Today I’m excited to share some fun things to do in and around Stamford, Connecticut, as recommended by Kathleen of Grey Stripes & Denim. I love all of her recipe posts and am definitely planning to make some of them soon! She also posts lots of great positive, motivational and inspirational things, and has quickly become one of my favorites to follow. Here’s what Kathleen had to say about Stamford.
Tell us a little about yourself and your blog.
My name is Kathleen O’Reilly, and I started my blog, Grey Stripes & Denim in October 2018. It’s a lifestyle blog focusing on a few of my passions — beauty, books, food, fashion, and a little bit of fitness. I really wanted to create a community where I can share my love of living a balanced life, mixing highs and lows, yet still being true to yourself. I love a good meatless meal, but will never turn down a chocolate chip cookie — life is all about balance! I want to celebrate our imperfections instead of hiding them!
How long have you lived in Connecticut?
I have lived in Connecticut my whole life, and I am 31 years old. I lived in New York when I went to college, but for the most part home as always been Stamford, Connecticut for me.
What do you like best about living there?
What I like best is that you get the best of both worlds here, especially in Stamford. You can feel like you’re in a big city in our booming downtown area, but then there’s the suburbs where it’s peaceful and quiet. We have great bars and restaurants, and probably the most active nightlife among all the towns in Fairfield County.
What’s the best way to get around town for someone visiting?
Honestly, if you are staying in the downtown region of town, most things are either walkable or a quick Uber ride away. Harbor Point is a great part of town that is up and coming. There are tons of restaurants, and you’re right on the water, so in the summer it’s beautiful to just walk around down there!
What are the must-see or must-do things in your town that someone shouldn’t miss?
I think it all depends on when you come to town. In the summer, the Alive at 5 concert series is so fun (I explain more about this under outdoor activities). There’s always an art festival as well in the summer. Tons of vendors set up booths on this street right on the water, and you can just walk around all day looking at all these unique items. There are food trucks and usually live music. Honestly, in the winter everyone kind of hibernates here. Or maybe it’s just me!
What are your favorite restaurants in the area?
Two of my favorite restaurants are actually right next to each other conveniently — Bartaco and Barcelona Wine Bar. Both restaurants feature small bites and tapas. The food at Barcelona Wine Bar is mostly from Spain (obviously) — the hanger steak is my favorite, and the sangria is to die for! Bartaco has the best tiny tacos around! If you want a quick, but healthy bite, this is the place to go. There are 13 different tacos on the menu — my favorite being the cauliflower taco or the chicken pastor taco. And I suggest getting a margarita — they have the best in town! If you’re not into Spanish cuisine, another great restaurant is Columbus Park Trattoria. They offer some of the best Italian food in town. All of the pasta is freshly handmade every morning by one of the owners Maria, who is from Italy might I add! This is definitely a restaurant to go to for a special occasion, as it can be a little pricey.
What are the best things to do outdoors?
In the summer, we have three beaches that are great to visit! There is also a concert series called Alive at 5 that runs every Thursday night from July to mid-August. It’s completely outdoors — they shut down a small park in the downtown area and set up a huge stage for acts to come perform. We’ve had Smashmouth, Pat Benatar, Gavin DeGraw and so many more great performers grace the stage. Local restaurants have tables set up to sell food. Lots of bars line the area so you can sit outside, eat great food and enjoy a cocktail while watching all of these great bands perform!
What are your favorite indoor activities if the weather isn’t great?
We are lucky to have great shopping in our town! Not only is there the mall with your typical big box stores, but our downtown area has great home decor and antique shops. If you’re not into shopping, we have a Chelsea Piers in Stamford. Like the one in NYC, they offer fitness classes, batting cages, hockey, figure skating, gymnastics, tennis and so much more! Also, we have restaurant week twice a year. For two weeks, local restaurants will offer three-course, pre-fixed lunch and dinner menus at affordable prices. It’s such a great way to try new places while staying within your budget!
In your opinion, what does a perfect day in Stamford consist of?
My perfect day in Stamford would be hanging outside with my dog, taking her to her favorite park (Scalzi Park) or down to the beach. Then having brunch at either Olio or Amore Cucina & Bar (bottomless mimosas anyone?). Stopping by our local library, The Ferguson Library, to pick up some new books is always on my to-do list! The latest and greatest books are always featured. Lastly, meeting up with friends for rooftop drinks at Sign of the Whale would be the perfect ending to my day.
Since Connecticut is a pretty small state, what other nearby places are fun to venture off to? And what kinds of things are fun to do there?
We are so lucky to be a 55-minute train ride away from NYC. It’s so easy to get in and out of the city. Going to see a Broadway show or just going to the city to have dinner is always fun. I try to take advantage of this as much as I can. There’s so much culture in NYC and so many things to do! I recently went there for the Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibit at the New York Historical Society. Visiting a museum is always a great alternative and something different to do!
Kathleen gave such a great tour of her hometown! Stamford really has it all, and if you want to get out of town, NYC is so close by. It was really fun learning more about this area of Connecticut!
