Schakolad Means Chocolate

After the sausage and broccoli rabe pasta at Cappriccio, I was too full for my favorite dessert, the Torta della Nonna. On the way to the car, I spotted Schakolad, the chocolate store across the street, and veered toward it. I got a colorful conglomeration of chocolates, all made on site. Ounce for ounce, they probably had more calories than the Torta della Nonna, but they weren't filling, and the variety made for a fun taste-test. Consider Schakolad as a quick post-dinner treat or a place to fill your purse on the way to the Avon. It’s open until 8pm on Friday and Saturday, and 7pm Monday-Thursday. Click here to read more.

Democrat's Delight at Bradford's

I don't have the attention span for politics, policies and primaries. However, the Iraq invasion certainly caught my eye. Did our leaders really use the words "Shock and Awe" in reference to dropping bombs on another country? Did we ignore recommendations by U.N. inspectors and invade a nation to look for WMD... and find nothing? I'm not political... I'm just wondering.
For those of you who understand primaries and what Congress does, and are Democrats, there's a fundraiser for Jim Himes this Saturday the 29th at Bradford's. For 25 bucks, you get an open bar from 7-8 pm and political pub trivia at 7:30. Proceeds go toward his run for Congress against Chris Shays. The event is hosted by several local blogs, so I don't think it will be the old fogey scene that the word "fundraiser" suggests. I assume the blograiser will be in the nice upstairs space, so you can still go to Bradford's and play darts even if you're not a Democrat. Click here to read more.

Stamford: Looking Almost as Cool as Boston

I met someone last week who hadn’t been to Capriccio. I expressed pity and disbelief. Capriccio Café has the best outdoor seating in Stamford and an extensive menu of simple, delicious Italian food. Have a beer at lunch, coffee mid-afternoon, wine with dinner, or dessert and drinks late. When you drive by at 10 pm and all 30 outdoor tables are full, Stamford looks like a real city. The people-watching at Capriccio is worth the belching buses and roaring Harleys on Bedford.

Capriccio offers nightlife that’s not a bar; it’s open until 11pm all week, and 12pm on Friday and Saturday. You can have a drink with your friends without having to scream over a cover band. Sorry, Tiernan’s- your atmosphere stinks, and you should hire nicer bouncers/managers. Capriccio has more variety than a bar full of over-21s out to drink and hook up. (Although if that’s you, I do wish you luck.) It has families, groups of coworkers and friends, people on dates. The crowd ranges from young to old, lithe to lumpy, stylish to dorky. No worries at Capriccio. The owner is Italian, so maybe that’s why the place is so relaxed but intensely social.

Next door, Tigin maintains its presence, but its 6 or 7 outdoor tables only allow a small group to enjoy the night air. Until winter, Tigin will have to wait. Will the Capriccio crowd migrate to Tigin’s cozy, spacious interior? Will they go across the street to Chez Jean-Pierre? No, Tigin’s too heavy, Chez JP too expensive. Capriccio crew, where will you eat in the winter? I think I might go post that question on Chowhound right now. TIP: Try the amazing Lemon Cake (Torta della Nonna) which means grandma’s cake. Click here to read more.

Weekly Events: Sept 24-30

Stamford, you're getting better and better. This week's events look great, but see the Ongoing Events post after you look at this entry so you can make a fully informed decision.
Monday: Anyone? Anything? There IS bingo; I'll get back to you.
Tuesday: Karaoke at Black Bear, 9:30. I've never been. I'd hit Trivia Night at Tigin, then go to Black Bear if you're interested.
Thursday:
---Audition to play zombies at Stamford Nature Center, 6pm. “Teen and adult frighteners are needed to play a swarm of monstrous characters.”
---Art Opening for exhibit honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. 6-8pm, Rosenthal Gallery at the Rich Forum. (Don’t get me started on the fact that you can’t find this event on the Stamford Center for the Arts website.)
Friday:
---Wynton Marsalis at the Palace Theatre, 8pm.
---Homemade Italian Wine Contest at the Italian Center of Stamford, 7pm. Reserve a space at 847-0713
---Ongoing event I missed: Observatory, Stamford Nature Center.
Saturday:
---10am: Panel Discussion on "Rap Music As A Positive Influence In The Community," followed by a talent show by local youth. 10am.
---Display of different types of Ferraris, 3-8pm, right near Capriccio and Tigin, related to Italian Cultural Week. Click here to read more.

