Life + Culture

Darien + New Canaan Lifestyle Local Love Awards

YOUR FAVORITES Article by You, Our Dear Readers! Best Custom Home Builder: Mattera Construction, Westport, CT, matteraconstruction.com Best Architect:  Wadia Associates, 134 Main Street New Canaan, CT, wadiaassociates.com , @wadiaassociates; Established in 1976. Offices in New Canaan, Connecticut, and Palm Beach, FL. Known for an obsessive level of detail. They don't just design "houses"; they create estates and compounds that establish family legacies. Their approach integrates...

Food + Beverage

Wholesome by Design

A plant-based mompreneur reimagining convenient breakfasts with clean ingredients and inclusive options for every family Article by Laura Sabia | Photography by Brook Road Photography For MAJA Food founder Mackenzie, food has always been personal. Long before launching her plant-based brand, she was experimenting in the kitchen as a teenager, drawn to baking and recipe development. Years later, after transitioning to a vegan lifestyle, she began adapting recipes to fit her own dietary needs...

Life + Culture

Ask Leslie

Article by Leslie Kumar Welcome back to Ask Leslie! By the time you’re reading this, I’ll have returned from a trip to Illinois to visit my dad, a visit that was overdue. It brought me back to a question from the April column, from a reader navigating life as an adult child of divorced parents living in different states. She shared how much closer she feels to her mom, and how difficult it can be to make the trip to see her dad. It stayed with me, likely because it felt so familiar. And in a...

Local Services

Local Experiences

The best places and things to do in our area. Article by Megan Schinella Located in the heart of downtown Hotel Viking is one of the city’s most iconic luxury hotels. Blending classic Gilded Age charm with amenities including a spa, indoor pool, and roof top bar. The five-story property is a landmark to the city’s historic hospitality scene. Ocean Edge Resort is a premier Cape Cod destination offering historic elegance, private beach access, golf, and classic coastal charm. Set on a...

Home Services

Reliable Comfort Starts With Insulation

Honest expertise helping homeowners control energy, comfort, and long-term performance Article by Laura Sabia | Photography by Brook Road Photography When it comes to creating a comfortable, energy-efficient home, insulation is often overlooked but it’s one of the most impactful investments a homeowner can make. For Discount Insulation Company, that belief has been the foundation of the business for more than four decades. Founded in 1981 by Tom Gonzalez, the company quickly built a...

Shopping

Built By Brothers

How Nate and Ben Checketts built Rhone on a “Forever Forward” mindset—where performance, purpose, and mental fitness move in lockstep. Article by Anna Barnes There is a particular kind of ambition that favors velocity, scale quickly, disrupt loudly, exit triumphantly. Rhone was never built in that image. Instead, it moves more like its namesake, the Rhône River: steady, deliberate, and a reminder that strength is formed through persistence and consistency. Founded in 2014 by brothers Nate...

Home + Design

TABLE SET, MATCH READY

Creating the perfect courtside dining experience Article by Zac Mathias | Photography by Kerry Long Setting a table is one of my favorite arts, and I especially love leaning into something a little more playful and whimsical in the summer. For the annual Homes With Hope luncheon in Westport, CT, I created a table inspired by classic tennis clubs, crisp, tailored, and just the right amount of playful. It is a look that translates effortlessly to your own backyard, and proof that, with a smart...

Local Services

Local Experiences

The best places and things to do in our area. Article by Megan Schinella RPM - the ultimate destination for racers. This venue features high-speed go-kart racing, arcade games, Gel Blaster, Laser-Tag, VR gaming, bowling, paired with top-notch food and drinks. Make memories with the perfect mix of thrill and entertainment.  Stamford CT. Roots Ocean Prime - a New York-style steakhouse known for prime steaks, fresh seafood, and classic American dishes offering an upscale yet...

Shopping

Why Men Wait Until They “Need” Clothes

Article by Tanya Meyers Fashion Stylist/@mode_t_ Most men do not think about their wardrobe until something forces the issue. A dinner comes up. A trip gets booked. There is a work event, a wedding, a date night, or a moment in front of the mirror when the usual outfit suddenly feels a little off. That is usually when it becomes clear that new clothes are needed. For many, shopping is not something they want to spend time thinking about. They want a closet to feel easy, practical, and...

Life + Culture

Ask Leslie

Your Guide to Life's Everyday Dilemmas Article by Leslie Kumar Oh, hi, summer. Finally! It's the season I wish for all winter long and the reason I curse when I sit on hot leather seats. The season of perfect sunsets and relentless bugs. When you love that the kids have no math homework, yet somehow can't wait for September. Summer. When pouring a cocktail at 4:00 p.m. on a Tuesday feels so right until your alarm goes off at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. But! In summer, you can always hit...