Business

Holiday Shopping 2023: Against the Grain

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In this installment of our holiday shopping series, we talk to Chris Meier, owner of Against the Grain on Main Street. 

Here’s our exchange. ***

New Canaanite: For our readers who may not know your store, please give us some background about Against the Grain and an overview of what you have here, how it all ties together. 

Chris Meier: Been here eight years. What we do is we rotate. We do a lot of outdoor furniture in the spring and summer. We work with Amish craftsmen, we sell teak line concrete tables, but the poly lumber Adirondack chairs—the recycled plastic—that’s probably our best seller in the summer.

Business

‘Spice & Tea Exchange’ Coming to Main Street

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A provider of spices, seasonings, teas and gifts is coming to downtown New Canaan. 

The Spice & Tea Exchange is “coming soon” to 118 Main St., according to information in the window of the vacant commercial space (formerly Greenwich Pharmacy) and the company’s website. The shop will offer “a variety of fine spices, handcrafted seasonings, loose-leaf teas, salts, sugars, gifts, and more,” according to its website. “Explore some of the best New Canaan gifts and accessories in town,” it says. “Whether you’re new to the culinary scene, own your own food service business, or are simply looking to add a bit of spice to your life, our friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find the perfect menu additions. We’re known for our over 85 handcrafted seasonings, which we hand-mix in store daily.”

The Spice & Tea Exchange’s Facebook page also says the shop is “coming soon.”

The business carries peppers, chiles, paprika, whole spices, dried herbs, grains and powders such as beetroot, turmeric and arrowroot, the website says, as well as matcha and green and black teas, monk fruit sweetener and flavored sugars, among other items.

It isn’t clear just when the shop is expected to open.

Business

Holiday Shopping 2023: Earth Garden

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For today’s installment of our holiday shopping series, we talk to Nancy Kline Gorkin, owner of Earth Garden on South Avenue. Here’s our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: Please give our readers a little background on Earth Garden—how long you’ve been in town and an overview of what you offer. Nancy Kline Gorkin: We’ve been around New Canaan for 32 years. And we’ve been downtown for the past 10 years.

Around Town

Holiday Shopping 2023: ‘Infinity Forever’ by Dan Holland

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For this installment of our holiday shopping series, we interview Dan Holland about the recent publication of his first children’s book, “Infinity Forever,” illustrated by R.W. Rich. A 1993 New Canaan High School graduate who lives in town, Holland—following the passing of his mom—wrote a book that he says he wishes he’d been able to read to his own kids when they were little. (It’s available at Elm Street Books.)

We met Monday at New Canaan Library. Here’s our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family in New Canaan. Dan Holland: My family’s been in New Canaan for almost 50 years.

Artemesia

Holiday Shopping 2023: Artemesia

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In today’s installment of our local holiday shopping series, we visit Artemesia—a clothing and accessories shop that opened Black Friday on Elm Street—and talk to store manager Emma Wiltshire. Here’s our conversation. ***

New Canaanite: Please give us some background on Artemesia and tell us what you have here. Emma Wiltshire: Wendy Akroyd is our owner and designer. She started her first store in 2018 in Hudson, New York.