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• SPRING 2019

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT, SANDY GOLDSTEIN

• NUMBER 58

STAMFORD DOWNTOWNA Vibrant DowntownThe Downtown sparkled in a sea of 292,840 lights this past winter, creating drama in the nighttime sky. The majestic oak at The Ferguson Library shined with 12,000 lights and Columbus Park’s oak had 63,650 lights and literally took your breath away—the tree was beauty on steroids!

The excitement continues as we enter spring and summer. Now,

instead of lights there will be new programs designed to engage, delight and invite interaction. Look forward to the following:

Space Invasion in Stamford Downtown – Thirty creative sculptures depicting space ships and UFOs painted by a juried group of talented artists will be placed throughout the Downtown. This exhibit is a must see for art lovers and space aficionados. We look forward to hosting many school groups throughout June.

ARTWALK – Enjoy the work of Stamford’s fine artists as they exhibit their artwork at the shops along Bedford Street, UConn Stamford Art Gallery, Franklin Street Works and the Stamford Art Association. Come downtown on June 28th, walk our inviting streets and enjoy the creativity of our artists.

Brews on Bedford – In its 3rd year, Brews on Bedford brings 1,000 people to Latham Park to enjoy the craft beer celebration, replete with music and games.

City Challenge – New this year! An exciting, energizing race with a cutting edge group of activities. It engages the

physically fit (and not so fit) to compete in a 3.5 mile obstacle race along closed city streets.

Summer Vibes in Latham Park – New this year—Latham Park will be the site of a dynamic series of free events including chess, Zumba, Bollywood, Strollercize, yoga, cardio classes, Monday Night Movies for millennials coupled with a beer garden – and much, much more.

Stamford Downtown Portal – New this year—Portals are a network of immersive AV environments from around the world, bringing you face-to-face with someone in a distant Portal in a far away country. Have a conversation with someone in India, play the sax with a musician in Nairobi, share lunch with friends in Mexico City. That and so much more in a container with patented technology designed to facilitate interactions with people all over the world.

Retail Pop-Ups – New this year—Retail pop-ups along Bedford Street designed to add “oomph” to the retail environment. Visit and enjoy these unique experiences.

Of course, there is still Alive@Five, Wednesday Nite Live and A Grand Summer Night to bring you Downtown during the spring and summer.

Go to our website Stamford-Downtown.com to get details of where and when.

Sandy Goldstein, President

Sugar Crash, Lawrence Cassidy Roquette Nouveau, David MacharelliRescue, Flavia Moraes Lodato

CHAIRMAN: Greg Caggainello, Sr. Vice PresidentReckson, a Division of SL Green

VICE CHAIRMAN: Marjan Murray, Executive Vice PresidentPeople’s United Bank

TREASURER: Dan Stolzenbach, General ManagerStamford Town Center

SECRETARY: Keith Grabow, OwnerFASTSIGNS of Stamford

IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR: Reyno A. Giallongo, Jr., Chairman & CEO,

First County Bank

Bruce Berg, Executive Vice PresidentCappelli Group

Carl Bildner, PresidentBildner Capital Corp.

Ralph Blessing, Land Use Bureau ChiefCity of Stamford

George Boyce, AgentState Farm Insurance Co.

John Cannavino, PrincipalCummings & Lockwood

Heather Cavanagh, President & CEOStamford Chamber of Commerce

Terrence Cheng, Director, Stamford CampusUCONN-Stamford

Msgr. Stephen DiGiovanniBasilica of St. John the Evangelist

Paul Dillane, OwnerHudson Social

Stephen J. Hoffman, Managing PartnerHoffman Investment Partners LLC

Russ Hollander, PresidentR. Hollander: Master Goldsmith Inc.

Robert H. Kahn, PresidentUnited Realty, Inc.

Robert Karp, PresidentBE Rep Group

Peter Kempner, PrincipalThe Kempner Group

Alice S. Knapp, PresidentFerguson Library

Beth Krupa Beth Krupa Interiors

Diana Lenkowsky, Vice PresidentPurdue Pharma L.P.