Stamford Gov't Center: 888-Excellence

This is a shout out to 888 Washington Boulevard. Don’t get the wrong impression of this exciting and useful building just because a stabbing victim staggered in there two weeks ago.
888 Wash, also known as the the Stamford Government Center, first came to my attention on a Friday afternoon. I was frantic to renew my expired license before driving to Boston, but I couldn't handle the idea of the traumatic Norwalk DMV. A friend tipped me off to a satellite DMV at 888 Wash. Satellite! The Stamford DMV is shabby but gets the job done. Although the main clerk may not be cheery, the woman who takes your picture can be charmed if you act like a neurotic freak who needs a perfect photo. When you ask, "Does it look good? Like, really good?" she'll say, "Nah, let's do it again." You're going to look hot, or at least attractive, for the next five years.
888 Wash doesn't stop there. Voter registration is right beside the DMV; sign up and stroll out. On the first floor, you can get your marriage license and buy a pass to Cove Island Beach. You can also pick up your recycling bins; the guy is kidding when he says each bin costs 20 bucks. The best part? 888’s convenient, free parking garage makes these errands quick and easy.
Excitement factor? You have to sign in and show ID before taking the elevators upstairs. It feels top secret, and it’s reassuring to know we’re being watched. TIP: The DMV only takes cash or check, but there’s an ATM in the credit union down the hall. TIP 2: Check the satellite DMV's website before you go. It specifies what you can and can't do at the satellite office. To my own personal horror, you can't renew an expired registration. Click here to read more.

Salute, Amici! Italian Cultural Week

The Ferguson, in conjunction with the Italian Center of Stamford, is sponsoring Italian Cultural Week- check out the flier- wow! I'm irate that I'm out of town for this event, which includes a few of my faves: food, wine, and ogling nice cars. Highlights that I’m missing are:

--Friday, September 28: Homemade Italian Wine Contest at the Italian Center of Stamford, 7pm. Reserve a space at 847-0713.
-- Saturday, September 29: Display of different types of Ferraris on Bedford St., right near Capriccio and Tigin. 3-8pm.
--Wednesday, October 3: Pastry sampling and film ”Italians in America.” 6:30pm, Italian Center. Reserve space: 322-6941.
-- Tuesday, October 2: Italian Antipasto Table with wine tasting. 6:30 pm at the Harry Bennett Branch of the library (on Vine Rd. off High Ridge). 351-8237 for more info.
Thank you to Lanamaniac for the Vespa photo. Click here to read more.

Trash Can Update: Controversy! Mayhem!

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh dear. Some Stamford residents are pissed.
Thank god it's about something interesting: trash cans.

I am loving the Advocate's Letters to the Editor section. You really should bookmark it on your browser. One man is furious that the new bin, mandated and delivered by the city of Stamford, is too big to fit in his garage with his car, and he just bought a nice new bin that he won't be able to use. I'd be pissed too. Nice trash cans with wheels are expensive.

Another resident is angry because the bins get heavy when they're full; someone who's not in good physical health will have a hard time pulling it. And, what's worse, a heavy trash can is hell on a rock driveway. When I lived in Norwalk, I had to drag my wheeled trash can through 100 feet of rock. The wheels were actually a hindrance; a smooth-bottomed trash can would have moved better. Now I live in luxury with a paved driveway, but I haven't forgotten those dark days in Norwalk. Click here to read more.

Ongoing Events, As Far As I Know

You go Stamford, having something for us to do on most nights!
Mon: --nothing as far as I can tell.
Tues:
--Spinning Plates at Dragonfly (photo courtesy of Spinning Plates)
--Stamford Chorale (249-9072)
--Trivia Night at Tigin
--Greater Stamford Toastmasters
Wed:
--Open Jam Jimmy's Seaside
--Karaoke at Bobby V's
Thurs: -- Karaoke at SBC- I hear good things.
Friday: --Dragonfly Fridays- Dance party at Dragonfly Lounge. The food got a great review last year and their myspace page has more info and reviews.
Saturday:
--Stamford Art Association on Franklin St. The townhouse gallery is open for free on Thursdays and Fridays from 11am to 3pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 3pm.
--Farmers Market on Bedford, through November- I don't think it's that great, but maybe some of you disagree.
Sunday: --Current Events Discussion at Chez Jean-Pierre, 5-7pm.

Current show at Stamford Museum & Nature Center: The Motorcycle Italian Style: Riding the Curves with MV Agusta. It's a vintage motorcycle show on display until January. There's also a family campout next Saturday. Click here to read more.

