Stamford expands outdoor dining into the streets
Scene… Actor Richard Gere, 70, and his wife, 37-year-old Spanish publicist/activist Alejandra Silva, welcomed their second son together at their home in nearby Pound Ridge, N.Y. The couple is also parents to 14-monthold Alexander. Also, Bedford, N.Y., residents, actor Alec Baldwin, 62 and his wife, 36 year-old fitness instructor Hilaria, are expecting their fifth child together.
On the streets… Stamford Downtown is now offering Streateries — a program with al fresco dining on extended restaurant patios and street closures. Phase 1 consisted of full closures from 3 to 11 p.m. May 30 of Main Street and West Park Place surrounding Columbus Park, lower Summer Street, and Bedford Street from Broad Street to Spring Street. Phase 2 will extend sidewalk areas into some on-street parking spaces and travel lanes to allow for expanded outdoor dining while maintaining ADA walkways. Closures will be implemented along Main Street, Summer Street, and Bedford Street from early June through September. Phase 3 will create the Bedford Piazza, transforming a portion of the parking area between Bedford Street and the Bedford Garage into a massive outdoor dining patio unparalleled in the region. For more info and updates, visit www.stamford-downtown.com.
Online event… The St. Joseph Parent Center in Stamford will host a virtual “SAFE AT HOME” breakfast from 8 to 8:45 a.m. Friday, June 5. The event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Cathleen Bechan, attending physician for City MD Urgent Care. The Parent Center strengthens families that are at risk of child abuse and neglect by providing parenting education and support. For more info and to purchase tickets, go to www.sjpcenter.org.
Celebrity outpouring… Celebrities are turning over their social media accounts for the #PassTheMic initiative to emphasize the importance of staying informed with the facts of COVID-19s. Actors Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rita Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Connie Britton, Millie Bobby Brown, Busy Philipps, Olivia Munn and Beanie Feldstein, to name a few, are relinquishing their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts to experts to promote data, science and facts to help combat the coronavirus. Julia Roberts kicked off the campaign on Instagram with the leading voice in the fight against COVID-19, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The three-weeklong campaign, which is sponsored by the global organization ONE, runs through June 11.
UJA-JCC Greenwich and Greenwich Library are joining together to offer a virtual conversation with author and celebrated New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer his latest bestseller “She Has Her Mother’s Laugh: The Power, Perversions, and Potential of Heredity.” The virtual event takes place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 1. For info on how to watch digitally, go to www.greenwichlibrary.org or call Stephen Schmidt at 203-625-6527.
Scene… On Monday, Stamford’s Old Town Hall on Atlantic Street will be illuminated in rainbow on colors to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The lighting project was donated by Stamford-based Rosco Laboratories and organized by Stamford Pride, a group of local LGBTQ+ residents and community leaders. It will take place every night at 9 p.m. through the end of June. The rainbow pride flag, a symbol for the LGBTQ+ community, will be raised at the Stamford Government Center by Mayor David Martin and members of Stamford Pride at noon Monday.
Out there… Greenwich Town Hall will reopen to visitors by appointment only from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. starting Monday, June 1. Appointments must be made in advance with individual departments. Walkins will not be permitted. Also, town parking meters and daily parking fees at commuter lots, two-hour timed and 24-hour parking restrictions remain suspended until further notice.
”Ultimately, there can be no complete healing until we have restored our primal trust in life.”
— Georg Feuerstein And that’s all for now. Stay safe and stay sane. Later…
Got a tip? Seen a celebrity? Email Susie Costaregni at thedish2@yahoo.com