Amanda Mastera & Michael Rantis
Must Do's
Knot Norms
Authentic New England seafood with a laid-back vibe. This local neighborhood eatery is perfectly located in Norwalk and serves up the best New England seafood with a laid-back “fast casual” dining experience. Their menu consists of Amanda's favorite New England staples served on their signature toasted bun and highlights Knot Norms' fresh, locally sourced ingredients! Check out their menu here: https://www.knotnorms.com/menu Hours (Off-Season) Monday - Tuesday - CLOSED Wednesday - Saturday - 11:30am–9:00pm Sunday - 11:30am - 5:00pm
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana- Fairfield
Amanda lives for GREAT pizza and is a huge fan of Frank Pepe's in Fairfield. They've been crafting Original New Haven style pizza for nearly 100 years and it's damn good. You must try the original Tomato Pie and the EPIC White Clam Pizza. In its essence, pizza, or "apizza" as it is known in New Haven, is a humble meal with crust as the foundation, crushed tomatoes and very simple, fresh ingredients topping the pie. The dough that all Frank Pepe's restaurants use is identical to the original recipe Frank Pepe created. Pepe's dough recipe is a wetter dough that takes longer to ferment, acquiring a much richer flavor than ordinary pizza dough. The hot, dry air produced by the coal oven works magic on the higher water content dough, contributing to the bubbly quality of the crust—almost like a thin, crispy, airy, ciabatta-style bread. Crisp on the outside and moist and chewy on the inside. True pizza crust bliss!
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze: Hudson Valley
Located on the grounds of an 18th-century estate on the banks of the Croton River in Westchester, Van Cortlandt Manor is the picturesque setting for this awe-inspiring fall event. Visitors meander through the heritage gardens filled with hand-carved jack o’lanterns, past the brick ferry house, where they can see a glimpse of the Headless Horseman, and see the light show at the manor house.
Gelatissimo Artisan Gelato
New Canaan is lucky to have Connecticut's BEST gelato shop. Gelatissimo makes genuine Italian gelato from scratch, based on imported Italian gelato paste. Gelatissimo offers a variety of gelato flavors averaging 18-22 per day. They also offer seasonal flavors, such as candy cane persimmon, pumpkin and apple cider in the fall, as well as specialty gelatos such as goat cheese and figs, blackberry and basil, and lemon and mint. Aside from just offering gelato, they also offer gelato cakes, crepes filled with nutella and gelato, cappuccino, espresso, hot chocolate, affogato al caffe’, and herbal teas. Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday – Saturday 11am-10pm, Sunday 11am-9pm
Waveny Park
It happens that we are getting married at the park's centerpiece built in 1912 which is surrounded by 300 acres of fields, ponds and trails (it's pretty incredible and absolutely gorgeous.) Follow this link for the Waveny Park trail map: wavenyparkconservancy.org/visit/ Park hours of observation: May 1 – October 30: Sunrise – Sunset November 1 – April 30: 8am – 5pm
The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk
Easy access from I-95 or Metro North Railroad, convenient covered parking next door, spacious with an on-site cafe, gift shop, the Aquarium is a most excellent family outing, date, or solo visit! The Maritime Aquarium is the only aquarium devoted to Long Island Sound, the “Estuary of National Significance” just outside our doors. As an arm of the Atlantic Ocean, the Sound is an environment rich in aquatic life … even within sight of heavily urbanized New York City. Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Glass House visitor center
The Glass House (or Johnson house) is a historic house museum on Ponus Ridge Road in New Canaan, built in 1948–49. It was designed by architect Philip Johnson as his own residence. The New York Times has called the Glass House his "signature work". The campus serves as a catalyst for the preservation and interpretation of modern architecture, art, and landscape, and a canvas for inspiration and experimentation (it's pretttyyy cool.) The pastoral 49-acre landscape comprises fourteen structures, including the Glass House (1949), and features a permanent collection of 20th-century painting and sculpture, along with temporary exhibitions. Tours of the site are available in April through December and advance reservations are recommended. The Visitor Center is located across the street from the New Canaan train station!
Greenwich Avenue
While the shopping may be a bit more on the expensive and upscale side, there are still plenty of reasons to visit the Ave. There are a few specialty designer brands and fast fashion stores accessible to all and dining is on par with New York City, making it an enjoyable mid-day activity and the perfect place to people and car watch. Shops you typically see on the Avenue include Tiffany & Co., Kate Spade, Hermes, Free People, Peserico, Joie, alice + olivia, Brooks Brothers, Tory Burch, Baccarat, Vineyard Vines (of course), Stuart Weitzman, and the list goes on. Amanda's favorite store is Navy Lobster! Want to check out all the stores, sights and dining options before you commit? Follow the website listed for a dive into the top places on the avenue!
Visit NYC via Grand Central Station
Taking the Train (Take MTA's Metro North Line) it's approx. 50-60 min long (depending on the train/station.) You want to take an Express or Semi-express train when you purchase your ticket- the local trains stop at all metro north stations until you get to nyc and make the ride way longer. Below are the closest stations and details: From Norwalk's Merritt 7 Train Station: Merritt 7 station is (2) minutes from our wedding block hotels! The train service runs several times per day from Merritt 7 to Grand Central–42nd Street Station. This station was recently renovated and (as of right now) has a plethora of free parking. From New Canaan Train Station: There is no staffed ticket office at this location, but there are two ticket machines located in the middle of the platform west of the station building. You can also purchase tickets ahead of time via the MTA website (link listed in this post.) Parking is offered through the Town of New Canaan.
Third Place by Half Full Brewery
Third Place by Half Full Brewery has award-winning draft beer and cocktails on tap, regular live music, a small seasonal beer garden, and more! This place is legit if you want good beer, cocktails and a relaxed experience.
The String Cheese Incident concert at The Capitol Theatre
The String Cheese Incident with Stolen Gin at Port Chester's Capitol Theatre (30-45 minutes from Fairfield County, CT.) The String Cheese Incident: The past three decades have written a story packed full of surreal experiences, epic moments, groundbreaking involvement and huge accomplishments. The String Cheese Incident has been recognized for their commitment to musical creativity and integrity, for their community spirit, philanthropic endeavors, and for their innovative approach to the business of music.