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Westport’s Nest Egg Foundation Teams Up With HLWF™ Alliance for a Vital Talk on: Protecting the Right to Fertility Treatment + What Women Need to Know About Preserving Fertility

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On International Women’s Day, the Westport-based Nest Egg Foundation, HLWF™ Alliance and ProcellaRX co-sponsored a vital talk on protecting and expanding access to fertility treatment. The virtual talk, “Harmonizing Health and Hope,” was timely not only because it occurred on a day that celebrates the gender that bears the brunt of the emotional and physical pain of infertility, but also because it took place three weeks after a controversial law was passed in Alabama that put fertility clinics in the national spotlight.

The panel of the “Harmonizing Health and Hope” talk on International Women’s Day

On February 16, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law. The ruling resulted from a case in which several couples’ frozen embryos were destroyed in a storage facility accident. Though this was a devastating situation for these couples, their lawsuit and the new law paralyzed fertility treatment across Alabama as fears of civil liability cases spread through clinics. Imagine cancer patients who are dependent upon frozen embryos to have children, or women who are prone to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, whose uteruses need a rest before embryos are transferred, suddenly having their hopes of a family dashed by lawmakers who know little about the complexities of in vitro fertilization (IVF). The option of freezing embryos has been a giant step forward in reproductive endocrinology, drastically reducing the need to transfer multiple embryos—a practice that led to the risky multiple births we saw in the past with IVF.

Dana Gilland, Co-Founder of Nest Egg Foundation

The Alabama law added yet another limitation to women’s reproductive choices at a time when the board of the Nest Egg Foundation is determined to increase access to life-changing fertility treatments. During the talk, Dana Gilland and Westporter Dr. Mark Leondires (Co-Founders of Nest Egg Foundation), Ashley Rodon (Nest Egg Foundation’s Executive Director of Advocacy & Impact) and Rashmi Rao (HLWF™ Alliance Founder) covered the challenges and miracles of fertility treatment, the financial barriers, and the need for raised awareness, especially regarding how women can proactively preserve their fertility.

Dr. Mark Leondires, Co-Founder of Nest Egg Foundation and Founder/Medical Director at Illume Fertility

Dr. Leondires is concerned about the direction legislation is going in this country. “Alabama deemed frozen embryos to have personage status, but most human embryos are not viable,” he said. “We only transfer the best embryos or we biopsy them and make sure they are chromosomally normal and don’t carry a lethal genetic condition.” He spoke out at a press conference in Hartford when the Alabama law passed, explaining that “less than 20 percent of extrauterine embryos in a lab can even make a cluster of cells that have reproductive potential.” So, no, cryopreserved embryos are not synonymous with babies, but they are often a vital part of the IVF process that is the only route to having babies for many couples. “There are 9 million people on this planet because of this technology,” said Dr. Leondires, referring to in vitro fertilization. “I have children because of this technology.”

Ashley Rodon, Nest Egg Foundation’s Executive Director of Advocacy & Impact

Dr. Leondires has been helping people create their families for 25 years. He is the founding partner of Illume Fertility in Norwalk and founder of Gay Parents To Be. He understands what his patients are going through, which is the kind of compassion Ashley Rodon yearned for when she and her husband, Yankees’ pitcher Carlos Rodon, were struggling to have children. She shared how devastated she was by the miscarriages she experienced and how alone she felt, even with a strong support system in her husband, family and friends. “It was the deepest struggle I have been through in my life,” she said. “At that moment, becoming a mother was my only role and I was so excited for it. I almost felt like my identity was stripped from me.” The couple was scheduled to start fertility treatment when Ashley got pregnant. “I remember holding our miracle, Willow, and thinking, Everyone deserves this feeling of holding this precious human being,” recounted Rodon. “The day I looked in her eyes was the day I said to myself, I’m going to use what happened to me to make a difference in the world.”

Rashmi Rao, Founder of HLWF™ Alliance

In addition to her advocacy for the non-profit Nest Egg Foundation, which provides grants for IVF for those who are unable to seek treatment due to financial need, Rodon and her husband also established the Willow Grant to help others experiencing recurrent miscarriage. The demand for these grants underscores the financial barriers to fertility treatment in the United States. In countries like Denmark, Belgium and Japan, IVF treatment is subsidized. “Here, 2 percent of children are born from IVF; in Denmark, it’s upwards of 10 to 12 percent,” said Dr. Leondires. “Everyone who wants to have children should have access to this.”

Rashmi Rao has observed that “Europe is doing a much better job as far as access to care. It’s not always timely, it may not be the best quality, but that has been my experience in terms of access. And when I say ‘access,’ it also means cost of care.”

“The people struggling might not be who you think,” said Dana Gilland. “They are teachers, firefighters, your neighbors. There are so many people impacted by infertility. The expenses are extraordinary, and the emotional toll is so invisible.”

