Stamford

Stamford is the second most populated city in Connecticut, after Bridgeport. Like many of its neighbors, Stamford is often considered a suburb of New York City, but unlike the more residential towns, Stamford is also a legitimate urban powerhouse on its own. For many commuters in Fairfield County, Stamford is the daily destination, rather than New York. Companies headquartered here include Charter Communications, Henkel, NBC Sports Group, Vineyard Vines, and Design Within Reach. There are also plenty of specialized hedge funds, bank divisions, and trading houses in the city’s financial district. Unlike the nearby towns, Stamford has many apartment buildings that range from older condominium complexes of just a few levels to new construction luxury high rises. Single-family homes here include more modest traditional houses, as well as waterfront estates. Most housing in Stamford is close to one of the town’s three train stations, making it easy for commuters.

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Stamford History and Culture

Present-day Stamford is the result of a major movement to redevelop the downtown, which started being discussed in the 1950s and finally broke ground in 1968. The redevelopment was quite successful, resulting in the decision of multiple companies to move their headquarters from New York City to Stamford, giving the city a strong economic base and urban core. As a result, Stamford has a more modern look to its commercial center than neighboring towns and has all the relevant amenities. Stamford has its own branch of Chelsea Piers, a 400,000 square-foot gym, with twin ice rinks for ice hockey and figure skating, an aquatic center with an Olympic-size pool, and squash and tennis courts. The Avon Theatre, an art-house cinema, shows independent films from around the world in a historic building. In warmer weather, Alive@Five is a weekly live music show in a local park, featuring well-known bands.

Stamford Dining and Shopping

The exemplar of tavern-style pizza—super-thin, with a crackly crust—is found at Stamford’s Colony Grill, where they’ve been serving pies since 1935. Stamford locals also love Lakeside Diner, a favorite for its old-fashioned interiors and more importantly, their homemade doughnuts rolled in cinnamon sugar. There are plenty of independent eateries offering every type of cuisine in Stamford, as well as many outposts of national chains. For shopping, downtown is home to the Stamford Town Center, a large mall anchored by Macy’s and Barnes and Noble, and the setting for 1991’s Scenes From a Mall. The mall’s layout and tenants have changed over the years, but it remains a primary shopping destination for Stamford residents. From June through October, there are several farmers market around town, each with fresh fruits, vegetables, and baked goods.