Everybody's Fine Filming at UConn Stamford

I can't get out of work 'til 4 ish but if someone could check it out and perhaps even bring your camera JIK (that's short for just in case- I'm not against lol style ok?) that would be awesome. I went to the EF set last Friday and it was a little boring, but if I have faith that if I keep going, something interesting will happen to me.

When I was at the EF set in Shippan on Friday, I saw no stars, but I had a great chat with a really nice cop. I got to hear them yell, "Standby!" and "Cut!" while filming went on in the house. Here's a pic of that house; I drove by Saturday and took a paparazzi-like shot of it. I was playing it too cool during the filming to pull out my camera. I was the only civilian there and I think people thought I belonged. I was wearing a black shirt (did that on purpose), so I fit right in. I'm sneaky. Sneaky, but very, very discrete. You can trust me.

I will zip over to the UConn set as soon as I can even though it's a major pain to park and walk over.

Click here to see all of my older posts about movies filming. Click here to read more.

Saltwater Grille: Confession (and, Countdown to Summer)

In the early days of Stamford Talk, I wrote a review of Saltwater Grille down in Shippan. It was not a glowing review. I said that the service was spotty and that the setting sun made dining on the deck almost unbearable. A few weeks after I posted, I started to feel bad. I did not want a popular place to know I was trashing them. I also thought maybe they'd want to advertise with me in the future.

Recently, I read a discussion about whether it was ethical for a blogger to remove old posts that he/she no longer felt were high quality or reflected what they thought. I realized that I was firmly against removing posts. A blog is WEB LOG. It's a record of your thoughts on a certain day. It's not supposed to be a... book or something to be edited. Once it's up, it's up. I knew I needed to put the SWG post back up so I was not a hypocrite. Here it is, completely unedited. Summer's here, and it's time for expensive seafood. I'd be remiss if I didn't tell you about SWG.

I now know:
a) it's OK to criticize things that are not great- that's a key function of a blog or any type of writing, and
b) advertising is so a non-issue for this blog. This blog is about opinions, not about pleasing people who want to use Stamford Talk's wild success for their own benefit.

I guess I have worked out my Stamford Talk ethic... Say what I think about Stamford. Try to make it relevant to readers. Keep including my personality even though that can be intimidating when it's not just friends and family reading. Don't trash people without giving balanced opinions. Find and rely on trusted readers and other bloggers. Don't see blogging as competing with other bloggers. It's about community.

Blogging about Stamford is awesome. Stamford Talk is approaching 9 months old this month. I'm gonna have a big bash at the end of August to celebrate the one year anniversary, and you all are invited. Click here to read more.

Life in SoFa: Cheap Labor, Traffic, BMWs

There’s an interesting article in the Fairfield Weekly called "White Wash: An artist-housecleaner sounds off on the Fairfield County wealth gap." The gossip Jodi Strmiska dishes on her clients is ordinary, but I liked hearing a personal story about commuting down here to do service-related jobs.

A few things about Stamford jump out at me. First of all, notice how our beloved Stamford is left off her map: In coastal Fairfield County, the line between rich and poor is drawn along a south-north axis. The highest concentration of wealth exists in southern towns like Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan, whereas the highest concentration of poverty and near-poverty exists in northern cities and towns like Bridgeport, Stratford and Shelton.
Stamford, you're an anomaly, and I like that about you. I want you to improve some of your problems while retaining your "I'm different" attitude. Let's work together to be a place in SoFa (oooooooooooh I just made that up!!!!!!!!!) that retains a diverse population. As many readers commented in last week's post "What's the Biggest Issue Facing Stamford?", ordinary people have trouble affording homes in Stamford. Even families making well over $100,000 a year find it hard to buy a home comfortably and are forced to move to Norwalk. Hence another post I have planned, "Can Stamford Talk afford to stay in Stamford?"

