Gov't Center: Not as Boring as You'd Think

SCOOP: The Stamford Times reports that a stabbing occurred Monday afternoon near the Stamford Government Building- or, 888 Wash, as I like to call it. It's predicted the man will be OK.
MY TAKE: Stabbing victim staggers into 888 Washington Blvd? What, 888, you couldn't wait until next week, when I planned to write about you? See, you're sassier than I thought. Not to be a Downer Debbie, but this event shows that Stamford is not simply the sleek and gleaming city it aspires to be. There is still crime (check out the paper's police blotter- more on that in a later entry), and not everyone is making a gazillion dollars, so don't prance glibly around Stamford as if it's Greenwich.
VERDICT: I think this is my first bit of gossip for the blog. Open for gossip: crime in Stamford and 888 Wash Blvd. Click here to read more.

Ukrainian Festival 2007: Best of Stamford

SCOOP: I went to the 40th annual Ukrainian Festival on Sept. 9, 2007. It’s good for families, singles, and music-lovers, and it’s certainly worth ten bucks (five in advance).
MY TAKE: Ukraine Fest is a must. For families, lively traditional dancing and music. For singles, beer and attractive, sharp-featured men and women. For everyone, it’s a great day to sit outdoors, eat, drink, and relax on the beautiful grounds of St. Basil’s College in Glenbrook.
I got there as a few hundred people were gathering in front of the outdoor amphitheatre. I have no idea where they got their folding chairs, but I sat on my
blanket waiting for the traditional dancers. First, a man led us in “God Bless America.” I wasn’t surprised many people were unsure of the words, but I was surprised that I was the most clueless. I sang, “to the ocean- white with snoooooooow.” ??? Foam, dum-dum!
But once he started us on the Ukrainian national anthem, the crowd’s voices grew surer. I stood and listened. It took a while and no one seemed in a hurry. It was a bit eerie sounding, maybe because it was slow and a cappella, or maybe because the strongest voices were older. The younger voices didn’t know all the words, just like I didn’t know "God Bless America," but the older folk followed through to the end. It was impressive to see people singing a song that clearly says, I grew up somewhere else. I hope they like Stamford.

The dancers were awesome. Groups from different towns performed, ages 6 to 13-ish. They leapt and twirled, and the boys did Russian-style crouch and kick moves. It wasn’t a “they’re bad but cute” dance recital. Those kids were little but they kicked ass. They did a complicated circle-up-and-link-arms-to-lift-up-the-girls move, and some up-and-back, in-a-line moves. One boy did one-handed cartwheels in a circle.
Next, a band of four adults played music with traditional instruments: violin, insane wooden flute, bass, and accordion. The speakers and sound production were clear, so the music sounded great. I got a funny photo of a little dog standing by the switchboard.
The entire program was in Ukrainian. That might scare some people, but I love it. Not understanding the language around you frees you of all responsibility. I meandered around looking at the craft tables- the painted eggs would make good gifts- and Ukraine-language books and CDs. I wasn’t crazy about the food.
VERDICT: I hope this event is better-publicized next year. The local papers helpfully mentioned it THE DAY BEFORE. Does anyone a) read the paper b) spur-of-the-moment decide to hit the local fair? Just remember: next year, early September, St. Basil’s College on Glenbrook Road. I’ll be there, and I’ll bring my folding chair. Click here to read more.

