Letter From The Chairman, Robert Kahn

VOLUME 1 • NUMBER 19 • SPRING 2002
Letter From The Chairman, Robert Kahn
The past 10
years have been
a time of revitalization and
growth
in
Stamford
Downtown
and it was the
DSSD that was
instrumental
in kick-starting
this process. But, the DSSD is more than just
our staff members, the DSSD is our committed Board of Commissioners, property
owners, our restaurants, retailers, and those
who work, live and visit our Downtown.
The DSSD is an enormous community that
has fostered lasting partnerships, which have
worked toward a common goal of a clean,
safe and attractive place to work, visit, live,
shop and dine.
In 1997 we turned 5 and we reflected on
our progress then. As we turn 10, it is easier to look back to the start of this decade
with a clear vision of how far we have come
and where we need to go. Our mission and
vision remain the same. What has occurred
in these past ten years has been the result of
a carefully planned program which has lead
to positive economic development,
increased retail and office development, a
clean friendly environment, and a new constituent base of visitors, residents and workers.
Just take a look at Stamford
Downtown. It is apparent at every corner
you turn, and more so this summer than
ever before. Look up and you will see more
than 300 banners dressing the Downtown's
light poles. In Columbus Park the Alive @
Five summer concert series has grown from
a small downtown happening to a signature
event. This year's concert features a performance by one of the most popular
groups of the 1970s, America. On the corner of Tresser Boulevard and Atlantic Street
a man is playing the violin, although he
seems real, he is not. He is one of 40
bronze life-size sculptures of Images of
Urban Life, the ninth outdoor sculpture
exhibit to come to Stamford Downtown's
public places. Look up or down Bedford
Street and you will see patrons patiently
waiting for a table, both indoors and outdoors, at one of our downtown restaurants,
which span over a dozen types of cuisine:
Italian; Greek; Pacific Rim eclectic; French;
seafood; Indian; Chinese; Spanish;
Continental American and more. And for
W H AT ’ S I N S I D E ?
Letter From The Chairman ....................1
Summer Sizzles in Stamford ..................2
Alive @ Five Free Concert Series .........2-3
Do April Showers Bring May Flowers? ...3
Chef ’s Festival.........................................3
Farm Fresh and Connecticut Grown.......3
Images of Urban Life ..............................3
Stamford Downtown Dining ..................4
Guide to Wedding Services .....................4
Chef ’s Corner .........................................4
Stamford Downtown
Special Services District
Five Landmark Square
Suite 110
Stamford, CT 06901
lunch the return and expansion of this
summer's Chef's Festival will provide an
opportunity to taste the culinary tidbits
from almost any one of these restaurants.
Our parks and street planters are full of
vibrant inviting colors and are filled with
more than 40,000 flowers, shrubs and
plants. Look across Broad Street and you
will see the clean team on their cleaning
machines sweeping our streets daily. On the
corner of Washington Boulevard and State
Street our Ambassadors are providing security and a helping hand to commuters
crossing the street during rush hour. Just
north of State Street, UBS Warburg just
finished its almost 2 square block expansion, making it the home of the largest
trading floor in the country. An important
landmark, The Palace Theatre, is being renovated while preserving the historical
façade. There are more than 30,000 people
who now work in the Downtown and more
than 300,000 people a year come to our
events.
A lot has changed these past 10 years and
we look forward to another decade of
progress. So, come Downtown this summer and enjoy.
PRSRT STANDARD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
STAMFORD, CT
PERMIT #734
Board of
COMMISSIONERS
Chairman
Robert H. Kahn
President, United Realty of CT, Inc.
Vice Chairman
Richard Taber
Chairman & CEO, First County Bank
Secretary
Stephen J. Hoffman
Manager, Hoffman Investment Partners
Treasurer
Carl Bildner
President, Bildner Capital Corp.
Immediate Past Chairman
F.D. Rich III
Senior VP-Chief Information Officer
Reckson Associates Realty Corp.
_____________________
Seth Berger
Director of Operations, Baby & Toy Superstore, Inc.
Mark Bridges
Executive Director, UBS Warburg
John P. Condlin
President, Stamford Chamber of Commerce
Kathryn Emmett, Esq.
Emmett & Glander
Robert Karp
President, Business Environments
Mario Lodato
President & Owner, MarLo Associates, Inc.
