This 46 foot structure stands out. The first time I was in Stamford, as soon as I got off the…read moreMetro-North station, it was the first thing I noticed. It sits in a park that is right next to the train station. The structure itself is not too exciting but when it was erected in 1999, it was the largest stained glass structure in the world. It has become the landmark for the city, which says more about how plain the city is rather than the structure itself.

I had read about the Stamford Cone as a piece of public art in Stamford CT. A 45' high stained…read moreglass cone? I'm in! But it turned out to be surprisingly difficult to find. The address given is of the UBS building. But it's actually across the street. Hidden behind a tree lined sidewalk. And the back side is just white glass, making it even more difficult to find. It's probably easiest to find/see from the train station. There is absolutely no parking nearby. So I ended up parking a few blocks away and walking over. The day I went, it was cloudy and overcast. I bet this is absolutely beautiful in the sun. But still- why hide a million dollar piece of art? From Wikipedia: "The Stamford Cone is a 14 metre high structural artwork in the shape of a cone built as a landmark feature for the headquarters building of UBS AG in Stamford, Connecticut. The structure, which entirely consists of stained glass by British artist Brian Clarke, was designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and engineered by Dewhurst MacFarlane & Partners. It was completed in 1999 at a cost of over $1 million."

Went to go see The Invite last night in theater room 8…read more The attendant was very helpful and friendly, was helping an older couple who didn't know how to purchase tickets from the machine before he scanned ours. The seats are reservation only and if you order tickets in advance online, you reserve which seats you want to sit in just like everywhere else nowadays. Our seats just happened to be nonworking so I went out during the half hour of ads runtime to let the attendant know if anything can be done. He was very nice and apologetic, placed two calls and spoke to different people and said there unfortunately wasn't. He offered two vouchers or a refund but I declined since, like everyone else, I don't really go to the movies anymore. The way I see it, it's not going to kill me to sit in a squishy seat that doesn't retract since I'll be dead and in the ground in about 35-40 years, I can put up without a footrest for two hours. Low and behold, three AMC workers came into the theater and were searching all the rows and then came to fix our seats. It had to do with some hidden plug under the chair or seat itself and everything was all of the sudden fixed so thank you to the young attendant out front for being able get our seats fixed. The squishy seats when adjusting make farting-like sounds. I'm not sure if I was the only one in the theater who found it funny, but I couldn't stop giggling over the ripple sound effects. I noticed a couple of other theatergoers laughed also so I was not alone. The chairs are very wide and can accommodate all sizes of butts. If airplane seats were this wide and soft, there would be less airplane fights on Instagram. The theater itself was very clean. The Invite was entertaining, the storyline and character study familiar. While Oliva Wilde and Seth Rogan were a little too caricature, Penelope Cruz was fantastic and so was Ed Norton. Penelope's hair was gorgeous and I was very jealous. Towards the end when both Wilde and Rogan come to that quiet moment of self-realization and unity, it was kind of marred by the action packed sound from the theater room 7. The film's ending was supposed to be reserved and contemplative but was instead populated by a very faint CRASH THUNDEROUS ROAR KAPOW KAPOW THRUSH WOOSH sounds of whatever was happening nextdoor. The parking lot entrance directly below The Landmark building on Broad St was only $3. We parked at 5:45 pm for an early dinner and didn't leave until 10 pm, well worth to park here and not in the mall. You can go for an early dinner and walk around Bedford St, inside the mall or the actual plaza of The Landmark Building which I highly recommend as it's extremely beautiful and which, by the way, the architect of this building as well as many other Stamford's recognizable buildings was my childhood neighbor.

Should have known better but my local non profit cinema house is closed for renovations. Popcorn…read moreterrible with fake butter "flavor". Seats were the overstuffed type with food trays but mine did not recline. Previews went on forever then a string of ads. This was after the pre show ads and info bits went 5 minutes into the scheduled show time. Sound way too loud. And then the mouse that scampered the width of the theater in the aisle in front of me. Won't be back.

Outstanding theater experience. The Cinema, Civilized!…read more My whole family loves the Avon - you can actually enjoy yourself watching great movies, surrounded by people who love great movies in an environment that helps transport you to what is on the screen. The theater from top floor, to theater to bathrooms - impeccably clean. The snacks are snacking... The popcorn (butter, salt) is real popped right there. Wine, beer if that's your thing. There are almost no experiences like this left unfortunately. A gem in the heart of Stamford.