I find the rich-poor divisions Strmiska portrays depressing, but I know they're true. It's the nature of the FC: The service economy, which employs the majority of working poor in Fairfield County, insures the perpetuation of the suburban gated-community and the urban ghetto. They have to commute to Greenwich or New Canaan to their jobs as nannies, housekeepers, landscapers or contractors, and come home to underfunded Bridgeport or Stratford, towns that often mean one thing— a bedroom— to the day-laborers who are the backbone of the service sector in Fairfield County.

Yup. We can bitch about day laborers and traffic on 95, but those are natural results of the way this area works. C.R.E.A.M.! ("Cash Rules Everything Around Me," Wu-Tang Clan song) I hate to say it, but sometimes it feels like cash rules a whole heck of a lot down here. I think one of the area's biggest challenges is how to live here and not get
a) too focused on material goods
or
b) too down that you can't afford the beautiful things other people have.

I never thought I was a material person, but now that my Civic and I are getting older, I find myself craving a BMW 6 series. I can't afford that car, but I want that car, because I see some beautiful ones in my gym's parking lot at 6am. That car has started to look normal- and, in my fantasies, attainable- to me. That car is not normal, and this area is not normal. We have some very, very, very rich people around here, and we have a lot of poor people. I'm in the middle and I feel pretty damn lucky about that.

If it's hard for adults to keep perspective, it must horrible for kids. If I were a poor kid in Stamford, I'm not sure how I'd deal with seeing other kids driving nice cars, using their iPhones and talking about fancy vacations. If you have money, this area is awesome; there are so many ways to spend it. If you don't... well, you're stuck on 95, living in an ugly apartment, and unable to enjoy a lot of the activities around here. Thank goodness Stamford has some beautiful parks, the free summer concerts, and... uh, that's pretty much all the free stuff around here, right?

Can you imagine living in this area with no money?


Related Stamford Talk posts:

March 3, 2008-- Illegal Immigrants: Not Job-Stealers, but Subject to Raids and Arrests in Danbury

February 24, 2008-- Stamford Day Laborers= Criminals?

February 22, 2008-- Day Laborer = Illegal Immigrant? Click here to read more.

Stamford Police Parade: I Missed It

A reader sent photos and a description of the Stamford Police's parade to honor fallen officers. There was also a benefit at Thirsty Turtle to raise money for a fund for the families. This upcoming week is National Police Week, but some officers I spoke to said that Stamford did the parade a week early because a lot of the officers go down to DC for the big parade.

As my boyfriend and I were walking to Republic Grill last night down Bedford Street, we ran into a huge commotion around the police station. We heard bagpipes, saw cops on horseback and saw a huge procession of cops and cop vehicles. There were a bunch of police dogs, one of which was about to hurl himself out of the police car while he was barking at people. There were cops on segways, which was pretty hilarious...sorry I didn't get a picture of that! I saw police departments from Stamford, Bridgeport, Darien, Greenwich, CT,....New Rochelle. Mount Vernon, some place in Rockland County, NY,....Boston and Framingham, MA, and even Newark, NJ. Click on photos to see larger view.

The article from the Advocate says there were 40 police departments represented. The mayor spoke eloquently about the ceremony to honor those police killed in the line of duty. The police station had a black drape over its front doors as well. It was a pretty moving thing to see. A bunch of people were lined up across from the police station to stand and watch. I took these 2 pictures of the scene from my cell phone, but you can get an idea of the amount of officers and horses there were.

I'm sorry I missed this. I think Stamford Police do a great job of keeping our city safe. I've got a post started about them, but I always seem to find other things to write about! I just put that on my lists of posts to write, which also includes:
Recyclable Bags in the FC
Gossip Girl and Stamford Talk
Reindeer
Stamford Skatepark Gossip
and
Can Stamford Talk Afford to Stay in Stamford?

So much to write, so little time. Click here to read more.