Todd Lindvall, Area General ManagerCourtyard by Marriott Stamford Downtown

Residence Inn by Marriott Stamford DowntownGregory Lodato, President

MarLo Associates, Inc.Norman Lotstein, Vice President

Pyramid Real Estate GroupThomas Madden, Director of Economic Development

City of StamfordMichael Marchetti

Columbus Park TrattoriaDavid R. Martin, Mayor

City of StamfordFrank J. Mercede, President & CEO

Frank Mercede & Sons, Inc.Robert Musumeci, President

RTA International, Inc.Michael Pollard, Mayor’s Chief of Staff

City of StamfordMatthew Quinones, President & Deputy Mayor

Stamford Board of RepresentativesRandall M. Salvatore, President

RMS Companies, LLCPaul Senecal, CBSE Managing Partner

United Services of AmericaDr. Sharon J. White

Consulting Firm of Dr. Sharon J. White & Associates, LLCBrett Wilderman, Principal

Forstone Capital, LLCTracie Wilson, Sr. VP of Programming and Development

NBCUniversalSteven Wise

Steven Wise Associates, LLC

Sandy Goldstein, PresidentLynne Colatrella

Vice President, Events & MarketingMichael T. Moore

Vice President, OperationsJacqueline R. Wetenhall

Vice President, Retail DevelopmentAnnette R. Einhorn

Director, Events & MarketingMaryann Rockwood

Executive Administrator Cheryl Vukelic

Sr. Manager, OperationsKate Cook

Manager, Events & MarketingMarisa Rogo

Manager, Operations & RetailJoanne Parsons

Streetscape Coordinator

Published by: Stamford Downtown Special Services District

Five Landmark Square, Suite 110, Stamford, CT 06901 Tel: (203) 348-5285 Fax: (203) 348-6857

www.stamford-downtown.com Publisher: Sandy Goldstein | Editor: Marisa Rogo

Board of COMMISSIONERS Summer Vibes in Latham Park

Pop-Up Stores Coming this Spring…Designed by Stamford Downtown’s Retail Committee, the new Retail Pop-Up Program aims to attract experiential and innovative retailers, independent brands and e-commerce entrepreneurs to Stamford Downtown’s retail streets. We are creating “cool” retail experiences, geared to a wide range of Stamford’s demographic population. Stay tuned for new pop-up store announcements, assured to diversify and enhance our retail offerings in Downtown, while activating vacant storefronts. The program’s goal is

to activate 5-10 storefronts with exciting retail concepts.

The program will kick off with J.Hilburn (custom men’s wear) at 95 Bedford Street from April 22nd to June 22nd. This trendy retailer will be sponsoring Thursday night events with plans to host four other pop-ups in their space including home accessories and leather luxury goods brands plus a bridal event planner.

For information on pop-up opportunities, e-mail retail@stamford-downtown.com.

From May – September, there will be many new events planned for Latham Park, at the intersection of Bedford, Forest and Spring Street. In an effort to enliven one of the neighborhood parks, Stamford Downtown has collaborated with Stamford YMCA, PhatBurn, Life Cycle, Stamford Yoga Center, BarbaraEntertains.com, Kunjan Collective, Mill River Park Collaborative, and the National Educational Chess Association to bring free exercise classes, badminton playtime, The Ferguson Library pop-up story times, soft music on Sundays in May and open chess to the Park for the season.

We will be holding five Monday Night Movies throughout the summer! The series, sponsored by The Avon Theatre featuring Half Full Brewery, will start with a showing of Office Space, on June 3rd. Bring your picnic basket and blanket and enjoy our outdoor movies in Latham Park.

See the full schedule at stamford-downtown.com/what-to-do/events.

6/3 Office Space

8/5 Bohemian Rhapsody

7/15 Liar Liar 7/22 Clueless6/24 Anchorman

J. Hilburn

On Sunday, July 28th, Stamford Downtown will partner with City Challenge to produce a world class urban obstacle race. Those familiar with Tough Mudder and Spartan know the concept, but unlike the other guys, the City Challenge Obstacle Race won’t have you tossing your sneakers in the nearest dumpster after the race. The race will not have water, mud,

electrocution, or fire--it’s an urban obstacle course designed for the urban athlete. Starting and ending at Mill River Park,

the obstacle course will be in the middle of the streets and parks, using items found in urban environments such as police and taxi cars, cement blocks and tires to challenge the athlete. The event will strike the perfect balance between fun and physicality.

With seating for over 1,900 and designed by Thomas W. Lamb, The Palace Theatre (61 Atlantic St.) was praised as “Connecticut’s Most Magnificent” when it opened it in 1927. Restored in 1983 for live theatre, opera, dance, comedy and concerts, The Palace remains one of the grandest theaters ever built in the state.

Summer Vibes in Latham Park Stamford Downtown City Challenge Obstacle Race

Downtown Discoveries

Stamford Downtown will expand its placemaking programming by implementing a public art project along the Atlantic Street Corridor. The project has the goal of improving visual connectivity between The Ferguson Library and Old Town Hall. Tree bed grills along Atlantic Street will be converted into colorfully painted, geometric palettes. With the success of this project, Stamford Downtown envisions implementing similar scale Placemaking projects throughout Downtown.