Mario J. Lodato Real Estate
Ralph C. Loomis
President, Stamford Partnership
Norman Lotstein
Vice President, Pyramid Real Estate Group
Mayor Dannel P. Malloy
City of Stamford
Michael J. McAndrews
General Manager, Stamford Town Center
Steven Montello
Chairman, CEO, The Property Group
George E. Moredock, III
Executive Director, Stamford Center for the Arts
Marjan Murray
Vice President, People’s Bank
Courtney A. Nelthropp
Owner, Sir Speedy
Laszlo Papp
Executive Director, Urban Redevelopment
Commission
Robin Stein
Land Use Bureau Chief, City of Stamford
Annie Summerville
6th District Representative
President of the Board of Representatives’ Designee
Werner Valeur-Jensen
Owner, Valeur Realty Holding Co.
Michael Yaraghi
President and CEO, Safavieh Home and Carpets
Summer Sizzles in Stamford Downtown
Stamford Downtown will be hotter than and in our public places! So, get ready, get
ever this summer with outdoor concerts, set and see what Stamford Downtown has to
lunching in the park, outdoor movies under offer both night and day.
the stars and new sculptures on the streets
Alive @ Five Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series
This year’s Alive @ Five, presented by Stamford
Town Center in partnership with Holiday Inn
Select, is better than ever. Come to Columbus Park,
Thursday nights from June through August for great
music, great dancing and a great time! This year one
of the most beloved and well-known bands in the
history of US music will kick off the summer concert series. America will perform in Stamford
Downtown on June 20. Alive @ Five continues its
outdoor tradition for 5 more weeks entertaining
concertgoers with Blues, Funk, Rock-n-Roll, The
Oldies and more. So, take note, mark your calendars
and get ready to have fun – it all happens in
Columbus Park, Thursdays, June 20 through
August 1 (except July 4) at 5:00pm.
One of the most beloved and
influential groups of the
1970s, America helped establish a new genre of music which fused free-wheeling rockn-roll with folk and country. Right from their chart-topping 1971 debut album America helped broaden the concept of Rock-n-roll for millions of fans throughout the world. They won a Grammy
1972 for Horse With No Name, and continued their extraordinary track record with
such hits as You Can Do Magic, I Need You, Tin Man, and Sister Golden Hair. They
have recorded more than 17 gold, platinum and multi platinum records.
JUNE
20
The Lonely Hearts Club Band
Spend a "Magical Mystery" evening with this group as they recreate your
favorite Beatles classics, complete with Paul look-a-like.
JUNE
27
Black 47
One of the country’s premier bands, they started rocking in
Irish pubs in New York, and have raised the roof here and
abroad with an eclectic mix of rock, reggae, hip-hop and
downtown noise fused with Irish traditional music.
Addison Groove Project
This six-member Boston-based band fuses
funk, jazz, and hip hop to create their own
sound with the sole purpose of making you
move.
Black 47
Addison Groove Project
Sandy Goldstein
Executive Director
John Ruotolo
Director of Operations
JULY
11
Lynne Colatrella
Director of Marketing & Special Events
Beth Browne
Manager, Marketing & Special Events
Marion Glowka
Streetscape Coordinator
JULY
18
Maryann Rockwood
Administrative Assistant
This impressive group of musicians
undoubtedly achieves the sounds of
the 60s and 70s in an unforgettable
performance.
Links
Sharkey &The
TheCuff
Unknowns
The oldies but goodies are this band’s
legacy. Sharkey & The Unknowns are
one of Stamford Downtown’s hometown favorites.
Little Charlie & The Nightcats
A blues band with a sense of humor, their music and
jaw dropping guitar acrobatics make this group one
of the most adventurous and sophisticated blues
bands around.
Sean Costello
Published Quarterly by:
Stamford Downtown Special Services District
Five Landmark Square, Stamford, CT 06901-2704
Tel: (203) 348-5285 Fax: (203) 348-6857
www.stamford-downtown.com
Publisher: Sandy Goldstein
Editor/Writer: Beth Browne
America
Little Charlie & The Nightcats
Distinctive singer, adept bandleader, stirring songwriter and incomparable
guitarist, Sean Costello has been quoted as
the "real future of blues guitar."
Sean Costello
PA G E 2
T H E S TA M F O R D D O W N T O W N E R
V O L U M E 1 • N U M B E R 19 • S P R I N G 2002
JULY
25
Deep Banana Blackout
Art in Public Places,
With a full horn section, and soulful groove imbedded in the
roots of funk they are one of the leaders of today’s emerging
funk rock scene.
Stamford Downtown
Pretty Cide
This female fronted quartet from Queens NY are regulars on the New York City
pop music scene. A recent review deemed this group as an excellent band with music
to back their unique style. Full of energy and attitude!
