SMNC’s Maple Sugar Festival Weekend celebrates the best thing to come out of this winter!

If you’re anything like us, you’re probably fed-the-heck-up with this winter. Scraping your car windows, plowing the driveway, wiping out on icy walkways, spine-tingling cold, traffic jams . . . ugh, it all just sucks. Okay, well, not all of it. See, while we’ve been freezing our butts off, the beautiful maple trees at Stamford Museum and Nature Center were hard at work producing the sweet, sweet goodness we all love to pour on our pancakes on snowy Sunday mornings. Yep, we’re talking about the nectar of the gods better known as maple syrup, and you can celebrate it in all it’s glory at their Maple Sugar Festival Weekend on March 7 and March 8 at Stamford Museum & Nature Center. The activities go on from 11AM – 3PM both days, and with tickets costing just $5 for members or $10 for non-members, there’s plenty to get your money’s worth:

Get in the Spirit: Christmas in Black Rock w/ Fire Engine Pizza Co.

After you’ve eaten all your leftovers and you are thoroughly tired of eating turkey, you know what’s right around the corner, don’t you? Yup, it’s the start of getting ready for Christmas! You need to take our your decorations, set up your inflatables, go present shopping, and of course you need that perfect tree. Doesn’t that make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Okay, maybe the idea of hunting for that perfect tree isn’t that great, but it should be a lot easier this year!

Fairway’s Firefighters Food Face-Off, Free BBQ, Games, Music, Samples, + Customer Appreciation Day!

Make sure you come down to Fairway Stamford’s free event on Saturday!

Normally firefighters are putting out blazes, but on 7/19 from 12-3 in the Fairway Stamford parking lot, smoke and fire is good.  That’s because the Cos Cob Fire Department, Norton Heights Fire Department, Westport Firefighters, and Belltown Fire Department are battling it out to see who the Fourth Annual Fairway’s Firefighters Food Face-Off winners will be.  The winners not only get to relish in the spotlight, but they’ll also get a $500 Fairway gift card and their own shopping night that puts 25% of sales into the hands of their favorite charity.  

Yeehaw! Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival Spans Two Days

Oh yeah!

Dagnabbit, Ridgefield’s done and gone all country up in this here place!  Yup, yup…check out The Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival on May 3 (11-9 pm) and May 4 (11-5 pm).  Entrance is $10 for adults, $5 for students 12-18, and $0 for children under 12.  Proceeds from Ridgefield Gone Country BBQ Festival go to The Ridgefield Rotary Club, who is putting on this event with the Ridgefield Community Center.  Speaking of the Ridgefield Community Center, when you arrive at 316 Main Street, be ready for some BBQ madness and to be intoxicated with the smell of burning wood and smoking pork.  Here’s what you can look forward to:

Explore Stamford + New Haven w/ Urban Scavenger Race and Party Afterwards

Dan’s mom used to create an Easter scavenger hunt each year.  A clue would lead The Del Ferraros to a bounty of treats and the next clue.  By the end of the race, Ren, Danny, and Chad would have plenty of candy for the next few weeks.  And, if Dan got to a clue first, he might have (just might have) skimmed a bit off the top from his siblings’ candy stash.  Hey, they never knew.  ;)

So, chances are that you’ve also taken part in a scavenger hunt in some form or another, too.  Well, kiddos, it’s time for an all growned-up version with the Urban Scavenger Race.  Teams of two to four people race around Stamford and/or New Haven, trying to find the answers to clues and working hard to complete challenges.  To get from place to place, teams must simply run.  No taxis, no bikes, no hovercrafts or floating skateboards, though public busses are allowed.  When you arrive to your destination, you might need to complete a dare or snap a picture of the place, so make sure to bring your fully charged cell phone.  If your team can’t figure out a clue, you’ll need to be resourceful and seek out help from people nearby to see if they understand.  Maybe you could ask Siri, too.  After the race is over there’s always an after party to celebrate a successful race.

This Weekend, Everybody’s Irish @ the Milford Irish Festival

Milford, you guys get the coolest things.  You have your own Oktoberfest, Oyster Fest, and you get your own Irish Festival, too!  Aww, garsh, we’re jealous.  Lucky for us you’re not too far away and we can easily get out there this Friday or Saturday, 9/20-21, to celebrate the music and culture of the Emerald Isle.  Both days will feature classics such as corned beef, fish & chips, shepard’s pie, roast beef, hot dogs, chili, burgers, pulled pork, sausage & peppers, fried dough, kettle corn, and more.   Also, there will be a variety of brews such as Guinness and Harp, as well as hard ciders and wine.   You can also learn more about Irish sports, history, and watch authentic Irish Dancing by visiting the Cultural Tent.  This tent will feature a tea room with Irish coffee and baked goods, too, so make sure to stop by.  

Live Green Connecticut Is Back With Green Demos, Food, Music, and More…

We told you all about Live Green Connecticut last year and guess what…this annual festival is back and greener than ever!  This two day event (9/14 from 10-4 and 9/15 from 11-4) will be held at Taylor Farm in Norwalk.  Admission is free, but parking is $5 per car.  So, think green, share your ride, and save some cash.  And, believe it or not, all the waste from this year’s festival will be composted by Sustainable America (we think Jeremy Kranowitz is the man)!  Now, let’s go through some of the awesome things going on at Live Green, CT!