Dr. Leondires added, “There is a lot of shame and guilt with infertility, which is misappropriated. This is across the board, but for a lot of people of color, it’s even more in the shadows. If you are in a room with ten women and you ask how many have had miscarriages, seven of them will raise their hands. Women are amazing in that they are willing to be open and wrap their arms around each other. So if we can wrap our arms around this problem and just elevate it, more women will seek help.”

Three human blastocysts, each typically containing 100 to 300 cells. This is the stage at which most embryos are cryopreserved.

A step in that direction is a bill that Senator Blumenthal and fellow Democratic senators are hoping to pass: the Access to Family Building Act. The legislation would establish a statutory right to IVF access for all Americans who need it to start or grow a family. “No one will take advantage of this because going through infertility treatment is so hard,” said Dr. Leondires. He notes that fifteen states have mandated fertility coverage, including Connecticut, and some companies are providing egg cryopreservation coverage for their employees.

A human egg being held in place and carefully injected with a human sperm. This process is known as ISCI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).

Freezing eggs was an experimental technique until 2016 but is now a highly effective route for young women to preserve the fertility of their robust eggs before the inevitable deterioration that aging causes. Women’s fertility is in its prime around age 24, begins to decline more rapidly a decade later, and drops dramatically in the late 30s/early 40s—which these days can coincide with both emotional and financial readiness for parenting. Seeing famous women having babies at 50 can lead to the misconception that it’s not so hard to conceive at that age. Dr. Leondires explained, “Those women are typically using donated eggs. That’s also a viable family-building pathway, which is why I published a book about egg donation (Building Your Family: The Complete Guide to Donor Conception).”

Dr. Leondires advises women to be thinking about their own fertility “certainly by age 35.”

Learn more about Nest Egg Foundation, Inc. and the Willow Grant here: Nest Egg Foundation.

𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐠𝐠 Foundation is a collaborative effort between medical and financial professionals, attorneys and others who care about building families and want to help those who cannot afford fertility treatments.

𝐇𝐋𝐖𝐅𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 is a non-profit community of women leaders, who are driving positive change to break down silos and make a real difference in Healthcare, Healthtech, Life sciences Wellness and Fitness HLWF ™ [𝐇𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡, 𝐋𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐖𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐅𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬] industries.

How to Compete in The Greenwich Real Estate Market in 2024

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Photograph by Realty Plans/Realtor Pam Pagnani

above: Photograph by Realty Plans/realtor Pam Pagnani

Anyone who’s had Covid will not be immune from complaining about the flu’s hangover effect. Will things ever get normal again? It’s much the same when you discuss the Greenwich real estate scene. We’re feeling all right now, but man, what just happened? And what’s ahead?

Even the obligatory task of “doing the numbers” now requires some new considerations and mental gymnastics. But however the numbers rise and tumble, it all leads inescapably to the main market reality: The inventory shelf needs replenishing.

“Sales were down last year,” notes David Haffenreffer of Houlihan Lawrence, “because there’s nothing to sell.” What happened? The oft-told tale about the market is that homeowners paying off a mortgage written in the 3-percent times just don’t want to downsize to a new property mortgaged in these 7-percent times. Hence the high hopes among Realtors that more of the promised rate cuts will arrive and stimulate the market. When folks see the neighborhood houses selling, they want in.

Also, Greenwich is in a sense now dealing with its new popularity among the city migrants. “When Covid hit in 2020,” reports Jeff Jackson at Corcoran, “we had a thousand home sales. Then the next year, we had another thousand. Then last year we had 400. Thus, we started out 2024 with 98 homes for sale, when we usually have 450.”

The result? Some very successful, competitive shoppers have had to work on their strategies. We consulted some of the local Realty authorities to get the latest inside dope.

The starting point for any such discussion is that speed still matters. “Before Covid the average time on the market was 300 days,” says Kevin Sneddon of Compass. “Then it became thirty. Or three.”

You need, in brief, a very active action plan.

A shingle style colonial sits on beautifuly landscaped grounds on Langhorn Lane. – Photograph: Modern Angles

THE NUMBERS GAME

When you look at the numbers in Greenwich, always take a second look.

Unit sales, for instance, might have dropped 17 percent in 2023, says Eric Bjork of Berkshire Hathaway, “but dollar amounts only dipped 4 percent.”

“I think it was the year of the luxury buyer,” says Pam Pagnani of Sotheby’s. “Prices have gone up.”

Indeed. Last year’s average sales price of $3.54 million was a whopping half-million higher than 2022.

Of course, in Greenwich the “average” price can get skewed by trifles such as a $138 million sale here and a $30 million deal there.

In the heady region above $10 million, there were 15 sales, Pam reports, a 50 percent rise over the year before. “There is still an appetite, and people are there who can buy these houses.”