Stamford Downtown intends this public art initiative to be inclusive of community stakeholders by incorporating service-based organizations such as Future 5, Laurel House or Inspirica. Stamford Downtown and Liz Squillace of Paradox Ink, the Bridgeport artist whose design was chosen for the project, will guide and oversee the volunteers or artists from these organizations so they have a positive experience while engaging in an enriching project.

Atlantic Street Grill-Art Placemaking Pilot

Grill-Art Design

The Palace Theatre in 1927 The Palace Theatre Opening Night Advertisement

NEWSLETTER

STAMFORD DOWNTOWN EVENTS SUMMER 2019

STAMFORDDOWNTOWN

Please visit stamford-downtown.com for more information on eventsSpace Invasion in Stamford Downtown June – AugustA distinguished outdoor sculpture exhibit designed to attract both local and regional audiences. Art in Public Places features sculptures lining the sidewalks and parks of Stamford Downtown.Opening Celebration: Wednesday, June 12

Summer Vibes in Latham Park May – SeptemberLatham Park in Stamford DowntownFree exercise classes, chess, badminton play, Music on Sundays, pop-up story times and much more!

Monday Movie Night in Latham Park Monday, June 3, 24, July 15, 22, August 5, DuskLatham Park in Stamford DowntownBring a blanket and watch a free movie in the Park.

Stamford Downtown Property Owner Annual Meeting & DinnerMonday, June 17Sheraton Stamford Downtown

Make Music DayFriday, June 21Part of an international event, “Make Music Day” will take place in public spaces throughout Stamford Downtown. Open to any musicians at any level, all ages and genres. For more information, please visit makemusicday.org/stamford

Stamford Downtown Farmers MarketSaturdays, June 22 – October 26Prospect Street at Latham ParkVisit our farmers market with vendors offering the freshest fruits, vegetables, flowers, baked goods and more! Straight from the farm and right to your home.

ARTWALK in Stamford DowntownFriday, June 285-8pm throughout Stamford DowntownArtwork from professional artists will be displayed in galleries on a walking route of Stamford Downtown.

Brews on BedfordSaturday, June 29Latham Park on Bedford StreetJoin us for Brews on Bedford. Fill your sampling glass with beers from a variety of different breweries from across the region.

Wednesday Nite LiveWednesday Evenings, July 10, 17, 24, 31, August 76:30 pm, Columbus ParkSummer sizzles in Stamford Downtown with a hot music series in Columbus Park.

Alive@Five - Outdoor Summer Concert SeriesThursday Evenings, July 11, 18, 25, August 1, 85:00 pm, Columbus ParkLive music from national and regional headliners, which attract after work crowds. Great music, great dancing and great times! Over 21 only.

City Challenge Obstacle RaceSunday, July 28Are you ready to really see what you’ve got? City Challenge features the most obstacles per mile of any race and includes challenges throughout Stamford Downtown including rope climbs, sand bag carries, cargo nets to climb and more!

A Grand Summer NightWednesday, August 14Organized by the “Friends of Stamford Downtown” this annual fund-raiser salutes fine dining in Stamford Downtown.

Stamford Tables Summer Restaurant WeeksAugust 19 – September 1Stamford Restaurant Weeks is a great way to celebrate the summer with specially priced menus at numerous restaurants

Arts & Crafts on BedfordSeptember 14 & 15Shop at over 100 craft and artisan boutiques on Bedford Street, which will be closed to traffic for the weekend. Dine in our extended sidewalk cafés.

Bark in the ParkSunday, September 22Latham ParkJoin us for a fun-filled day for dog owners and dog lovers alike. The day will feature an agility course, demonstrations, pet vendors and more!

STAMFORD DOWNTOWNFIVE LANDMARK SQUARESUITE 110STAMFORD, CT 06901P: 203.348.5285

Block-By-Block, Stamford Downtown’s vendor for its Ambassador and Environmental Maintenance Service, has recognized Maggie Rivera as its Ambassador of the Year for her dedication to Stamford. In addition to nightly Ambassador patrols and assisting with management of the larger Ambassador team, Maggie has distinguished herself by her commitment to creating a safe Downtown. She helped conduct a tour for UConn Stamford’s international students and made such a positive impression that students from the tour sought her out for assistance with obtaining drivers licenses. She has also played a significant role in Stamford Downtown’s efforts to respond to homelessness. Maggie, and Stamford Downtown’s Lead Ambassador Bob Cornell, have been successful in connecting multiple homeless individuals with more permanent housing options. Recently, Maggie was the first on-scene to assist a stroke victim, contacting emergency personnel and waiting until medical personnel arrived. Stamford Downtown is proud of Maggie and her contributions which ensures that Stamford Downtown is safe and a welcome environment for residents, visitors and businesses!

Ambassador of the Year

• SPRING 2019 • NUMBER 58

Ambassador of the Year: Maggie Rivera