I Scream, You Scream: A Guide to New Canaan’s Ice Cream (And Yogurt!)

With sunshine filling the sky, pools opening, and less than a week until NCHS graduation, it is clear that summer is finally here. Although every New Canaanite spends their summer differently, the best way to cool off on a hot summer day is to grab an ice cream or frozen yogurt. The New Canaanite took a tour around town to all of the shops around town to see which place is the best for each type of occasion. Baskin Robbins—The Classic

103 Main St. If you are looking for 31 flavors of classic ice cream, B&R is the way to go.

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes Visits New Canaan’s Candy Shop, Local Businesses Friday

New Canaan sisters Lauren (NCHS ’06) and Megan (NCHS ’09) Palladino opened The Candy Scoop down “the alley” at the top of Elm Street in November, just before Thanksgiving. The pair long had discussed the prospect of launching a business, and settled on candy, Megan said, “because there are so many things you can do with it.”

“There’s really no ceiling on the opportunities. We have the retail store, and we provide so many services. Candy buffets, dessert stations. We have the cotton candy machine that we rent out.

Biz on Biz: The Candy Scoop Brings Italian Ices Back to New Canaan

The NewCanaanite.com Summer Internship Program is sponsored by Baskin-Robbins, Connecticut Sandwich Co., Joe’s Pizza and Mackenzie’s. On a recent afternoon, we poked our head into New Canaan Music for another edition of our Biz on Biz feature, where we ask one local merchant to pick a personal favorite item or service at another shop. This time we talked with store owner Phil Williams to hear what items or services in town caught New Canaan Music’s eye. As it turned out, it was the chilling Italian ices at their neighbor’s shop, The Candy Scoop, that yielded the most praise. “We like the Italian ices over at Candy Scoop because they’re great and our students love them—there’s nothing better after a music lesson than an Italian ice,” Mr. Williams said.

Sidewalk Sale Saturday: Great Shopping Deals & Local Charitable Causes

Saturday’s annual Village Fair & Sidewalk Sale (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) will feature local businesses offering great deals on products and services (as well as giveaways)—we previewed some of them here and include a fuller list at the end of this article (full vendor list here). The hugely popular annual event also is a time when many businesses partner up to support charities, and a time for nonprofit organizations to raise money and boost memberships. In partnership with Walter Stewart’s, New Canaan’s Lou Kozar, owner of New Canaan Bicycles in the Bob’s Sports lot, will ride a specially rigged stationary bike from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. called a “Fender Blender” that will mix up ice and lemonade that will be sold for $5 a glass with all proceeds going to the CT Challenge. The effort, which centers on a long bike ride, raises money to empower cancer survivors to live “healthier, happier and longer lives.”

“It’s a great event and I unfortunately wont’ be able to do any bike riding this year because of the time it takes place,” Kozar said. “But I love being a part of it in this way that I can, to spin my legs and contribute to the cause.”

Down Elm Street at Main, the New Canaan Veterinary Hospital will set up a table and take donations that will go toward a fund for the New Canaan Police Department’s K9 unit.

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

 

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.