Late Bird Missed Block Party

SCOOP: Jimmy's Seaside's block party looked fun but I missed it. I'm bitter.
MY TAKE: I had friends to see, but I did a drive-by of Jimmy's 3:30. There was a band setting up in the small lot beside J's and a few guys milling about with beers. I thought about stopping to take some photos and ask some questions, but I was wearing a low-cut top and would have felt conspicuous among the guys in jeans and black t-shirts. After circling the block to get one more look, I decided to check back in a couple hours.
I drove by at 5:45 and the place was jamming. Loud rock music, people joyfully playing beer pong with red cups... just what I'd imagined. Don't ask me why I didn't stop. The light was beautiful and I would have gotten some freaking great photos. Knowing what I know now, I hate myself.
I sped home to get the husband for dinner, and I took few minutes to read the papers I'd missed when I was in Maine. That half-hour was a fatal delay. We ate at Post Corner Pizza in Darien since it's kinda close to J's and I wanted chicken souvlaki. We took a stroll at Cove Beach at dusk (so lovely, but another fatal error), assuming the block party would be rolling even harder at night when the crowds arrived.
We drove up to Jimmy's at 8... to a silent, almost empty lot. The band was packing up and the beer pongers were pretty drunk. We walked in, thinking maybe there was a crowd indoors, and we’d have a drink and play a little pool. "Five dollar cover," said a very pleasant man.
Me: "What! I thought the Block Party was free!" I pointed to the notorious flyer on the wall.
"It is, but there's a cover for the band."
"Who's the band?" A name I'd never heard of. "I thought the block party was until two am."
"It is, but we're sort of moving it indoors." I told him I'd call the friend we were meeting and get back to him.
"Five dollar cover?" I said as we walked out.
"Yeah, and ten for guys," my husband added.
"What?"
"Didn't you see the sign?" No, I didn’t. Our friend suggested Tigin so we met her out there and had a good evening.
Looking back, I should have asked to talk to the manager. Maybe he or she would have let me in for free when I explained the situation and maybe cried a little. I'm disappointed, because it was my fault I missed the party. I should have stopped the second time when there was beautiful light. I just have to forget this, move on, and take it as a lesson learned: DON'T WAIT TO DO YOUR STAMFORD TALK JOB. DINNER CAN WAIT. KEEP YOUR MIND IN THE GAME. DON’T LET YOUR LOW-CUT SHIRT STOP YOU. And, 8 pm is probably the wrong time to arrive at any bar.
VERDICT: Carpe freakin'diem. Click here to read more.

I Smashed the Pink Car!

SCOOP: Right now it's 12:15 on Saturday. You have about five hours to go smash that car for breast cancer. It's worth it.
MY TAKE: I got off the High Ridge exit on the way home from Maine and gasped. The pink car. I'd forgotten. I veered over into the left lane and turned into the A and P parking lot. Shoppers wandered over to take a look as a kid banged the car with a sledge hammer. There wasn't chrome flying everywhere. Oh well.
I tucked ten bucks in my pocket, grabbed my camera, and hopped out. A volunteer didn't have to talk me into anything, especially after she told me I got as many hits as I wanted. I got my raffle ticket, for cool prizes like jewelry and trips. The volunteer's assistants/family were eager for me to take a slam, but I said, "I'm a little afraid I'll hurt myself with that sledge hammer." Someone offered me a mallet, and I said, OK. I took a couple slams. It felt pretty good but that car was not as easily smashable as you'd think. I think it was a Toyota Tercel. The scary glass parts had already been removed for safety.
The people that were running it were awesome. Raveis sounded so boring to me; I pictured people in button downs only giving you one hit at the car. No sir. After I had a few hits with the mallet, a nice man brought over the sledge hammer and encouraged me to really do some damage. That thing was HEAVY, but it did make bigger dents.
VERDICT: GO! QUICK! That car needs a lot of people to smash it so it gets more broken up !!! It barely looked smashed at noon! We must destroy that car! Click here to read more.