Newfield Ave Starbucks Was Mean to Stamford Talk

There are no good vibes emanating from the not-yet-open Starbucks! I'm not bitching for no reason; trust me, I like fancy lattes. But this store has gotten off on the wrong foot with me. As of now, I'm boycotting it in favor of Beldotti's Bakery, a few doors down.

On Thursday, I saw people sitting at tables inside, so I popped my head in. Six people in Starbucks shirts glanced sideways at me, then ignored me. "Not yet," one of them said without making eye contact.
"Oh! When?" I said. No one looked at me. They all glanced at one woman. I guess they were employees in for training.
She muttered, "Maybe Saturday..."
"Great! I'll spread the word!"
A split second of silence.
"OK," someone responded lifelessly as the woman muttered, "But maybe not."

I stepped out the door with a "Huh?" look on my face. So, I'm spreading the word, but the word is, don't rush off to the new Starbucks. They seem like they hate us.

Instead, try Beldotti's Bakery, just a few doors down from Starbucks. I checked out their coffee Friday morning; they have an arsenal of coffee dispensers with many different Green Mountain flavors. There are also piles and piles of stunning pastries, which is probably why I hadn't yet been to Beldotti's in the 1.5 years I've been in this 'hood. I avoid baked goods. The staff at Beldotti's is extremely nice and the cakes are pretty. I'll eat their pastries just to spite Starbucks. A sign outside says that Beldotti's has espresso, but I have not tried it.

My sister and I stopped by Beldotti's Friday evening so I could get a pic of the outside. We ogled the cookies, cakes and pies and bought a loaf of poundcake for $5.75. Five doors down, there were some youngish people smoking outside the Starbucks. They were all dressed in black and looked too young to be employees, but my sister informed me that one guy was wearing a Starbucks cap turned backward. I don't have a good feeling about this place. I saw one person walking around inside who looked like he was trying to get the place ready, but I don't think the Starbucks will be open on Saturday. Click here to read more.

Fairfield County Happy Hour at Monster B's

I am very curious about Monster B's. I meant to post about it on Stamford Talk, but I think I only posted about it at Chow. It's a new Stamford bar that I know nothing about, but I think it might have good music. Tonight (Thursday May 8) at 7pm, the Fairfield County Happy Hour Club is getting together there for what I am sure will be a total flirting drunk-fest. (That's the impression I get from the pics on their website.) I can't go because I'm sick, but you all should go and report back to me.

Here's what I know so far about Monster B's:

From the looks of the site, they DO have good music. Jen Durkin (Wednesdays) is well known and her friends are talented... Thurs is open Mike, and they have music Friday and Saturday. AND, I bet they have free parking. I can't picture where the place is, but I'm sure I can find it.

That's a pretty bold move to face off with Jimmy's Seaside's- I mean, Seaside Tavern's- Wed. Open Mic! Click here to read more.

Movie Location Alert!!! in Shippan

Everybody’s Fine is filming near 45 Westcott Rd in Shippan. Click read more to see a map.


View Larger Map

I'm home sick from work, so of course I'm not going to drive down there. That would be crazy. Absolutely crazy. Bonkers insane.

Although, I mostly just have a sore throat. And, I was going to go to the grocery for chicken soup and nutrient-laden vegetables. Click here to read more.

What's the Biggest Issue Facing Stamford?

Me, out of the blue to a friend: So, what do you think the biggest issue facing Stamford is?
Friend: The Towers of Death. They're dead space. (Referring to the two round, low-income high rises smack in the middle of town.)
Me: But people live there.
Friend: I know, but think about it. It's valuable space wasted. There's no retail, no public spaces. It's the middle of downtown, but I wouldn't want to park there at night.

I'm not sure if those towers are our biggest problem, but we all think they are hideous. If I wanted to get deep into it, I'd talk about Stamford's crazy extremes of rich and poor and our changing real estate needs, but that's too much for my allergy-riddled brain. We all read the same newspaper articles, but what's your personal take on the subject? What's the biggest issue facing Stamford?

