Summer is the Season for Corn on the Job

Fairway Market is coming to your town, citizens, and they are hiring!

Fairway is hosting a Job Fair on September 1st at CTE, Inc. (34 Woodland Ave., Stamford, CT). BUT it's invitation only. Win yourself an invitation by knocking their socks off with your resume and application.

Learn more about applying by visiting the Fairway site.

They are hiring for the following positions:

- Counter help in the bakery, deli, seafood department, cheese department, meat department and cafe
- Produce clerks
- Prep cooks
- Sandwich makers
- Dishwashers
- Cashiers
- Front end managers
- Cooks
- Pizza makers

PS - In the interest of full disclosure, I should add that Fairway was kind enough to send me a gift basket of goodies - thanks very much for the kind gesture, Fairway!

(photo from r-z, flickr.com)

Festival Fun

Looking for an excuse to be festive? There are two upcoming area festivals you might want to explore.

First, this weekend, you can check out the 104th Annual St. Theodore Italian Festival. With a ridiculously impressive tenure, I imagine they've worked out the kinks. The event features games, rides, Italian food and live music. It will be held from Friday, August 27-29th. Hours are Friday 6-11pm, Saturday 6-11pm and Sunday 5-11pm. Join them at 107 West Avenue in Stamford.

Second, from Sept 10-12, you can attend the Oyster Festival in Norwalk's Veterans Park (Seaview Avenue & Route 136). We went once, and it was cool - but no oysters to be found. The description lists "crafts, food, rides, Pirate Bay Saturday, Family Day Sunday, oysters, tall ships, BBQ pit." Note the word "oyster." Hope they follow through! Still, it's a festival and - shellfish or no - makes a nice late summer day out.

Bed Bugs in Stamford?!?!

I work in the city, where everybody from CBS to The Daily Show is eager to tell me that bed bugs are bustin out of floors, walls and the clear blue sky. It makes me glad that I live in Stamford. BUT WAIT! A little online catastrophizing tells me I should bring my bug-related anxiety home with me.

The Stamford Health Department says "The number of bed bugs submissions continues to climb, well over the number of complaints from last year." No telling what that means exactly, but just about this time last year there were 41 reported cases of bed bugs in Stamford, says Bedbugger.com. The Advocate's been on the job too, reporting about a senior center that was de-bugging in November 2009 (even after they thought they'd gotten rid of them in 2007!).

The City of Stamford Health Department has a little publication that's pretty basic (and gross) on spotting the leggy creeps, but also includes some stats on how many reports have been made in recent years and a map of where they've come from. A website called The Bed Bug Registry has quite a few Stamford entries. Bed bugs have made their way up to Bridgeport as well, getting their feelers into firefighters.

So what do you do about it? The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station has a page devoted to the little jerks with some useful resources, and the bottom of that page says "Coming Soon...Bed Bug Handbook and Connecticut Health Department Training Video." Until they get around to that, there are some useful resources from the reluctant experts, NYC.gov.

(photo from cuttlefish, flickr.com)

Crabby Labatt-y

You'd think the Coalhouse Pizza beer dinners would have lost their novelty. Turns out, not yet!

They're keeping it interesting this time by featuring a Lobster & Clam Bake in the great outdoors. You can join in on September 21nd (rain date is the 22nd). The live music starts at 6:30 and dinner starts at 7pm.

They're going green for this go 'round with beers by Peak Organic Brewing Co. Dinner looks like this:

- Pre-Course: House-made Coalhouse tomatillo salsa with organic blue corn chips paired with Peak Organic Summer Session Ale

- First Course: Chilled seafood salad made with calamari, shrimp and scallops in a lemon-garlic marinade paired with Peak Organic Pale Ale

- Second Course: Steamer bag of littleneck claims, mussels and red new potatoes boiled in a seafood broth paired with Peak Organic King Crimson Ale

- Third Course: 1.5 pound lobster served with sweet jersey corn and house-made cilantro-lime better paired with Peak Organic IPA

- Fourth Course: Coalhouse lump-crab cakes over a bed of house-made coleslaw paired with Peak Organic Nut Brown Ale

- Fifth Course: Coalhouse key lime pie with fresh seasonal fruit paired with Peak Organic Fall Summit Ale "on CASK"

Rob Lucente, co-owner of Peak Organic Brewery, will give you all the scoop about his products. Call 203-977-7700 for reservations. This event will run you $55/person. Not a bad way to say farewell to the summer.

(photo from man pikin, flickr.com)

All Clear for Beer

Or so it seems. It's looking like the Metro North bar cars are here to stay. Hooray! According to the New Haven Register, the results of the survey conducted by the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council are in and 90% of people want the bar car to stay. The powers that be are paying attention. The Register reports that James Cameron, chairman of the council commented: "While a little anachronistic, I think they’ll last."