Block Party: Another Case Cracked

SCOOP: Jimmy's Block Party looks great- no admission fee, 2 $ Bud Light drafts, and beer pong, from noon to 2 am, this Saturday Sept. 8.
MY TAKE: I'm going to give you a synopsis of what it took for me to find this information. I don't mean to self-promote (actually, I do), but this is why Stamford Talk exists.
1) I looked at the Advocate online. I'm in Maine so the paper paper is most likely in my driveway, run over by my husband on the way to work. In the Jimmy's entry under Clubs, there's no mention of the Block Party. Did I imagine this event, like I thought I imagined the Ukraine Fest? No, this event I'm pretty confident about, since a human voice told me about it when I called Jimmy's on Monday to find out about Open Jam. Again, not to bash Stamford Talk over your head, but do you see what I mean about the haphazard nature of finding info in this town? I love surprises, but sometimes I just want to know what the hell is going on this weekend.
2) I googled "Jimmy's Seaside Stamford ct" and found their unbelievably hideous website. You should really take a look. Under the Calendar section, it says, "Block Party Noxzilla, RockStar." Are those bands? Or companies that sponsor the event? Let's click on the link below (for boneyardproduction's myspace page) and find out.
3) Oh! There's no information! It says, "Saturday Sept. 8... Rock Block and Beats Party at Jimmy's Seaside." I knew all that. OK, here are icons along a rope graphic. Let's click on "About Me"- an empty box. Maybe that's an error- let's click on the next icon- another empty box!
Are you surprised? Stamford Talk isn't. She's used to this.
4) I started writing this entry, but wanted to double check that the site was truly a dead end. Why would Jimmy's direct you to a useless website? Oh wait, if you scroll down, there is a flyer describing the event. Another poorly done website. It's a good thing I took a second look and looked "below the fold," as my techie husband says. The flyer is an image in the "Comments and Friends" section. That section title is visible above the fold, but the flyer isn't. Um, Boneyard? REDESIGN YOUR WEBSITE.
5) If you squint at the flyer, you can see that Noxzilla and Rockstar are bands. I guess Boneyard Productions is some sort of booking agency. No idea. The flyer does include the essential info, so thank you, Boneyard, for that. I'll put it on the blog.
6) I went back to the rope to check all the other tabs and clicked on the least obvious, fuzzy skull icon. "View Photos" pops up, and you're linked to myspace, but have to log in. Obviously, at this point, it's not worth it. I don't even know whose photos I'd be clicking on. Boneyard's? I still don't know who that is. A booking agency? Well, I hate them. Not to perseverate, but if you click on the "music" tab, there's a tiny picture of a skeleton with headphones on, and the words "coolbuddy.com" in the corner. Don't click on it. Nothing happens.
VERDICT: Access to information about Stamford's social scene is limited. It took 15 minutes to confirm an event that I only found out about by chance. You'll have to follow my steps to see the flyer, because this computer doesn't have Firefox and adding links in Safari takes forever. Click here to read more.

New Bins, New Era in Trash

SCOOP: The city of Stamford ended backyard pickup, so now we all get new garbage bins! With wheels!
MY TAKE: At 6 am in the winter, curled up in my bed, I was thankful to hear a commotion under my bedroom window. It was the magical sound of my garbage bins being pulled violently out to the curb when I had forgotten. I thought the garbagemen were just super nice- turns out, all of Stamford has backyard service. Since 80% of Stamford-ites already put their own trash out, the city decided to end backyard pickup. They're giving out new, uniform bins that can automatically be lifted into the truck. I’m picturing two beautiful clean bins, each with a sturdy hinged lid. I’ve been looking forward to this for over a week. The elderly or handicapped can apply for exemptions, and from what I read in the paper, the city has been quick to process those requests. If I didn’t read the local news, I wouldn't have known about this revolution in trash. You don’t read the local paper, and that's OK. I'm here for you.
VERDICT: I hope these bins live up to my expectations. I'm looking forward to writing our house number on the bin in permanent marker. Click here to read more.

Ukranian Fest is a Go!

SCOOP: There is a Ukraine Festival at St. Basil's College on Glenbrook Road. It’s the 40th annual Ukrainian Connecticut Day Festival. A really nice man called me back. The kitchen gets going around noon, dancers 2-ish, and then traditional music with 5 bands from all over the region. One of the groups from NYC has a "haunting Carpathian" sound. Arts and crafts, beer, Ukranian flea market (?), a raffle, and a Ukranian museum inside the college. Last year 2500 people attended.

MY TAKE: Ukraine Day sounds just like Norwalk's Oyster Fest. Both have music and beer, but Ukraine Day has more than just oysters.

I couldn't get a clear answer on the end time. "Oh, 6 or so-- but the music lasts later."
Me: "Like, 9 or so?"
Him: "No, no, like 7-- until the food and beer run out."
This sounds like my kind of party. Mass chaos all day, home by 7 to relax and get ready for the work week.
Me: "What if it rains?"
Him: "It's only rained once in 40 years."
Me: "What did you do?"
Him (merrily): "Oh, it was a disaster!"

The forecast looks good: maybe a stray shower. I don't even care. I plan on buying my ticket in advance. It's 5$ (call 324-0242), or 10 $ at the door.

VERDICT: Good cultural opportunity. When I go to Cove Beach, I hear many different languages spoken. Polish, Russian, Ukranian? I know nothing about these cultures, and on Sunday, I get to learn about Ukraine. Click here to read more.

