After working remotely around New Canaan for more than 18 months since launching this news site, NewCanaanite.com this week is taking an office in the heart of the downtown.
The door to 140 Elm St. is just behind this tree. NewCanaanite.com is taking an office in the building. Credit: Michael Dinan
We will be at 140 Elm St., roughly above Jack Wills, starting Oct. 1.
We’re looking forward to having a place to meet interviewees and business partners, a place (other than the living room or car) to keep our files, swag and equipment, and a ready spot right in New Canaan to file stories.
One of the great advantages to working remotely these many months has been discovering some favorite places around town to work—public buildings and private businesses that offer warmth and AC, comfort and great WiFi.
A possible name plate for the door.
Another way of saying that is: New Canaan has been very good to us. From the welcoming staff at New Canaan Library to friendly faces at great local spots such as CT Sandwich Co. and Joe’s Pizza, we spent hours transcribing, cropping and writing around town, with zero hassle.
As we take this step and find furniture for our new, first office, we tip our caps to New Canaan’s friendliness to the remote worker. Here is our list of the 10 Best Wifi Spots in New Canaan—we’re sharing passwords where that’s possible:
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10. Town Hall (GuestNet, no password needed): The bench in the new main lobby of the Town Hall extension not only has strong WiFi but is near public restrooms and a water fountain. Credit: Michael Dinan
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9. Playhouse benches (Optimum, account needed): The benches outside the Playhouse, at the "50 yard line" of Elm Street, as it's called, are a great place to observe creative parking and other original motorist behavior downtown. Credit: Michael Dinan
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8. CT Sandwich Co (ctsandwich, password ctsandwich2013): The street-facing counter at CT Sandwich Company at Pine Street is a great place to get some work done on a laptop during lunch. There are power outlets at each end. Credit: Michael Dinan
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7. New Canaan Police Department (GuestNet, no password needed): The lobby at the New Canaan Police Department is a great place to sit down and get some work done. Though with the DPW, finance department, HR and first selectman's office now moved back into Town Hall, there would seem to be fewer visitors to the building, the Parking Bureau's relocation here has brought scores of ticket-paying motorists. Credit: Michael Dinan
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6. God's Acre bench (Optimum, account needed): The bench at the top of God's Acre can face either the Congregational Church upon which New Canaan as we know it was founded, or the acre itself, where original settlers of the town are said to have been buried—it quite literally is hallowed ground. Credit: Michael Dinan
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Baskin-Robbins on Main Street. Credit: Michael Dinan
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4. Walter Stewart's (Optimum, account needed): This is the best time of year to get a cup of hot homemade soup from Walter Stewart's and sit down at the picnic tables in the center of the lot, which are covered. Credit: Michael Dinan
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3. New Canaan Olive Oil (naoliveoil, password 'office'): The attached Adirondack-style chairs outside New Canaan Olive Oil offer shade for much of the day and a comfortable place to sit and watch people pass. Credit: Michael Dinan
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Enter the library here for the coffee. Credit: Michael Dinan
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1. Joe's Pizza (JoesPizza, password '242200LBC'): Joe's Pizza is closed Sunday and Monday, but every other day it's a great place for people-watching and setting up a laptop on their lunch counter facing Locust Avenue. By this time next year, this could be a great view of the new Post Office. Credit: Michael Dinan
Congrats on your new office and thanks for the wifi info. As a freelance writer and editor, I know they will come in handy.
Terrific news! So happy for you Michael! Will the “boys” be joining the staff at the office also?
Congratulations on your new offices. Thanks for rating us well as a great place to work. ( I guess we might need to serve Pizza – or at least coffee) to try to get into the top spot.
Best wishes in your new location.