If you vote for taxes or real estate as a big issue, try to make it spicy and dramatic. I find anything related to math boring*, but if you get emotional, or give concrete examples, I can comprehend.

I vote for the issue of schools being OK for young families. Like the two towers, that issue encompasses taxes, housing, and socioeconomics. Good schools reflect a population that wants to invest in a place and stick around to make it the best it can be. In the recent news, the Stamford schools say to prospective home buyers, "Maybe you should buy in Fairfield and just take the train!"

*Off topic: I used to do fine in math, but now it makes me feel nauseous. I took a look at the SAT Math a few months ago and truly felt like throwing up. It looked incomprehensible. I also feel sick when I listen to the Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett, and a certain a cappella group from my college. It's not rational; it's a physiological reaction to the sound/idea/association. I can't explain it, other than to say I am very attuned to music. For example, my husband can easily tolerate a bad song on the radio, but I instantly freak out and have to change it. Click here to read more.

The New Seaside Tavern (The Old Jimmy's!)

Last Wednesday, I forced my husband to go on a "Stamford Talk Adventure." First we cruised Cove Beach and took this pic of the boat dock, where anyone who wants to can drive their car straight into Long Island Sound. Go for it!
Then, we checked out Seaside Tavern, the new name of Jimmy's Seaside. Jimmy's is/was best known as one of Stamford's few live music venues. The new owners plan to continue the live music and place more emphasis on the food. I, personally, am not rushing to go try food at a place that is not known for its food, but please, if you have, post a review. I do hope the music continues, because the place can get pleasantly hot and crowded when a good band is playing.

When I was there last week, Seaside seemed just like Jimmy's. The house jam band was setting up for open mic, a yuppie-ish after work crew was wrapping up its happy hour, and some un-yuppies were playing pool. Jimmy's- I mean, Seaside Tavern- is a good place to go for a beer without feeling like you need to impress anyone. Its myspace page has the menu and a list of upcoming bands. There are also loads of pictures from the Seaside Tavern opening night party that are worth a gander.

Related Stamford Talk post:
Sept 2007: Hallelujah: Open Jam on Wednesday Click here to read more.

New Starbucks on Newfield Ave

I pulled into the Newfield Green shopping center last week and spotted a new Starbucks under construction. Uh, cool, because it's right around the corner from me, but are there really that many people driving past there on the way to the train in the AM? And are there really that many stay-at-home moms and work-at-home-people in Belltown to sustain the store? The High Ridge Starbucks, right by Borders and the Merritt on-off ramps, obviously has the better location. I like expensive lattes once in a while, but I don't want an abandoned, second-rate Starbucks in my neighborhood.

We'll have to see how it plays out, but I think a Starbucks in that location is out of place. It's right beside a laundry mat (or did it replace the laundry mat?). Laundry mat does not = Starbucks. If you are gonna buy 4 $ coffee, you are gonna have a washing machine. Maybe it reflects a diverse 'hood... but I think it reflects a lack of understanding of who shops in that area. I'm at that grocery all the time, and my fellow shoppers and I are not the 5 latte a week types.

I wonder where the next Stamford Starbucks will be... I'm predicting in the Shop Rite complex by my NYSC (border of Greenwich, West Main). The people at my gym are tooooooootally the 5 latte a week types. I'm a one latte every week or two type. I'm a socio-economic chameleon.
Click here to read more.

Gray Day, Bad Mood, Everybody's Fine in Stamford

Despite some grump-inducing incidents* and conditions today, I drove out to North Stamford to see what I could see on the set of Everybody's Fine. I saw some posh homes and four big white equipment tractor trailers, and not much else. All the filming was being done indoors in a white, modern home. I strolled down to the cul-de-sac and took a picture of the house before I even saw another human being, but then a few people appeared to investigate who I was. Click on the picture to see a bigger image.