Thank goodness for this awesome theater. They show all the best movies. They are curated with care…read more The popcorn is yummy and seats are comfortable. One of the finest things about Fairfield county!

Built by the Knapp family, the house was expanded by 1750 to become a tavern providing services to…read moretravelers and eventually troops during the American Revolutionary War. It's an excellent place to gain insight into our country's history, and a must-visit destination for history buffs and Revolutionary War enthusiasts. Tours of the house were closed, so we only toured the outside.

Veterans Memorial Park is a park in transition. Right now it's a little bit dirty and grungy, sort…read moreof a collection of random monuments in the shadow of the Stamford Town Center shopping mall. There are a lot of people who wander around aimlessly, or are waiting for buses. It really isn't much of a park to hang out in right now. But, there's a large sign that bodes that changes are coming. There's a whole new plan for this park and the surrounding area. Things are going to be happening in the next couple of years, hopefully for the better. So for now, it's really just a space to examine some statues and learn a little history, but who knows what the future holds?

Pirates birds and…read morelights Great Captain's Island Lighthouse was built in 1868 and was actually one of six lighthouses of the same design around Long Island Sound built at the time. Made of huge blocks of brownstone, this lighthouse can survive anything the ocean and nature can throw at it. Great Captain's Island is frequently said to be named for the infamous Captain Kidd but it is far more likely the island is named after Captain Daniel Patrick, one of the founders of the town of Greenwich. The island is about 17 acres and a lovely place indeed. Noted for it's large population of birds, herons, ospreys, egrets and even some owls, the island is alive in the spring with nests and colors. The island was a very exclusive private club and casino but that all burned down in 1947. For many years it was open only to residents of the town of Greenwich but now anyone can go out there. A ferry runs during the summer months but since it is only about two miles off shore it can be kayaked to at any time. The lighthouse is no longer active but it is still a wonderful sight. No tours of the inside are available but just seeing the lighthouse is impressive indeed. Along with it's five other siblings, this lighthouse truly represents the golden age of lighthouse building.

An absolute gem of a beach. Great Captain's Island is exactly what a beach in New England should…read morebe - clean, safe, and pristine. If you are looking for any amenities (a snack bar, fancy showers, and/or beachfront waitress service) - this is not the island for you. If you are looking for a quiet location to read a book, BBQ, and let your kids play in the sand, - this is the ticket. I am also not sure what the previous review was complaining about? I have always interacted with the Caretaker (Mike) while on the island. He and his team have been super helpful at all times. Mike's team are quite frankly an asset to the town as they are the very reason the island is kept in the condition that it is!! Perhaps the previous Yelper was upset as she isn't a town resident/didn't have a beach pass?

I stopped here looking for an interesting spot while on a road trip. Based on other reviews, I was…read moreexpecting a bit more. This garden is rather small, but it does have a nice pergola and seating areas. A visit will take five minutes at the most. It seems to be a popular place for photo shoots. If you are looking for a park to spend an afternoon, a local informed me that there is one with hiking trails nearby.

Fort Stamford Park is a tiny little historical park, located just off of Westover Road in the…read morenorthern end of Stamford. There's also a formal gardens on the site, the Goodbody Garden, which is maintained by the Stamford Garden Club. It's a pretty quiet site, mainly consisting of an open field with the ruins of the fort, a little path through the forest at the back end of the site, (where there's a Bicentennial Tree) and the garden area. There's not a lot here, but the meadow/lawn area is nice for a little stroll, and there are some interesting things to look at in the gardens.

Came here with family on a 2 hour weekday tour…read more Our tour guide Sara(h?) was very informative, clear and engaging. She made the experience great. She also made sure guests who needed to take breaks and sit were accommodated. The compound itself is incredible. The buildings, vision, art collections - all very interesting. Even if you're not super into art, I bet you would enjoy the diversity of things to see here. Highly recommend!