Food

• Skinny Pines Pizza:  they keep it green by using local ingredients in their pies.
• The Stand Juice Company:  they’ll be offering up the freshest of foods including juices, smoothies, salads, and sandwiches.
• Green Leaf Organic Bakery & Cafe:  they’re keeping things natural and will be offering up yummy tarts, a chocolate souffle, cookies, quiches, sandwiches, and more.
• LobsterCraft (Sunday):  our favorite lobster roll.  Captain Mike catches many of the lobsters himself and knows how to keep it local.
• Melt Mobile (Saturday):  the girls of Melt Mobile use local and only the best ingredients and it comes through in their awesome sandwiches.  They’ll have dessert sandwiches, too!
• Maddy’s Food Truck:  they’ll be offering up Caribbean classics like crispy conch, a Creole fish sandwich, jerk chicken, and griot and plantains.
• Tacos El Azteca:  you’ll get your choice of tacos, quesadillas, burritos, and even tortas.
• Cowabunga Grill:  Ben will be grilling up burgers, dogs, and Philly cheesesteaks.
• Elm City Kettle Corn:  um, who doesn’t love kettle corn?
• Island Cow Ice Cream:  keeping it real with organic milk and cream.  Check out flavors like lemon, ginger, red raspberry, and wild Maine blueberry.
• Alex’s Lemonade Stand:  Connecticut Moms Online will be selling lemonade and baked goodies to help benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Food trucks take over SM+NC for Spring on the Farm Festival Weekend

You NEED this!

One of our favorite places in all of Connecticut Stamford Museum & Nature Center.  And, this coming Spring on the Farm Festival Weekend it’s about to become our more most favoritest place!  All the action is going down on 5/18 and 5/19 from 11 am to 3 pm.  Yes, their annual party is getting bigger and badder than ever with the addition of seven, count ‘um seven, food trucks.  On Saturday you can get the Caribbean flavors of Maddy’s Food Truck, good ol’ fashioned American fare with Cowabunga, hot pies from Victoria’s Wood Fired Pizza Catering, got your hands on some meatballs from The Local Meatball, and cold and creamy goodness from Skip’s Ice Cream Co.  Then, come back for more on Sunday where you can try the awesome fries and sandwiches of Fryborg, the awesomely organic and oven-to-table pizzas of Skinny Pines, and get more of that ice cream from Skip’s Ice Cream Co.

Aw, we have the same hair color!

But, this weekend isn’t just about food.  Okay, it’s a big portion of it, but there’s other reasons why you’ll love coming by:

1) Check out the baby goats.  It’s all about the baby goats…but there are lots of other animals to ooh and ahh over.

Get Your First Bites of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que at the Harbor Point Block Party, Part of Stamford Lights Festival

People have been moaning and groaning, drooling in anticipation for Dinosaur Bar-B-Que to open.

Is it open?

When will it open?

It has to open soon!

OmNomCT…do you know when it will open?

Well, we’ve still got some time before that happens, but you can get your first licks in on September 22 from 4-8 pm.  Just stop by during that time at 711 Canal Street (by Fairway Market and Yale and Town) for the first annual Harbor Point Block Party, part of Stamford Lights.  OmNomCT officially endorses this and thinks this could prove to be epically awesome.

So, yes, let’s get focused.  BBQ kind of has that effect on us, you know?  You might remember that we announced that Dinosaur was trying to get a spot in Stamford, then everybody went crazy when we found out it was a done deal.  Heck, we even got to talk to the grand pitmaster and awesome BBQ god himself, John Stage.  People swear by their BBQ (and swear if they don’t get theirs) so we’re sure that people want their first tastes to see what the big fuss is about.

Go Fish! @ The Maritime Aquarium + learn about sustainable fishing – Norwalk, CT

OmNomCT’s Gone Fishin’!

On an oppressively hot Sunday, we decided to head out into Norwalk to visit the Maritime Aquarium.  What cooler way to spend one of the dog days of summer than oohing and aahing over meerkats, a ridiculously rare white alligator, turtles, seals, otters, and fish?

Since the last time we’ve been to the aquarium, they have updated and added exhibits.  One such exhibit blew us away:  Go Fish.  This room off to the side of where you can pet sharks and rays is the Maritime Aquarium’s ode to sustainability and healthy eating.  On the way to the room, you’ll see some humongous fish catches from the Long Island Sound.  When you enter, you’ll see there’s plenty of information for adults and fun interactive elements for the kids, too.  Big kids can check out a movie on fishing, check out fun graphics, and read all about sustainable fishing.  The little kids have the chance to “fish” off of a boat (don’t worry, there are life vests), pick up plates to see which fish pair was a healthy and sustainable choice, or do some fishing on the Wii.

Kristien figures out which fish is healthier and better on the environment by lifting up the plate

This is a permanent exhibit, so you’ll have plenty of chances to check it out, but why delay?  After leaving, you’ll feel inspired to pick fish that aren’t full of pollutants and mercury, that are plentiful, and that won’t destroy the environment.  To read more about some of the harmful effects of fishing, check out our post on Wholesome Wave and Whole Foods changing the country by only selling sustainable fish.  Go fish!

Rules to live your life by

Maritime Aquarium

10 North Water Street
Norwalk, CT 06854

 

Hours:  10 a.m.-5 p.m. every day of the year, except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

               From July 1 – Labor Day we’re open until 6 p.m.

 

Adults	Child (2-12)	Senior (Ages 65+)	Member
Aquarium Only	$13.95	$10.50	$12.95	FREE
Classic IMAX Movie Only	$9.50	$7.00	$8.50	Save $2
Hollywood IMAX Movie Only (Feature length film)	$11.50	$9.50	$10.50	Save $1
Adventure Pass Aquarium + Classic IMAX Movie	$20.95	$15.50	$19.70	N/A
Aquarium & Hollywood IMAX Movie Only (Feature length film)	$25.45	$20.00	$23.45	N/A
Prices and times are subject to change without notice.