Hispanic Heritage Month at the Ferguson

The Ferguson has a decent website that book and culture lovers should check regularly. Not only are there book clubs and film screenings, there are events such as Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15) and Italian Culture (end of this month). Highlights of the Hispanic Heritage celebration include a showing of Pan's Labyrinth Thursday the 27th at 6:30 p.m, and a family-oriented program Saturday the 29th at noon at the South End Branch- music, arts, crafts, and a panel discusssion. Oddly, food wasn't mentioned... most cultural events have fun food. Speaking of food, more on that Italian event very soon. Click here to read more.

Real Gossip: Travolta Sightings in Stamford

Some of you may know that John Travolta is in town filming a movie for Disney called "Old Dogs." He's living in Greenwich, but he was seen working out at LA Fitness in Stamford, right near the Super Stop and Shop on Bedford. A reader informed Stamford Talk that he has been seen working out in the evenings around 8:30.
I have three comments about that:
1. Why LA Fitness? Is it super nice?
2. Maybe he's not living in Greenwich- why would he come up here to work out? My reader suggested he might be living at a hotel nearby.
3. If you see him, PLAY IT COOL. We don't want to make Stamford look desperate. You can smile and say hi, but keep moving. Do not stop. Do not try to have a conversation, and above all, do not ask for an autograph.
Most sightings reported in various local papers are mostly in Greenwich: at Terra on the Ave. (Robin Williams is also in the film and has been seen there), at a wine store near Asiana Cafe on Rt.1, and possibly the Greenwich Y. I bet the Greenwich people at the Y bothered him, and he sought more laid-back pastures in Stamford.
Travolta photo courtesy of Ack Ook. Click here to read more.

We(a)kly Events September 17-22

This must be a slow week for Stamford, or I'm out of the loop.
Tonight (Tuesday)- Monthly Jazz and Poetry Open Mike at Bradford's- 6:30 pm. It's hosted by spoken word artist Arturo "Professor" Pfister from New Orleans. The You Tube video of him looks cool, but I cannot picture how it's going to work with people eating dinner and playing darts. Call 203-961-999 for info.
Sunday the 23rd- movie at the Ferguson- 1:30-4:00 pm. A Peck on the Cheek was filmed in 2002 and won several Indian Oscars. It's over two hours long. It's in the Ferguson's third floor auditorium. The IMDB states, "The movie is inspired by a Time magazine article about an American couple who took their daughter to Philippines to meet her biological mother."

Heads up: Wynton Marsalis at the Palace Theatre Friday the 28th: I'd get tickets ASAP- 50-60$. Click here to read more.

Wrong Side of the Metro North Tracks? Bank Gossip

SCOOP: The Stamford Police caught the guy who robbed my People's Bank last Monday. Guess where he stopped by earlier that day? My credit union, the one that was robbed two years ago. The staff there is obviously on their toes, so when a man walked in last week with his hood low, they asked him to remove it (YOU GO GIRLS), and he left-- to go rob my People's. Read more at the Advocate online.
MY TAKE: When I'm at eating the Gioia salad at Capriccio, wandering Borders, or eating a 4 dollar bag of M&Ms at the movies, it's easy to forget that not everyone in Stamford has such a high standard of living. I could say that my banks are near the "bad" parts of town, but that implies only criminals and sketchy people live there. I don't think it's that simple.
VERDICT on this situation? It confuses me that while the Stamford Symphony Orchestra has a large audience of subcribers, and while Stamford is the highest-rent area in the country (it beats San Fran), there is low-income housing all over Stamford, and as far as I can tell, no interaction between these different types of people. There is very little middle ground in this city. Click here to read more.

Bored by Sushi? Try Duo.

SCOOP: Duo, the new Euro-Japanese restaurant by the owners of Plateau, has great food at reasonable prices.
MY TAKE: Duo is beside Plateau on Bank Street. If you are a fan of Plateau's tasty yet affordable Vietnamese/Thai food, you may have noticed some renovation. Duo's theme: each dish done in two ways. The menu offers regular sushi, special rolls that actually taste special, and entrees that are- European? I got the Buddha roll- very big, 10 or 12 pieces, for around 15 $. The entire roll had mushrooms, but half had them raw with other veggies, and the other half had them sauteed with portobello tempura on top. The appetizers are also done two ways. We had the seaweed salad; half was spicy, half sweetish.
VERDICT: This place would be great for a date; the food is fun to talk about, and many entrees are under 30 $. So, make that a fancy date. Click here to read more.