It was surprising to me to hear that 82% of people said they use the bar cars when their train has one. How is that even possible? I wonder if the folks who bothered to fill out the survey did so on a mission to save the bar car...which may or may not be why I personally filled it out. *guilty blush*

Really, I don't use the bar car all that much, but I love the novelty. That and on a few sweltering days, after dashing for the closing doors, I have thanked my lucky stars for a seltzer water on ice. Granted, the bar car is a little "meat markety," but it's nice to hear people actually talk. The rest of the train is click, click, click of Blackberries and "I'm judging you" glances. Personally, I'd rather have a drink and make a friend.

Ghost Office

The beautiful post office location at 421 Atlantic Street and the slightly less beautiful - but no less functional - location in Ridgeway Shopping Center are about to be no longer. They are moving to not-yet-identified smaller locations as part of the post office's downsizing efforts.

The Stamford Advocate reports that the post office simply does not need all the space they've got. No word on what's next for the historic location, built in 1916, but the paper quotes a source saying it will be preserved. It's not yet on the market, and the paper indicates that the last offer was an unsuccessful possibility in 2007. I am under the impression that the 2007 effort was the Ritz Carlton. Wish they'd come back! In my humble opinion, that would be tremendous.

(photo from gbaku, flickr.com)

Sea of Fleas, Aug 27-29

One of the many charms of summer is the opportunity to find a new treasure. Yard sale, garage sale, tag sale, estate sale or flea market - no matter what you call it, it can be a lot of fun. Even if you buy absolutely nothing, you can enjoy seeing what people have seen fit to hang onto.

Next weekend you'll have an opportunity to drop in on two flea markets.

First, this Friday (8am-3pm) and Saturday (9am-3pm), at The Stone House, 31 Cascade Road, Stamford, check out the Big Flea Market. The first hour on Friday is the super secret preview hour that will cost an extra $15, but the remainder will cost you nada. Organizers put the word "HUGE" in all caps to describe it. With proceeds benefiting the North Stamford Congregational Church and St. Luke's LifeWorks, the event is indoors and will go on rain or shine. The website (above) features a slideshow of some of the items you can claim for your very own.

Second, on Sunday (10am-5pm), at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, 295 West Avenue, Norwalk, you can attend the third annual Old-fashioned Flea Market. This one features quite a few other goodies, like antique cars, a Dixieland band and a BBQ. Admission is free and you'll find 70 vendors selling jewelry, antiques and such. Proceeds benefit the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum.

(photo from blmurch, flickr.com)

SEPTEMBER 29TH

Put it on your calendar! It's the day I will be hosting a charity happy hour to raise money and food for the The Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. The event will be held at Chinese Mirch. My clever buddy, and the man behind We Can't Stop, is working with me to make the event a big success.

We're calling the event Cans and Cocktails, and we are asking the folks behind your favorite local blogs to sponsor (or create!) their own cocktail. By ordering those drinks, you support the food bank. Participating blogs include:

- We Can't Stop
- Stamford Talk
- CT Bites
- Streets of Stamford
- Blog Stamford
- The Lunch Break Chronicles

We will also have some very cool Stamford takeaways created by We Can't Stop. Looking forward to seeing you there starting at 5:30!

(photo from StuartWebster, flickr.com)

Summer 2010 Restaurant Week

It's back! Summer Restaurant Week runs from August 22nd to September 5th. The Stamford Downtown Special Services District Mini-Site has all the great details, including links to full menus. This year, participating restaurants are:
- Black Bear
- Kujaku
- SBC
- Tiernan's
- BUtterfield8
- Capriccio
- Kotobuki
- Quattro Pazzi
- Remo's
- Tengda
- Aria
- Barcelona
- Capital Grille
- Chez Jean Pierre
- Columbus Park
- Emme of Capri
- EOS
- Market Restaurant
- Mitchell's Fish Market
- Morton's
- napa
- Siena
- Telluride

(photo from DiscoverDuPage, flickr.com)

How Much is that Doggie on the Corner?

The cats and dogs on display all over town can come home with you if yours is one of the winning bids at the "It's Reigning Cats & Dogs" sculpture auction. The summer series won't be on display much longer, but the 40 original fiberglass pets will be up for bid at on Wednesday, September 15th at 5:30pm.

Auctioneers Bobby Valentine & Laurie Guzda McEvoy will host the event at Seven Landmark Square (101 Broad Street). To attend, see the event website or call 203-348-5285. A portion of the $40 cost of admission goes to support Friends of Felines, Outreach to Pets In Need and the Stamford Dog Park. RSVP by September 1st.

