Faces of New Canaan

Faces of New Canaan: Wendy Lowy Sloane

By |

Even without a nationally syndicated radio show that in about two weeks will reach a five-year milestone, Wendy Lowy Sloane is a great candidate for a “Faces of New Canaan” profile. A resident of the town since 2002, Lowy Sloane is not only deeply involved in the community—she’s spent several years as parent coordinator at her kids’ schools and as team mom for youth sports, and whose own kids have been in the New Canaan YMCA program for years (her son made the freshman NCHS team)—she also carries a sincere and abiding love for New Canaan people. Those people include small business owners who help make the town go—she specifically mentions Barbara Cleary who 13 years ago prophetically “sold” Lowy Sloane on a vision of herself in the town, as well as Caren Forbes and Chef Luis Lopez, whom she calls “Cheffy”—as well as elected officials who wear multiple hats (Rob Mallozzi, Nick Williams, Tucker Murphy) and perhaps most of all, close friends discovered here who have become, she says, “my family.”

We learned all of this, as well as how Lowy Sloane got into the field of journalism, spanning a celebrity-filled TV career in Manhattan—during an interview (transcribed in full below) in the window at CT Sandwich Company on a recent morning. Many thanks to Wendy for her time and candor. One final note before our interview: Readers can find podcasts of the show, “What’s Up With Wendy,” here on the 1490 AM—WGCH website (the anniversary special airs Jan.

Around Town

SLIDESHOW: Cool and Collected ‘Caffeine & Carburetors’ in New Canaan

By |

New Canaan resident Matt Konspore—right-hand man of Caffeine & Carburetors co-creator Doug Zumbach—waved a Ferrari forward at Elm Street and South Avenue Sunday morning. “This is the most expensive street in the world right now,” Konspore said as several hundred—likely a couple or few thousand—classic and specialty car enthusiasts gathered in downtown New Canaan for the popular gathering of hobbyists. Pause this slideshow by hovering over a photo with your mouse, article continues below:

[acx_slideshow name=”May 6 2014 Caffeine and Carburetors”]

 

A calm, cool and collected vibe settled over New Canaan for the second installment of Caffeine & Carburetors on Sunday, as smartphone- and digital camera-toting enthusiasts walked leashed dogs, chatted, sipped coffee and chatted over the high-end and vintage autos on Pine and Elm Streets. After the season debut gathering from April drew so much motor and foot traffic to downtown New Canaan that town officials felt compelled call for a review to determine the frequency and location of future events, Sunday saw smiling, relaxed crowds enjoy the 3.5-hour, grassroots show on an overcast, cool morning. Merchants including Chef Luis once again were open on Elm Street with a special sidewalk set-up to serve customers, while groups that included the Veterans of Foreign Wars and New Canaan Mounted Troop set up information booths for passersby.

Business

New Canaan Restaurants Prep for Al Fresco Dining Season

By |

Despite rainy days forecast for the week ahead, New Canaan received true, prolonged tastes of spring with picture-perfect weather the past two weekends. With Spring at long last arrived in earnest, local restaurateurs such as Henry Rosenbaum of Boulevard 18 began preparation for the resulting demand for outdoor dining. “We are thrilled,” Rosenbaum said on a recent evening at Boulevard 18, also a top-5 most romantic New Canaan restaurants selection. “We had people out on Friday and Saturday night on the patio, which was the sign for spring.”

In addition to the idyllic al fresco dining on Main Street at Boulevard 18, New Canaan’s “Restaurant Row” has several options, including Cava, Tequila Mockingbird and the soon-to-be-reopened Farmer’s Table where chef Robert Ubaldo and partner Lucia Leone are working nonstop to get the former Bistro Bonne Nuit space ready for business. NewCanaanite.com received an impromptu peek at the new Farmer’s Table space, which will feature an open kitchen and rustic design in addition to the sidewalk patio.

Business

Elm Street Businesses Gear Up for Sunday’s ‘Caffeine & Carburetors’ 2014 Debut

By |

 

Saying they’re eager to support and participate in a hugely popular local event that’s expected to draw 2,000 people to New Canaan, independent business owners on Elm Street are revving up for Caffeine & Carburetors on Sunday, the 2014 debut. Businesses such as design solutions at 146 Elm and New Canaan Music across the street are opening their doors on a day they’d normally be closed. Chef Luis is opening earlier than usual and setting up outside so that the classic car enthusiasts expected to gather in New Canaan—coming from as far away as Maine and North Carolina—can grab a quick bite as they walk around. This is the first year that the 8 to 11:30 a.m. event—brainchild of Zumbach’s Gourmet Coffee owner Doug Zumbach, a New Canaan resident—will see the overflow from Pine Street come to Elm Street. When Pine hits about 75 percent full, police and volunteers will start directing the vintage and specialty automobiles to the top of Elm Street (at Brotherhood & Higley) and then they’ll start filling in spots down from there.