Pretty Cide
AUGUST
1
The G.E. Smith Band
One of the most in demand blues /rock guitarist in the world his versatile talents lead
him to such gigs as lead guitarist for Hall & Oats,
musical director of the Saturday Night Band and
sideman to an unparalleled roster of musicians.
Roomful of Blues
Hailed by many as the instigators of the "swing thing," this Grammy
nominated group of talented musicians has mastered the many styles of
blues, which combined form great entertainment.
JULY &
AUGUST
Roomful of Blues
Chef’s Festival
Lunching in Stamford
Downtown has never been
better! Get out of the office
or get out of the house and
head to Columbus and Latham Parks this summer.
Local restaurants and their chefs in shorts will be on
hand serving up fabulous food. From steak sandwiches to gnocchi, to mussels marinara, at $3.00 a serving
you can go back for seconds, and thirds and fourths
and…..
The Columbus Park Chef's Festival has been so successful
the past 7 years that we have expanded it to Latham Park,
located on Bedford Street. This year such restaurants as
Bennett’s Steak & Fish House, Telluride, Morton’s
Stamford, New Orleans Au Bistro, Columbus Park
Trattoria, Macarena, Pat’s Hubba Hubba and many more
will be participating in one or both events. The only problem you will have is deciding what to eat! Latham Park,
Tuesdays, July 16, 23, 30 & August 6; Columbus Park,
Thursdays, July 18 & 25, August 1 & 8 Noon to 2:00pm.
Farm Fresh and Connecticut Grown
JULY–
Did you know that Stamford etables, to fruits, to fresh flowers, to baked goods to
NOVEMBER Downtown has one of the believe it or not homemade dog biscuits. Some of our
best and freshest farmers’
markets in the area and it
takes place two days a week? Mondays and Thursdays
from July 15 through November, Columbus Park turns
into one of the freshest farm markets around – all
Connecticut grown and Connecticut fresh. With eight
farms onsite selling their produce there is a wide variety
to choose from. The market has everything from veg-
farmers drive more than three hours to participate and
have been coming to Stamford Downtown every year
since its inception in 1993. Area residents, employees
and even the restaurants take advantage of the convenience and the freshest produce around. Stock up on
Monday for the week, and then again on Thursday for
the weekend. You are sure to find what you need.
Mondays and Thursdays from 10am-3pm.
There are many
new
faces
S t a m f o r d
Downtown this summer as the extraordinary life-size bronze sculptures of
two world-renowned artists come to
Stamford Downtown.
Images of
Properties
overseeing
a
Merchant
Planter
program, creating
new ideas to
enhance
the
Downtown, and
recruiting and
maintaining an amazing group of volunteers, the garden
groomers. It is this group of garden groomers who are the
green thumbs behind the program. They are a dedicated
group of people with a true love for gardening and the
outdoors and who volunteer their time to keep Stamford
Downtown in bloom three seasons a year planting spring
cleaning, weeding and pruning, just to name a few of
their many contributions. And in fact they plant more
than 45,000 flowers, plants and shrubs a year in 31
planters and 16 gardens including Columbus, Latham
and Veteran's Parks. This year got off to a blooming start
in April and May when they braved the elements and
speeding cars to plant pansies and petunias, and plantings
continue through the summer. So if you like to plant,
enjoy the outdoors, are not afraid of dirt - give us a call,
we are always looking for new volunteers to help keep
Stamford Downtown in bloom and looking beautiful.
in
partnership
V O L U M E 1 • N U M B E R 19 • S P R I N G 2002
with
Stamford Town Center and The
Advocate/Greenwich Time features a
collection of sculptures by J. Seward
Johnson Jr. and Prince Monyo
Mihailescu-Nasturel which will be on
display throughout the public places of
Stamford Downtown and in Stamford
Town Center. Each of the 42 figures,
meticulously sculpted, captures the
realism and interaction of the human
aspects of business, family, and ordinary life in an urban environment.
From the business man reading a
newspaper to five children jumping
rope, you will want to see them all and
discover for yourself the human spirit,
unspoken communication, humor and
life inherent in each artwork.
T H E S TA M F O R D D O W N T O W N E R
in
Urban Life, presented by Heyman
Do April Showers Bring May Flowers?