Design to Raise Dimes

Come support the Stamford Museum and Nature Center by visiting the Shippan Designer Show House from September 26 to Sunday October 31. The event kicks off on September 25th a 6pm with a fancy schmancy invitation only party, but the very next day it is open to the public. Visit the design home from noon to 5 Sundays and 11 to 5 Tuesday through Saturdays (closed on Mondays).

The home is located at 422 Ocean Drive West, and features 9,000 square feet and 25 design spaces showcased in a waterfront home dating back to 1922. On Wednesdays at noon, there will be lectures on design topics. Admission is $30 and includes a show house publication. You can buy tickets at the door. Note that children under 6 and pets are not permitted.

Designers whose work will be on display include:
- Bartony Design
- Beverly Balk Interiors
- Bloomsbury Gardens
- Deb Ryan Designs
- Debra Interior Designs
- Designs by Jennifer Owen
- Judi Egbert Interiors
- Jack Fhillips Design
- Gosp Designs
- Greenwich Design Architects
- Greg Lanza Interior Designs
- Kenneth Davis
- Mary Delany Interior Design
- Suzanne Bellehumeur-Mural Interiors
- NuKitchens
- Potomac Garage Solutions
- Scaping Land Development Co.
- The Anacara Co.
- The Decorator's Eye
- Urban Gardens
- Victoria Lyon Interiors

Quatro Pazzi - Take 2 (or 3)

Okey doke, so I walked past Quattro Pazzi again today and asked three people working on the space (including a guy who seemed to be running the show) when it would open. They all said THIS TUESDAY (aka, Aug 17th). So...that's what seems to be true. We shall see!

Magic BBQ Hat

Coalhouse Pizza is at it again. They are hosting another five course beer tasting dinner. This one features southern style BBQ and beer from Magic Hat. Join them on Tuesday, August 17th at 7pm.

Click on the image next to this blog post to read the menu. It includes Magic Hat's:

- Odd Notion
- Magic Hat #9
- Circus Bow
- Blind Faith
- Single Chair
- Wacko

There will be live music from a blues band called The Mojomatics. Call for tickets 203-977-7700 or email them at info@coalhousepizza.com. They will run you $55/person plus tax and tip. Not a bad price for a little bit o' boozy summertime magic.

Use Your Knees to End Liver Disease

On September 26th, join The American Liver Foundation for a walk to fight liver disease. The Liver Life Walk is their first annual event, so let's show them some love!

Join them at Cove Island Park for a 5K course. Registration begins at 8am and the walk is underway at 10am. There is no fee to take part, but donations are encouraged. For more information, contact Marla Hannah Sadler at msadler@liverfoundation.org or 203-234-2022.

(photo from Mzelle Biscotte, flickr.com)

7,362

That's the approximate number of robocalls my husband and I got about the Connecticut primary while we were away. There were lobbying cancer patients. There were jobless advocates. There were impassioned first person pleas. We route our home phone to our cell phone, so we got messages on all fronts.

I wonder what the candidates think this accomplishes? Here's what it did for us: annoy us to the point of distraction. I could not press "delete" fast enough. I took note of who bothered us on our vacation and made sure to hate them for it.

After excessive finger bruising from all the phone message deleting, I got to the train station to collect scrap after scrap of promotional paperwork. The best was the woman who didn't remember handing her pamphlet to me the first time and gave me two duplicates, reintroducing herself each time. I know she is a volunteer. I know that she cares about her candidate. However, she did everyone a disservice by proving to me that simply wasn't paying attention.

Candidates, it's not enough to say the words "I care" or print them on a glossy flier. If you want my vote, back it up by respecting my time.

(photo from Ballistik Coffee Boy, flickr.com)

Kick Start with Art

The city missed me so much, they've welcomed me back with a Dancing Girl! Ok, perhaps that's an itty bitty bit untrue, but tomorrow at 1pm at the Old Town Hall (corner of Atlantic and Bank Streets), the city is hosting a dedication to welcome back a sculpture called "Dancing Girl" that has been away for almost 10 years.

Back in 1987 the statue was loaned by Stamford residents, Matthew and Lesta Stacom, and installed at the fountain in Kiwanis Park. It stayed in place for 14 years, but it was put into storage while the park and the Palace Theatre were renovated in 2001. The Stacoms have generously donated the work to the city, and the city made a special spot for its long lost friend by creating a garden adjacent to the remodeled Old Town Hall.

You can welcome it back with the mayor and his wife on Tuesday. If you can't make that, swing by the Old Town Hall on your own time and check it out.