two words: gift bags. First 100 people get 'em.
- One other different word: prizes!
- Somehow bingo is involved (not sure if that makes it cool or lame)

RSVP for the event by April 9th by calling 203-363-7900 or emailing mschipani@hotelzerodegrees.com.

(photo from D Sharon Pruitt, flickr.com)

Call for Volunteers

Want to give back to the community? The American Red Cross needs your help. They are holding a volunteer orientation session on Thursday, April 8th from 11am-Noon. Join them at 112 Prospect Street in Stamford to learn about volunteer opportunities, including:

- Assisting with blood drives (the focus of the session)
- Local disaster relief
- Health and safety instruction
- Office and data entry work
- Community work
- Fund raising

ConnecticutPlus quotes Theresa Addison, Director of Volunteer Resources, who says that the organization "can provide you with the training you need at a convenient location. The basic requirement for blood drive volunteers is a desire to help."

You must register in advance, and you can do so by calling 1-877-243-5727, ext. 2803 or emailing Rita.Vendrillo@CTRedcross.org. Allow extra time for a placement interview following the event.

So...Tired...Must...Blog...about Jim Gaffigan

One of my very favorite people in the world is a reader of the blog, and she is sad when I miss a day - SO dear friend - this is for you.

The Stamford Center had plans to welcome pretty darned funny guy Jim Gaffigan during Super Bowl Season, but he got a better gig. Namely, the Super Bowl. Not the end of the world - he's back!

Come see him kiss up to locals for standing us up. (Jim, we like tulips.) Check him out on April 10th at 7pm and 10pm at the Stamford Center for the Arts. Tickets cost between some number and some other number that I'm too tired to figure out...zzzz....

(photo from Per Ola Wiberg ~ Powi, flickr.com)

Clowns Downtown

I'm more excited than is healthy for someone my age to tell you that the circus is coming to Stamford!

Ok, so our fireworks were cut, but just wait a couple days and you get a clown with cool Kid 'n Play hair instead. Not a bad trade-off.

The Advocate reports that the cirque du Stamford (aka, Big Apple Big Top Circus) will begin with a fundraiser kickoff gala on July 9th at Mill River Park. Proceeds help the park and Stamford Downtown. The circus itself will run for three weeks starting the day after the opening event. The event can accommodate 1,700 folks, and with any luck - those folks will bring their spending power to downtown Stamford.

You can't buy tickets on the circus website yet, but check back soon.

(photo from Vvillamon, flickr.com)

Uncle Sam Wants Your Vitals

Today I've got my "tisking" finger out to remind Stamford citizens (myself included) to fill out their census forms. Right now, our reporting stats suck out loud.

Our census form was sitting on the kitchen counter for a good two weeks, but I've finally knocked it out. It was ridiculously easy. Because they've allotted space for a billion people living in your household, and basically all they want is your birthday and your race - there's just not that much to it. With a total of two of us in our household, it took me approximately 5 minutes. Civic duty - check.

Ok, tisking finger put away and replaced with bartender attention getting finger.

(photo from Juliana Coutinho, flickr.com)

Buying Stamford

Thought this was sufficiently cool to share - you can now create your own little widget for eBay to post on your blog. The widget below is a search of eBay for Stamford, Connecticut. It shows lots of historical goodies, like post cards and yearbooks along with odds and ends for sale in the area. Not a bad little feature!

Swimming Hole

News broke last night that the dreaded downtown Hole will be converted into a new Olympic sized swimming pool. The project is a coup for those eager to see the space put to a better use. Spokesperson for the project, Justa Trickdu, said that as soon as the rat poison is removed from the area, construction can begin. Detractors say they fear seeing bathing suited shoppers in the mall, whereas supporters say the time has come for downtown summertime fun.