Sept. 4-9: Smash a Car and Dance!

Events this week, culled from local papers, that appeal to me.
Tuesday:
Mellow original music- Bennigan’s 6:30. Anna Nyakana and her guitar.
Original music by the Spinning Plates- Dragonfly Lounge. Looks interesting. They play most Tuesdays, so I'll probably go next week.
Wednesday:
Photography Exhibit- g/r/a/n/d, 7-9 pm. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and music- free! Sources suggest the free stuff is only for the first two hours.
Open Jam- Jimmy’s Seaside. Starts at 9, I’d go at 10.
Thursday and Friday:
I'm not sure yet. Many of you, I'm sure, will be heading to the Oyster Fest in Norwalk. Does Stamford have an equivalent to that?
Saturday:
Car-smashing for breast cancer- the A&P on High Ridge, 9 to 5. A 10 $ raffle ticket puts you in the Nov. 5 drawing for a car and a European vacation. BUT HERE’S THE THING I JUST CAN’T PICTURE: WHEN YOU BUY A TICKET, YOU GET TO SMASH A PINK CAR WITH A HAMMER. Can you imagine all that metal and chrome everywhere? It doesn’t sound safe, but I’m sure gonna go see it. Raveis hosts the fundraiser.
Block Party- Jimmy’s Seaside at noon. I’m not sure if there’s a cover, but if there is, it will be worth the free beer and music.
Sunday:
Discussion of Current Issues- Chez Jean-Pierre on Bedford St. from 5-7. I LOVE to discuss things with strangers. I’m not sure if you are expected to buy dinner; that would be awkward. 978-0467.
Wild Card: Possible Ukranian Church festival- no clue where. It sounds awesome. The traditional dancing is at 2:45 pm, but there’s food earlier. I read about it somewhere last week, and, proving once again why I am starting this blog, I can no longer find the info online or in any newspaper. Just like the cricket match: NOTHING. I called the phone # listed in the paper and left a message for the man on the answering machine who spoke both English and Ukraine. He hasn't called me back. It’s 5$ in advance (324-0242) and 10 $ at the door. We'll see. Click here to read more.

Cold Stamford: No Love for the Music?

SCOOP: It’s headline news that Stamford prefers cover bands to original music. While searching online for Jimmy’s Seaside’s Sept. 8 Block Party, I found a Stamford Times article by Amanda Pinto. She interviewed local musicians who- this is insane- can’t find places to play in Stamford. Most bars book cover bands, many use DJs instead of live bands, and the one notable venue, Jimmy’s, can’t accommodate all who want to play.
MY TAKE: Lack of live original music in a place is a bad, bad, sign. “Live original music” sounds folk-y, but it can be punk or funk or rock or metal. It just means the band plays their own material. Original music is creativity. It’s a different view, it’s a passionate view. It’s art. I’d hate to think that Stamford is made up of people who work and drink and don’t care about music.
VERDICT: Stamford-ites should be open to songs they haven’t already heard 300 times on the radio, their iPod, or a mixed tape in high school. Come to Jimmy’s Open Jam on Wed., and contact musicians you know to make sure they’re going. Add a comment here if you know bands that are playing in Stamford, OR Stamford bands that are playing elsewhere. Click here to read more.

Hallelujah: Open Jam on Wednesday

SCOOP: Jimmy’s Seaside looks promising for original live music. There's an Open Jam on Wednesday night.
MY TAKE: One of the main goals of Stamford Talk is to find good original music. I did some research (I called Jimmy’s) and was happy to find out that Jason Jones and the Stateline Blues Band were hosting open jam. I heard Jason’s previous band, Electric Hill, at Green's, and they had a great funk and blues sound.
The good news: at Open Jam, you'll hear a wide variety of bands. This is the kind music I want- people listen to the music, right up close, and it’s not just a background for booze. The musicians write or improvise their own music, and you can say hi to the drummer between sessions. When the groove is right, usually later as things get a little fuzzy, musicians join up and jam with whoever is around. The bar is crowded in a good way. It’s fun to squeeze in for a beer and have a little harmless body contact with the person next to you.
The bad news: Jason hosted his last session this week, and I’m sorry to have missed his music. However, Open Jam is still happening with a new host. I'm going to check it out on the 12th, and I hope many of you will join me.
THANK YOU: To Shamik for his photo of Jimmy's. Check out Shamik's flickr set for a photograph of Jason playing guitar.
VERDICT: Try Jimmy’s Seaside on a Wednesday. Don’t go too early; I’d try 10ish. It's a work night, but you only live once. Click here to read more.

