Food + Beverage

Some Like It Curated

Inside Sommlike, Ridgefield’s New Home for Wine Discovery Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Annie Fandl Buying wine is usually a guessing game. You might choose based on a pretty label, the unique shape of the bottle, or because something sounds vaguely fancy or familiar from a film… or was it an Instagram post? Oftentimes, you’re choosing blindly and hoping for the best—and you’re either pleasantly surprised or massively disappointed. Sommlike, Main Street’s newest wine shop, takes the...

Food + Beverage

The Georgetown Owl

Where Coffee, Cocktails, Food, and Community Come Together Under One Roof Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Annie Fandl I’m sitting with Kate Perry in the dining room of the restaurant she co-founded. The Georgetown Owl is charming, comfortable, and quietly unassuming. Much like Kate herself. She is the antithesis of our shared namesake, Katy Perry. Very unshowy. Very much the flame and not the firework. “You should just get it out there,” she tells me—meaning the whole Katy Perry/Kate...

Food + Beverage

Meet Me at Queen B

Catching Up With Heather and Jennifer Bellizzi on Sisterhood, Coffee, and What’s Brewing at One of Main Street’s Buzziest Cafés Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Annie Fandl For Heather and Jennifer Bellizzi, Queen B isn’t just a café—it’s a love letter to their mother, Linda. One written in house-roasted coffee, New York City bagels, and homemade Pop-Tarts. The sisters had long worked in hospitality, but there was always something about the cafés they grew up going to in New York City...

Food + Beverage

The Mariner Tavern

Shannon Sturz Takes the Helm of a Beloved Local Restaurant, Honoring Its Past While Looking Ahead Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Jay Cohen At a time when scrolling has become synonymous with dining out, Shannon Sturz has a different idea of what a restaurant could be: a place where people put their phones away and talk to the person sitting across from them. The philosophy crystallized for Shannon years ago while he was working as a chef at another restaurant. Looking out from the...

Style + Beauty

The Art of the Second Story

Gilded Rose Curated Consignment Brings Timeless Luxury Goods and Estate Jewelry to Ridgefield Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Jennifer Zarine Photography In an era when true luxury is defined not by excess but by rarity, craftsmanship, and enduring style, Gilded Rose has become one of Ridgefield’s premier destinations for discerning collectors. Nestled on Bailey Avenue, the boutique offers more than luxury consignment, inviting clients to rediscover beautifully crafted objects with...

Style + Beauty

Make-Modern

Ridgefield’s New Home for Handwork Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Jennifer Zarine Photography The first thing visitors notice inside Make-Modern isn’t the sewing machines. It’s The Wall . Stretching across one side of the light, bright Bailey Avenue studio, horizontal shelves and diamond-shaped cubbies boast skeins of color-saturated yarn, bobbins of bright embroidery floss, glass jars of fluffy pom-poms, spools of textured ribbon. It is a riotous rainbow of possibility—equal parts...

Fitness

Dance Factory Ridgefield

Kristin Leggio Builds Artistry, Resilience, and Community Through Dance Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Kate Wark Photography Dance has always been a cherished part of Kristin Leggio’s life. “One of my earliest memories is walking down the stairs in tiny tap shoes, holding my mother’s hand,” she tells us. “I remember feeling so loved and supported. Creating that same kind of environment for dancers has always been important to me.” Kristin followed her mother Susan’s footsteps to the...

Local Services

Pawpaw Tree Veterinary Clinic

Dr. Maria Kremerman-Waltz Opens New Branchville Practice Built on Kindness and Continuity of Care Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Natasha Fleming Photography A handwritten card adorned with bespoke artwork was given to Dr. Maria Kremerman-Waltz, DVM, at her former practice. The sentiment read: “Kindness is the one commodity that you should spend more freely than you earn.” That sentiment became a guiding principle for Dr. Kremerman-Waltz, better known as Masha—one that has shaped how...

Education

Tribeca Community School Brings Reggio-Inspired Learning to Ridgefield

New Preschool Combines Child-Led Education With Flexible Hours for Families Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Tribeca Community School For many parents, choosing a preschool means choosing between philosophy and practicality. A nurturing, child-led educational approach typically comes with a three-hour school day. Full-day care might provide the hours working families need, but not necessarily the educational experience they envisioned for their child. “Parents want a rich pedagogy and...

Fitness

Beyond the Belt

For Over Three Decades, SDSS Martial Arts in Ridgefield Has Helped Students Build Confidence, Character, and Resilience Article by Katie Parry | Photography by Natasha Fleming Photography Most parents don’t enroll their children in martial arts because they dream of raising the next black belt. They’re looking for something that’s harder to teach: confidence, discipline, respect, resilience. The high kicks, one-two punches, and swinging nunchaku may be what draws kids in. But at SDSS Martial...