Food + Beverage

Elicit Brewing Company

Elicit’s New Danbury Location Brings Craft Beer, Cocktails, Food, and Fun Together Under One Roof Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Garrett Uhde and Adonis Giantomidis of Defining Studios Elicit Brewing Company—with its dozens of craft beers on tap, separate cocktail lounge, shuffleboard and cornhole bar games, and elevated pub fare—feels like bar-hopping to several different places in one night. The Danbury location, which opened in July, is the third Elicit in Connecticut. Parent...

Food + Beverage

She’s On a Roll

Chef Irene Santos of Spring Roll Supper Club Brings Sizzling Flavors of the Philippines to Ridgefield Article by Kelly Berlin In Filipino culture, it’s good luck to eat noodles on special occasions like birthdays, weddings, and graduations. The lengthy noodles or “Pancit” represent the threads of life and must be eaten without being cut to preserve the fortune of a long life. Chef Irene Santos of Spring Roll Supper Club brings a little bit of good fortune and a whole lot of distinctive flavor...

Food + Beverage

Ridgefield Bagels and Bakes

Two Chefs, a Storied Shop, and the Sourdough that Started it All Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Annie Fandl Photography Emily and Gary King’s meet-cute is something straight out of a Nora Ephron movie. She was a pastry chef at a renowned farm-to-table restaurant; he was the sous chef. When Emily left to help open a new spot, Gary found himself covering pastries—and texting her for advice. One thing led to another, and today the couple is in their second year as owners of Ridgefield...

Food + Beverage

Chef Irene’s Filipino Pancit

Stir-Fried Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables Article by Irene Santos 1 cup cabbage thinly sliced 1 cup each baby bok choy, carrots, green beans sliced on the bias, finely chopped yellow onion 1/2 cup chopped celery sliced on a bias 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 teaspoons minced garlic  1/2 pound pork tenderloin sliced into thin, 2-inch pieces 2 cups low sodium chicken broth 1 cup water 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 8 ounces Rice Noodles  ...

Home + Design

Studio CME

Blending Interior Design and Architecture to Create Spaces and Places for the Modern World Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Jennifer Zarine Photography Christine Everett, founder of Studio CME, has long been drawn to the visual arts. Growing up, she often exhibited her artwork and dreamed of turning her passion for clothing and garment construction into a career in fashion. After studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology for a time, she ultimately changed course, choosing to...

Life + Culture

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church

300 Years of Faith, Fellowship, and Forward Momentum Article by Katie Parry This year, one of Main Street’s most iconic facades marks its 300th anniversary—not just as a place of worship, but as a vibrant community hub that has woven itself into the fabric of Ridgefield for centuries. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was founded in 1725 by Reverend Samuel Johnson, a native of Stratford. The current stone sanctuary, built in 1915, is only the church’s fourth on the same plot of land. Remarkably...

Wellness

Elevating Families

How SpireTHERAPY Is Redefining Mental Health Support for Kids and Parents Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Natasha Fleming Denise Santangelo may be petite in stature, but she’s impossible to miss. Whether she’s sporting sky-high heels, donning her signature cowboy hat, or wearing a Rubik’s Cube dress (she learned to solve the puzzle in her 40s), the founder of SpireTHERAPY radiates warmth, energy, and compassion. A former litigator in New York City, Denise pivoted careers in the late...

Local Services

My Mama Made

The Seamstress Behind Ridgefield’s Most Bespoke Clothing Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Jennifer Zarine Photography Ju Da Silva was just eight years old when she first picked up a sewing needle. We’re sitting in the sun-drenched living room of her daughter’s home in Branchville. Vibrant green plants spill from nearly every surface, and the space feels bright, cheerful, and alive—just like Ju herself. “I come from a very humble family,” Ju tells us in Portuguese, with her daughter...

Life + Culture

Trailblazing Teenagers

Meet Four Ridgefield Students Making a Difference—In Our Community and Beyond Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Kate Wark Photography Ridgefield is a special place. Ask any resident why, and they’ll likely lead with the magic of Main Street—Deborah Ann’s, Books on the Common, the Memorial Day Parade. Ridgefield’s vibrant arts scene—The Aldrich, Ridgefield Playhouse, A.C.T of CT—would surely follow in a close second. And rounding out the top three? Ridgefield’s incredible sense of...

Local Services

Active Dog

How Eric Bleile Traded His Desk Job for a Life of Open Trails—and Tails Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Scott Sessions and Emily Perretti Eric Bleile has always loved dogs. Growing up in Maine, he was constantly outdoors—hiking, exploring, and spending time in nature alongside furry, four-legged friends. His career path, which began in finance in Chicago and eventually landed him at a hedge fund in Stamford, followed a fairly traditional route—at first. “A lot of companies didn’t...