Sk8 Park Report

SCOOP: Scalzi Park has tennis courts, a baseball diamond and a skate park, which makes for good people watching.
MY TAKE: We checked out the skate park on Saturday. It was busy. There's a big bowl for advanced skaters (the video in my earlier sk8 park entry), a small bowl to practice in, and an area with a railing, steps, and raised surfaces where skaters perfect the threatening moves they do in front of public buildings. That's why the skate park is good: they can practice freely, and we're not mowed down. The kids were polite and cooperative, with minimal cursing. There was only one girl, and only one skater looked over 21. Observers sat on benches. It was a very relaxed atmosphere. I myself couldn't relax, because not all kids wear helmets. They skate along the edge of the big bowl to get to the other side of the park, and that big bowl is steep. I might not go back.
On the way out, I noticed a tiny kid standing with the big boys on the edge of the small bowl. He looked, max, 7 years old. I worried a heavier kid might smush him, but he stood confidently and watchfully beside boys twice his size, waiting his turn. What an eager little face. As we drove out of the park, I saw a bunch of 8 year olds running suicides. I think it was a football team. I liked that the team was a mix of black and white kids, and that one coach was white and one was black. I don't see many racially diverse groups in Stamford. If you do, tell me.
VERDICT: Get lunch and eat it outdoors at Scalzi. It's on Bridge street, near the Ridgeway Shopping Center. Click here to read more.

SUPER!!! Stop and Shop for iPods!

SCOOP: The Super Stop and Shop on Summer NOW HAS A MACHINE THAT DISPENSES IPODS AND EXPENSIVE HEADPHONES.
MY TAKE: Well. Wow. I had planned on praising SSS for its cheap flowers, but this breaking news takes precedence: RATHER THAN A CANDY/JUNK FOOD MACHINE WHEN YOU ENTER, THERE IS A MACHINE WITH ROWS OF IPODS AND BANG AND OLUFSSON EARPHONES. It's to the right, behind you, so I didn't even see it. My techie husband called me over. My eyes couldn't process all the shiny stuff in boxes. I was still trying to make sense of the mish-mosh when he dragged me to the cookie aisle.
I'm going to have to go back to:
a) see what exactly is in there
b) take a pic (this is by sabellachan- flickr)
c) see if prices are lower than the actual store and
d) ask whose idea that was.
Part of me thinks, who is gonna buy that? But another part of me thinks, those B and O are the same over-the-ear, life-changing, 160 $ headphones my husband loaned me. They were the only pair that didn't ruin my workout by sliding off when I did weights. We lost them in our move. Now there they are, at Stop and Shop.
VERDICT: Maybe SSS shoppers will buy expensive electronics with their groceries. Click here to read more.

Restaurant Week(s): Ya Missed It

SCOOP: Stamford's Restaurant Weeks happened, and I totally missed it.
MY TAKE: The Stamford Times gets delivered to me every Friday for free. You probably get it too but don't realize that it has good info on Stamford library events and concerts in the area (not concerts in Stamford of course, but in Norwalk and Westport). I love the Stamford Times, but in today's edition, an article titled "Stamford Summer Restaurant Weeks begins" (Weeks is not a typo) informed me that it starts Aug. 20 and ends Sept. 2. Well, that's tomorrow. I would have liked to know earlier that Telluride, Bennett's and other restaurants were offering prix fixe for 30.07$. That's a damn steal. Did anyone know about this? Maybe I wasn't paying attention, but I've been reading the Advocate for five days straight, and I was downtown several times last week. I didn't see anything. Maybe the regulars at Columbus Park Trattoria (site of our lobster head fiasco) and g/r/a/n/d (whatever) knew about it, but isn't the point of Downtown's Restaurant Association to get more customers? My two cents: it needed more publicity.
VERDICT: Let's make a mental note to keep our eyes peeled next August. Click here to read more.