Home + Design

Make a Splash

Top pool designer in2blue shows you how to keep cool as summer heats up. Article by Meredith Guinness Some people come to in2blue design LLC, Nick Vitiello’s busy Norwalk-based pool company, because they are starting a family and want to build happy backyard memories. Some are grandparents hoping to entice the grandkids over for some summer fun. Some just love to throw the perfect neighborhood bash, complete with burgers, brews, and the occasional cannonball. “Everyone wants to create a...

June 2024

Travel

Shipping Up to Boston

A weekend escape in the *other* city. Article by Meredith Guinness Boston is steeped in history – no pun intended – and many hotels lean into the nautical knickknacks and Revolutionary themes one might expect in a town that touts its substantial place in the early American story. But one of the city’s most luxurious lodgings is a relative newcomer: the Mandarin Oriental Boston, a five-star hotel in the heart of Back Bay. Towering over bustling Boylston Street, the hotel combines classic New...

June 2024

Style + Beauty

All About Deep Plane Facelifts

Westport-based plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Mark Fisher explains the procedure. Article by Dr. Mark Fisher You may have heard the term “deep plane facelift,” but what does it mean? Unlike a lot of the terms you might come across when it comes to facial rejuvenation (mini-lift, S-lift, ponytail lift, etc.), a deep plane facelift is not something cooked up by a PR firm. It's a technique that has evolved over the last thirty years and has been proven to deliver safe, superior, and...

June 2024

Local Services

Camping Out

Getting ready for sleepaway camp next summer? Start now. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy It's July, and a sizable chunk of our town’s under-18 residents are at their summer home-away-from-home: camp. Sleepaway camp is a big part of summer culture here in Fairfield County, but as it becomes bigger and more popular, it becomes harder for parents to navigate. (So many choices! So competitive to get a spot!) That’s why folks like Stacy Fleischman exist— through the company Camp Specialists, where she...

June 2024

Life + Culture

Melissa Bernstein Lights Up

Article by Sara Gaynes Levy Melissa Bernstein has worn many hats: wife, mother, toy company co-founder (the eponymous-with-her-husband Melissa & Doug), author, Westporter (since age 16!), and now, the co-founder of Lifelines, a collection of sensory-stimulating, stress-relief tools for folks of all ages. After the duo sold Melissa & Doug late last year, she had the idea for Lifelines when she realized the power that tactile experiences had on grounding her in the present. “For 32 years, I had...

June 2024

Entertainment

Books on the Beach

Summer reading picks from Westport's best book club. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy In 2022, new mom Carrie Kerner had an idea. “On a walk with some friends, we lamented about the lack of time for reading since becoming parents,” she says. “Recalling the joy of childhood story time at the library and my enduring love for books, I proposed the idea of starting a book club, hosting it at Old Mill Beach so no one would need to host, clean up, or provide snacks.” The idea was a hit. After a 20 person...

June 2024

Food + Beverage

Toast of the Town

Connecticut Distilling is making—and serving— can't miss spirits in Waterbury. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy Stelios Stavrianos wanted to pay homage to Waterbury’s bootlegger history with his new distillery, Connecticut Distilling. You can see that on the walls, which are peppered with old maps of the area and photographs of buildings that were important throughout its history. But there’s a deeper connection, too: According to legend, the Waterbury police chief was asked why the town’s...

June 2024

Life + Culture

Creative Writing 101

Instructors from Westport Writer's Workshop share their top tips for kickstarting a writing project. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy For many of us, summer is a slow time at work, which makes it a great moment to devote some energy to a new project. And if you’ve always wanted that project to be writing, we’ve got an amazing resource right here in town to help you: the Westport Writer’s Workshop. They have incredible authors who coach aspiring writers on constructing everything from novels to...

June 2024

Style + Beauty

Beach Happy Hour Essentials

Savor summer in "The 203" with these must-have items. Article by Tory Brown Happy hour season is upon us. Why settle for a crowded patio when you have access to our breathtaking Connecticut beaches? To help you make the most of summer in The 203, I’ve curated a selection of must-have products to enhance your seaside soirées. From stylish accessories that make happy hour effortless to handy essentials you didn’t know you needed, these items will make your coastal New England evenings even more...

June 2024

Local Services

SeriousFun For Kids

Thanks to Paul Newman's legacy, kids with serious illnesses get to experience the joy of summer camp. Article by Sara Gaynes Levy For many of us— and our children— the experience of going to summer camp is a foundational memory of growing up. Summer camp can be a life-changing opportunity, something legendary Westporter Paul Newman recognized when he attended camp in his youth. And it’s why he founded SeriousFun Children’s Network, a summer camp experience for children with serious illnesses...

June 2024