For houses over $3 million, it is now common to see the transaction as a cash deal.

David Wilk of William Raveis reports: “There is still a plentiful pool of buyers, with a lot of them being cash buyers. We knew there was a lot of cash out there, but ever since Covid, we didn’t know how much cash.”

It might be getting clear that the notion of the Greenwich “starter home” has changed radically. Eric Bjork: “I’m sure Gen Xers and millennials would love to buy and get out of that cape.”

Stunning interiors are a hallmark of this Old Round Hill Lane home. – Photograph: Evan Joseph/Realtor Kevin Sneedon

Well, good luck. “Pre-Covid,” notes Kevin Sneddon, “people would see something priced at $3 million and say, ‘Hey, that’s a pretty nice house.’ Now it’s five or six million.”

The most intriguing market change occurred north of the Merritt Parkway in Backcountry, where the landed gentry cast their eyes over large estates. Not so many years ago, notes Pam Pagnani, a house in that rarefied precinct might languish on the market for a thousand days.

“Pre-Covid,” adds Sneddon, “nobody shopped there. Then in the early days of Covid, people were glad to find values there. Now people are willing to pay legitimate prices to live there and have a family compound.”

The rise of the family-compound arrangement is part of a larger movement. The Boomers are downsizing. With its first cohort now deep in its seventies, many are overseeing the transfer of wealth to the next generation.

“I’ve been dealing with the family trusts,” says Kevin Sneddon. “These people want stability in their lives. And wealthy people really understand the long-term value of luxury real estate. It’s not about price; it’s about the security of a long-term investment.”

Accordingly, the brokers themselves get the once-over. “You get interviewed,” he notes. “They put you through the paces to make sure the family is making a smart purchase.”

For those who might be worried about some sort of new housing bubble, Jeff Jackson advises a second look: “As much as we feel that this market has risen dramatically since Covid, the fact is that many sections are still below peak and there is still room to rise. In everything north of town, pricing is still below 2007.”

STYLE & WHAT’S SELLING

Those big sales mentioned earlier? The $138 million sale, which set a record as Connecticut’s highest ever, was Copper Beach Farm, a 50-acre beachfront (in Belle Haven) owned by a company associated with Ray Dalio, the founder of the Bridgewater hedge fund. Lesley McElwereath and Joseph Barbieri of Sotheby’s International put it on the market, and Douglas Elliman brought in the still-unnamed buyer.

“In Greenwich, a lot of properties are old and in need of a gut job,” says Broker Jen Danzi. But sometimes sellers just don’t want to do the work, and most of today’s buyers, of course, are definitely not looking for fixer-uppers, despite the popularity of those TV shows. “People just want to move in.”

So the contractors are hopping. It should be remembered that in some sense we’re still dealing with the financial traumas of 2008, which drove a number of builders out of business. Many of the survivors now understandably choose to work the luxury side of the street.

An open kitchen and family room layout is the center point of this 9,000-sqaure-foot home on Lake Avenue. – Photograph: Realty Plans/Realtor Meg Mcquillan

“Most new construction is limited to the high end,” says David Haffenreffer. “The land has gotten so valuable that builders are looking to build $6 million-plus homes.”

Even if a seller is prepping a more modest house, it still has to look a little fantastic. Someone who has occupied a house since the Ford Administration has to recognize that today’s Greenwich house has gotten more complicated. What used to be an extravagance is now just normal stuff.

“The new mandatory amenities,” Shelly Tretter Lynch of Compass says, laughing, “now include high-speed internet, high-tech security systems, home offices, home gyms that include infrared saunas, meditation rooms and kitchens equipped with extra-large sinks.”

Jenny Allen, also of Compass, has heard the customers’ wish lists. To accommodate these burgeoning demands, it’s best for contractors to have the vision to work with designers. “Everybody wants high ceilings. Since Covid, people went whole-lifestyle in their homes, with everything at their fingertips. You need an escape room downstairs. Everybody wants a gym. The bedroom on the first floor is one of the biggest demands. People who are downsizing demand that. And they’d like to see elevators, too.”

This Widgeon Way home offers in-town luxury-living. – Photograph: Kyle Norton/Reatlor Hilary Phillips

The key word here is “rooms”—i.e., we might not need the old big-as-a-gymnasium family room. “The entire house does not need to be completely open,” says Shelly. “The size of the house is not as important as the ease of living within the house. Communal areas are still very important but so is privacy.”

As far as aesthetics run, this remains the capital of the center-hall-colonial. Younger residents like to experiment more with contemporary rooflines and designs. When Kevin Sneddon counsels people on the very large properties, he believes that classic lines hold their value better.

The exteriors might be a lot of classic white with black shutters, but in interior design, Shelly Tretter Lynch sees that more people are “playing with color. Wallpaper was passé years ago, but now, oh, how the spectacular new patterns of wallpaper are creating an artiste-in-residence feel.”