Actually it was the Stamford Downtown Streetscape
Program and its garden groomers who brought the flowers
to the landscape of
Stamford Downtown. I'm
sure you have noticed the
colorful flowers that decorate the gardens in our
parks and fill the planters
that line our streets. But
what you may not notice is
just where we get our green
thumbs, and it's not the
work of Mother Nature,
although she helps. The DSSD's Streetscape Program,
and its group of dedicated garden groomers are the miracle
growers who keep Stamford Downtown in bloom and
looking beautiful. The Program was established in 1993
with the vision of creating an inviting, vibrant, pedestrian-oriented urban neighborhood through planting, while
expanding and maintaining green spaces. And in the past
9 years we have done just that; Stamford Downtown has
never looked better! Through the DSSD's commitment
and the dedication of Marion Glowka, Streetscape
Coordinator and green thumb extraordinaire, the program has grown tremendously. Not only does it include
plantings, but designing and implementing new gardens,
JUNE–
AUGUST
PA G E 3
A Guide to Wedding Services in Stamford Downtown
Bridal & Bridesmaid Gowns
The Bridal Suite 964-1404 – New Arrival
Getting married this year, or
next? You won’t have to go far
when the time comes to plan for
your wedding day. Stamford
Downtown has everything
needed to make it everything you want! Whether
it’s for him or for her –
from bridal gowns to
tuxedos to big bands to
the wedding band,
it’s all in your backheart
Jewelers
Bailey, Banks, Biddle 325-4779
Christian Bernard 324-5010
Jimmy Jewelers 348-8121
Kay Jewelers 325-9625
Rosett Jewelers 327-6446
William Gordon Jewelers 324-4350
Zales Jewelers 964-8111
Salons & Barber Shops
Austrian Skin Care Klinik 324-4553
Federal Hair Stylists II 348-4576
La Jolie Femme 327-4102
Montana For Men 964-1234
Reflections Salon 975-0900
Regis Salon 969-7779
Salon Shahin 323-7256
Salon Zoe 325-3779
Sema Body and Skin Care
975-9025
Spring Street Barber Shop
325-3017
yard and right in
the
Tuxedos and Formalwear
After Hours Formal Wear 325-4210
John Zemo Men’s Store 323-0201
Jos A. Bank Clothiers 323-0820
Peter’s Tailor & Clothier 325-8486
Serpe Brothers 323-1355
of
Stamford
Downtown.
Florists
Nobu Florist of Stamford 324-4370
Stamford Downtown is Dining in Grand Style
15 Bank Street is the address of Grand, the
newest restaurant in Stamford Downtown opening this June. The 7,500 square foot Grand
restaurant will have the ambiance of a
Manhattan boutique hotel with cathedral ceilings and cushy chairs and sofas. The menu features new American cuisine with Middle
Eastern and Asian accents, and will constantly
change, including such staples as hamburgers,
macaroni & cheese, lobster rolls, and oysters as
well as Duck and New York Strip Steak. With
room for 350 patrons it can accommodate all
dining needs from someone who wants a quick
bite to eat, either before or after the movies, to
someone who wants a more leisurely dining
experience and an after dinner drink, to latenight dining. Food will be served Mondays
through Saturdays, and Grand will also feature
entertainment by various disc jockeys throughout the week.
Chef’s Corner
Ocean 211 Crabcakes
(serves 4 people as appetizer portion)
1 lb. of Jumbo Lump Crabmeat cleaned
2tbs. minced red onion
1tbs. minced celery
1tsp. whole grain mustard
1 egg
pinch cayenne pepper
pinch mustard powder
2 drops Tabasco sauce
1tsp. fresh lemon juice
1tsp. Worchester sauce
salt and pepper to taste
mix all ingredients, roll crabcakes in the panko bread crumbs and sauté lightly
Recipe courtesy of Ocean 211 - Sophisticated, award-winning restaurant featuring creative seafood specialties and wine dinners in a relaxed atmosphere within
a 100-year-old townhouse. 211 Summer Street 973-0494
Photographers
Wah Studio Photography 595-0000
Entertainment
James Daniel Music and Entertainment
969-2400
Invitation Printing
Alphagraphics 961-8703
Boulevard Printing 359-0240
Bull’s Head Printers at Landmark Sq. 325-2697
DataWorld 358-0077
Goodway Printing 324-7319
Rapid Press 348-8884
Venues
Hibernian Hall 323-2608
Holiday Inn Select 358-8400
Landmark Club 348-7381
Sheraton Stamford 359-1300
Stamford Center for the Arts, Rich Forum 358-2305
Stamford Marriott 357-9555
The Westin Stamford 967-2222
Honeymoon Arrangements
Robustelli World Travel 965-0200
Empress Travel 357-9083
Limousine Services
Regency Limousine 357-9717