Around Town

SLIDESHOW: Caffeine & Carburetors Opens 2015 Season Downtown

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Thousands of car enthusiasts joined local families, business owners and volunteers on Pine and Elm Streets Sunday morning for the first Caffeine & Carburetors of 2015. Sponsored by Bankwell and Hagerty Insurance, the popular gathering of classic and specialty car enthusiasts—founded by New Canaanite Doug Zumbach, owner of the eponymous gourmet coffee shop at Pine and Grove—saw camera-toting spectators, many of them families with kids and dogs, strolling around downtown New Canaan under clear, sunny skies. “I want to thank everyone who participated—CERT, New Canaan Police Department, all the commissions that approved us, Mother Nature and everyone who is enjoying the show,” Zumbach said, noting that the April gathering includes partners on Elm Street such as New Canaan Library, New Canaan Society for the Arts and the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce. “Bankwell is pleased to sponsor Caffeine & Carburetors,” said Elizabeth Buzzeo, branch manager in New Canaan. “It’s a great local event and a great way to get people out on a nice sunny day.

Around Town

‘Va Va Vroom’ Opens at Carriage Barn Arts Center [PHOTOS]

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Dozens of patrons of a widely anticipated new show at Carriage Barn Arts Center got a sneak peek Saturday evening during a special Patron Preview Opening Reception. “Va Va Vroom! The Art of the Vehicle” will run April 19 to June 14, with the correlating Monaco Grand Prix Fundraiser (tickets here) scheduled for 7 p.m. on May 16. Featuring contemporary paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures by 35 artists from Connecticut and New York as well as vintage advertising posters, motorcycles and car models, the show celebrates the 1895-built Carriage Barn’s own heritage as the Lapham family’s garage for horses, carriages and cars. With live tunes from New Canaan Music playing in the background and three vintage motorcycles from Buzz Kanter on stage, guests mingled over small bites and wine on a picture-perfect evening, greeted by a row of classic cars outside including from Caffeine & Carburetors (it’s on tomorrow morning, downtown) founder Doug Zumbach and “The Drive through Waveny: A Vehicular Timeline” series of poster boards, from Rose Scott Long of the New Canaan Preservation Alliance.

Business

SLIDESHOW: 20 Things You Only Know If You Shop and Dine in New Canaan

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New Canaanites have plenty of reasons to shop and dine locally, and those reasons go far beyond the fact that the village center has scores of independent businesspeople—retailers, restaurateurs, service providers—who work here and have had a tough go with the weather these past few weeks. Our owners-on-site specialize in their fields and offer a wide range of expertise. They support most every community event that locals associate with the town—fishing derby, Waveny summer concerts, Santa’s visit, little league, Holiday Stroll, ice cream social, Halloween Parade. It’s hard to find two important community events in a row in New Canaan that aren’t sponsored in some way by Walter Stewart’s, Karl Chevy or both. Because familiarity breeds conversation and rapport, we can come to know our local small business owners and workers better than we may at, say, out-of-town chains. The slideshow above is a testament to that strong connection—click through to learn more about some of those who make up the economic lifeblood of the business district.

Business

Four Locals Join New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Board

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The New Canaan Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce four new members to the Board of Directors. The new members include: Rachel Lampen with the HamletHub, Michelle Mauro of South End Restaurant, Christa Carr of the Glass House and Phil Williams, owner of New Canaan Music. The Chamber has 21 Board members that all share their expertise, ideas, and time to help promote New Canaan and all it has to offer. “We have a great team and I feel so fortunate to work with each and everyone one of these talented members” said Tucker Murphy, Executive Director of the Chamber. The Chamber would also like to thank Diane Roth and Keith Simpson for their time on the Board and service to the Chamber.