Biz on Biz

Biz on Biz: Zumbach Likes the Canali Suits at Family Britches

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As part of the “Biz on Biz” series—where local business owners give us tips about favorite products or services at other businesses—we stopped by Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee on Pine Street. Owner Doug Zumbach’s spotlighted design solutions for “unique and different” Christmas gifts, elm for the popular restaurant’s selection of pasta dishes and Family Britches for its menswear. “Family Britches is a great store, with a nice owner, ” said Zumbach, who opened his eponymous coffee shop in 1992 and offers 30 varieties of hand-roasted brews. “I’m a big fan of Canali suits. They have a really nice line and selection of those there.

Around Town

‘A Really Fun Community Day’: Sidewalk Sale Coming Saturday

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The 53rd Annual Village Fair & Sidewalk Sale this weekend will feature vendor booths, food trucks, child-friendly activities, live music and, as of the latest forecasts, clear sunny skies. The Sidewalk Sale, to be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday after local merchants with street-level shops put out their discount racks at 10 a.m. Friday until 4 p.m. that afternoon, promises to be “a really fun community day,” said the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce’s Laura Budd. The Friday headstart for local businesses is designed to give shoppers a “preview” of the day-long event, Budd said. Parking in all legal spaces will be free starting at 12 p.m. Friday. The real excitement of the Village Fair portion will begin Saturday, Budd said, when portions of Elm Street, Main Street, Forest Street and South Avenue are closed to motor vehicle traffic to create the quintessential “safe and family friendly pedestrian mall.”

In all, 110 vendors are scheduled to set up shop outdoors, with exclusive deals and bargains.

Business

Peruvian Restaurant ‘Pesca’ To Open on Main Street

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A Peruvian restaurant is opening on Main Street in New Canaan. “Pesca” will open in September at 70 Main St., according to owner Wilson Rodriguez, formerly the space occupied by Japanese restaurant Plum Tree. A 30-year veteran of the restaurant scene from Norwalk, Rodirquez said he’s confident that Pesca will add to the unique landscape of options in town. “My partner and chef is an expert in Peruvian cuisine” Rodriguez said. “His culinary education comes from a school right in Lima, Peru.”

“There’s nothing like what we’re going to open around,” he added.

Around Town

Summer Theatre of New Canaan Wows with ‘Kiss Me, Kate’

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Excited chatter filled the warm summer air Saturday night as more than 200 crowded under Summer Theatre of New Canaan’s large tent at Waveny for the opening night of ‘Kiss Me, Kate’. In its 15th season, the company founded by New Canaan’s Ed and Melody Libonati consistently delivers well-staged, professionally produced show that keeps audiences on their toes, and this year was no exception. A dazzling combination of catchy music, dramatic acting, and jazzy dances, ‘Kiss Me, Kate’ is a delight to see. The classic Cole Porter musical was brought to life by director Allegra Libonati. With a talented cast and singularly strong leads, the audience is truly transported to the Ford Theater and Baltimore ca. 1948 for the night.

Business

‘It’s My Passion’: ‘Early Lingo’ Founder Returns to New Canaan with International Early Language Learning System

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Caryn Antonini grew up speaking foreign languages. The New Canaan High School graduate’s father ran an international division for his company and spoke different languages, “so I was always exposed to different languages and cultures,” the town resident recalled Friday morning. Fluent in French, Spanish, Italian and German (as well as English), Antonini continued her education at Georgetown University, where she studied children’s acquisition of language at the School of Language and Linguistics. Then, while in Europe on vacation and speaking to a friend of her husband’s, she was asked  why she wasn’t developing her own language program. The question stuck with her for the rest of the trip.