I recently spent a long weekend in Connecticut with my husband and some friends. The impetus for…read morethe trip was - in part - to visit the Glass House. It definitely lived up to my pretty high expectations. So what is the Glass House? Also known as the Johnson House, it's a house designed by American architect Philip Johnson for use as his own residence. Johnson lived at the house (and the rest of the property, more on that below) on weekends for over 50 years. The house is one glass-enclosed room, which includes a kitchen, dining area, bedroom, and living space (as well as one bathroom that is contained within the black cylinder in the right side of the structure. Because the house is almost entirely of glass, you can see through it to the landscape beyond, making it blend in to its surroundings and beautiful but different in each season. The house is an important piece of American architectural history and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997. Now owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, you can sign up for a tour to visit the home - you cannot visit or even see the house without signing up for a tour (the house is not visible from the street!). Tours are available April-December, typically, so check dates before you book a tour. They offer several different tour options: a 1-hour "Glass House Tour," which allows you to see the Glass House and the Brick House; a 2-hour "Glass House + Galleries Tour," which allows you to see the Glass House, the Brick House, the Painting Gallery, the Sculpture Gallery, outdoor sculptures, and Da Monsta, a visitor center and exhibition space); an extended tour lasting 2.5 hours; a self-guided tour (currently offered on Sundays only); group/private tours; and an in-depth 3-hour tour. The website has all of these options spelled out so you can choose the option that is right for you. We selected the 2-hour "Glass House + Galleries Tour," and I'm so glad we did. I wouldn't have wanted to miss the painting and sculpture galleries! You meet your tour at the visitor center (there isn't parking there, but there are paid lots nearby) - you cannot drive yourself to the property. Then you board a little shuttle bus with the rest of your tour and you're on off on a very short drive to the property. We walked down a path, while our guide pointed the studio and a few other notable things on the grounds (a Donald Judd sculpture that is enormous and very cool, just in front of the house, being one). Then you're at the Glass House. First a view of the outside while the guide explains the architecture and context of the design. Then you can wander through the interior of the space. It's minimalist (duh), but it's also incredibly beautiful. I found it an inspiring design. (FYI - no air conditioning in the house, so in the summer, it can be quite steamy in the house.) Since we were there for the Glass House, I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed touring the other spaces! Then we were off to the Brick House, the Glass House's opposite, just a few steps away. The Brick House was such a pleasant surprise; it has a bedroom, reading room, and bathroom, connected by a skylit corridor. The design of the Brick House is so different from the Glass House (bright, colorful, lush - that bathroom with all its marble, that colorful reading room, and the vaulted ceiling and Fortuny-covered walls of the bedroom!?), but I loved it entirely. I could certainly see why Johnson would have spent quite a bit of his time in the Brick House. Then our guide pointed out a few more features and sculptures on the grounds before we visited the Painting Gallery. The gallery contains works by Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, and more, so it's worth a visit to see what they have on exhibit. But it also features some amazing design features! The exterior of the gallery is a grass-covered mount, and the gallery's art is displayed by use of a rotating "poster-rack," which is operated manually (Johnson preferred to view six works at a time, but the system allows for the storage of 42 paintings). Then it was time for a visit to the Sculpture Gallery - another incredible building (this one inspired by the architecture of the Greek isles). Because I'm running out of characters (I have a lot to say about this experience), I will just say that the our tour ended at Da Monsta. Then it's back to the visitor center via the shuttle bus, where you can do some shopping at their very cool design shop. Our tour guide was lovely - informative, interesting, incredible well-versed in everything Glass House-related. It was a hot day, so I got a bit sweaty and overheated at times, but it was worth it to visit this bit of American architectural history. It was an American travel bucket list item for me, and I'm so glad to have made it there finally. I'd go again!

Just a handful of the CT Historical Commission town markers I've photographed are located inside…read morebuildings, usually bolted or fastened to an interior wall. But Stamford's is the first one I've seen that is not only located inside a building, but is mounted on a stand that sits on the floor. When you enter the lobby at the Government Center complex, you'll see it to the left of the Cashiering and Permitting Door. Dedicated in 1973, it has an inscription on one side. The sign is in terrific condition, given that it's been sheltered from the elements over the years. The marker tells the history of this very old town, tracing back to the 1640 purchase of land from the Toquams and Shippan Indians. The town was named Stamford (after an English town) in 1642 and its area originally included parts of New York State. Citizen soldiers from Stamford fought in the American Revolution and a Fort Stamford was built in 1781 to defend the town. Lots of good information on a marker that's located in a fairly unique setting !

Solid hiking here. We went during a beautiful day and enjoyed getting lost on the trails for an…read morehour or so. The mansion is closed for renovations, but there was more than enough to enjoy without it.

After almost two years living in Norwalk, I finally discovered this shady oasis from All Trails…read morewhen dog sitting. The trail system is super well maintained and an easy loop to follow. There are multiple green spaces and designated dog areas around the mansion. Cranbury park is super shady and a quiet place to unwind from city noise.