On the drive up, I was thinking, "I need something interesting to come of this, because I'm in a really bad mood." I didn't expect it though; I was only hoping, because I didn't want to set myself up for a let down. I'd say the reality met my expectations. The only thing that exceeded them were the crew members and set people I met (probably not the correct terms for their jobs). They were much friendlier than I expected. After some chit-chat, they nicely told me to buzz off. I can respect that.

Here are a few pics of Barrymore and DeNiro on set in Stamford last week.

I am so excited to check out another set in the future. Now that I've done it once, I'm feeling more confident about invading other people's spaces. I don't care about seeing stars; I just want to see some action in this town.

*One upsetting incident was the clerk at the convenience store by Sabatiello's and Capriccio being rude to me. I needed batteries for my Stamford Talk camera because I was going to drive up to the movie set.
Me: "Do you have batteries behind the counter?"
He says not a word and points to the batteries behind him with no expression on his face.
"Oh!" I decide to let it go; maybe he just has a bad personality. "I'll take four AA." I get out my credit card.
"Ten dollars minimum."
Now I'm growing angry. You can at least smile and add an ounce of life to your voice, because guess what, I'm in a bad mood too, but I'm making an effort. I don't feel well, and this man is pushing me over the edge. "I don't have any cash," I growl, snatch my Republic Grill take out menu off the counter, and stomp out the door.

I am never going back there again. The owners/clerks at the convenience store right by Margot's in Bull's Head are much nicer. Now it's confirmed that they are my candy/battery/milk store of choice. I'm going to ask my husband to boycott the Bedford St. store, and maybe you will, too. Let's destroy mean people.

Another upsetting incident was a cop saying, "C'mon, move it!" to me as I was driving past the Trump Parc construction site, which as usual, was causing traffic delays. I was engrossed in watching a man hook up a bundle of metal rods to a gigantic crane about 20 feet from me. I wanted to wait and see if the load would lurch perilously over the road, but my one second hesitation was too much for that cop. "Move it, move it!" he shouted. I screamed an obscenity that he probably heard through my closed windows as I sped off. That was just before I drove up to the movie set.

I'm going to go get a lime green manicure at Zen Spa and Nails to boost my mood. Please forgive my grumpiness today. It's nothing a little nail polish can't fix. Click here to read more.

Movie Action in Way North Stamford

Everybody's Fine is filming in WAY North Stamford today at 32 Wallenberg Drive. Here's a map:


View Larger Map

I'm home sick with a sore throat, but maybe I will take a drive if I can summon some energy! I got a taste of fame yesterday; evidently that was Kate Beckinsale in the film truck I saw. I really don't feel great, though, and I'm not just saying that because a lot of my coworkers read this blog!

Tip via the blog On Location Vacations. Click here to read more.

I Finally Saw Some Movie Action!

I left work early and decided to follow up on a tip received earlier in the day on Stamford Talk: that a film crew had been spotted at Curley's. Coming down Wash. Blvd., I saw a police motorcycle slowly coming north with a cavalcade of vehicles behind him. I whipped out my Stamford Talk camera (always at the ready!) and snapped, as it passed, a flatbed truck with some black equipment on the front and a car on the back. Another car drove right beside the flatbed filming into the driver's side window. Cool!

Of course, I timed the shots perfectly so I got the front of the truck, the end of the truck, and totally missed the car on the flatbread (flatbed!) that probably contained Barrymore or DeNiro. Oh well. When the film comes out, we'll see if there's a car scene with Wash Blvd. slipping by in the background. Thanks for all the great movie tips; keep them coming!

I got to Curley's and the film crew was packing up. On the way home, I was so tired that I let a cement truck come out in front of me, and the person behind me honked in annoyance. Dude, get a grip. We were stuck in traffic anyway so what is the big deal? Even though you whipped around me in a big huff, I ended up right behind you after the cement truck pulled into the Trump Parc area. These poor, stresssed-out drivers are seeming more petulant and juvenile by the day. Do my Stamford Talk Zen strategies put me on a higher plane... or am I just too tired to get angry? Click here to read more.