Home + Design

The Book Barn

A Historic Barn, a Storied Bookshop, and the Couple Behind Its Restoration Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Kate Wark Photography When Amanda DiGiacomo and Jason Pastuzyn first saw the Book Barn, sunlight streamed through holes in the siding, and lead paint coated the walls and windows. But the space felt like kismet—as if it had been lying in wait for its next tenants to steward it through another chapter. Amanda, who grew up in North Salem, met Jason while the two were attending...

Home + Design

The Roof Specialists

How a Father-Son Team Turned Decades of Expertise into One of the Most Trusted Roofing Companies in the Area Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Jennifer Zarine Photography When Gabriel Loja first arrived in Connecticut, he did what many newcomers do: he worked wherever he could, learning a trade from the ground up. For Gabriel, that trade was roofing. Years spent installing shingles in summer heat, repairing storm damage, and mastering the details of flashing and drainage eventually gave...

Arts + Culture

From Branchville to Broadway

Lia Christina Makes Her Debut In Stranger Things: The First Shadow Article by Katie Parry At three years old, Lia Konstantakopoulos would climb onto her family’s coffee table, strike a pose, and proclaim, “I want to be on Broadway!” Most children who make such declarations spend a lifetime chasing them. Lia—who goes by Lia Christina professionally (“because my last name has 17 letters!”)—made hers come true in just seven years. Last fall, at age 10, she made her Broadway debut as Alice Creel...

Life + Culture

Tiger Shark Tank

Ridgefield’s Celebration of Innovation Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Jay Graygor Five years ago, Sean Dowd had a simple idea inspired by the small screen. As a member of Ridgefield’s Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC), he wondered what might happen if the town hosted its own homespun version of Shark Tank . On the long-running ABC reality show, budding entrepreneurs pitch their businesses in pursuit of funding and mentorship. In the Ridgefield version, local...