THE BIDDING GAME

Given the new reality that almost all home sellers are at least getting their asking price —at minimum—the natural tendency for sellers is to imagine some, you know, sky-high asking price. Sorta like Copper Beach Farm going on the market at $150 million.

Like most Realtors, Eric Bjork advises caution. “The reality is that not everything flies off the shelf.” The real profits come from bidding wars, which are now the new reality. “You can’t underprice,” he adds. “Buyers are so informed these days. We have a lot of customers who look at screens all day, analyzing numbers.”

“If the seller prices the home properly,” says David Haffenreffer, “they can get a stampede.”

Given the new competitiveness, mortgage contingencies are now simply off the table.

“People are still doing inspections,” says Jen Danzi, “but they’re being done for information purposes. The buyers are not coming back and demanding $500 off for a new washer.”

These super-savvy customers are not above going to Town Hall and ferreting out records on a house, says Jen. “Some of the information can be accessed online, but for a lot of it, you have to go to Town Hall and dig up the records. Knowledge is always key.”

The consumer armed with knowledge probably has sharpened competitive instincts. Let’s make a deal, they think. Then they find themselves up against a similarly competitive bunch of rivals.

A Cos Cob home that went for 36 percent over asking price. – Photograph: Realty Plans/Broker Jen Danzi

“They don’t like to lose,” says Jeff Jackson. “How do I counsel them? With serious macro-economic information. Because you can win. We did one sale in four days. That was from going on the market to signing the contract.”

“Some people are stubborn and don’t want to put in higher offers,” says Jen. “When people get so tired of looking and looking, they say, ‘I can’t take anymore’ and then put in an offer at the full price. And that doesn’t go anywhere. But finally, they decide they can’t keep doing this anymore and begin bidding up.”

The competition strikes at all levels. Jen saw the market energy in action recently when she helped put a modest three-bedroom in Cos Cob, built in 1928, on the market for $995,000. “We start showing on Friday and got so much traffic over the weekend that on Monday we announced we were going with the highest and best. It got $1.361 million, or 36 percent over.”

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

It’s not just the present mortgage rate that keeps some people from selling. Bjork has also been hearing that some boomers are just staying in their homes. “They like the space, having the house paid off, just paying taxes and watching the grandkids.”

So what does a home shopper do with such scant inventory?

“Some people camp for a year in a rental in hopes of getting a house later,” says Haffenreffer, “It’s a good time to be a landlord.”

Bjork: “Greenwich is the only town I know where you downsize to a $4 million condo.”

Downtown (referred to as “walking distance”) became newly popular several years ago and would be even more popular now if developers could get past the restrictions. Case in point is a new three-story building at the corner of Milbank and Havemeyer. It required the blasting of a few old lots and some serious sweatwork in the zoning department, but now, according to Bjork, it is offering thirty 1,400-square-foot, two-bedroom units priced between $8,000 to 12,000 a month. Gym included.

“People just need to be ready,” says David Wilk.

“It’s important for the buyer to do their homework and know their budget and have their team in place,” says Perry Gaa, lending manager at Citibank. “By team, I mean working with a Realtor, attorney and a mortgage loan officer.

“I recommend customers to start the home-buying process by obtaining a preapproval so they make an informed decision based upon sounds facts, including how much they can afford, what documents will be required and what to expect every step of the way. The pre-approval acts as a business plan for buying the home, and it can provide consumers a competitive advantage when bidding on a home vs. other potential buyers.”

Photograph by Julie Bidwell

THE ROAD HOME

You must have heard the one about a Westchester friend who got tired of his $30,000 property tax bill and moved to Florida where he was happy to see a $1,300 tax. But wait a minute, what’s this $30,000 bill for insurance?

Those miffed taxpayers keep moving to Greenwich, where they hear familiar accents coming from all the Manhattan and Brooklyn friends who have also planted stakes here.

David Haffenreffer has been gathering anecdotal optimism on the spring market.

“If we can get some meaningful pullback on the mortgage rates, it would give sellers the confidence that, yes, things are moving, it’s time to enter the market.”

Some brokers expressed worry that anything worrisome in the current presidential race might make customers feel cautious and move to the sidelines. But countering that is the general heat felt by customers who feel this is the safest place to invest.

“Whatever havoc there might be in the economy in general,” says Eric Bjork, “Greenwich is immune.”

A Look Back on 100 Years of Greenwich Real Estate

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above: In 2023, Copper Beech Farm sold for $138 million, making it the largest private home sale in Connecitcut history.

For a century the Greenwich Association of Realtors has had its finger on the pulse of our market—from houses selling for what would barely cover a bathroom renovation nowadays to record-breaking sales. Here, we take a look at how our town—and the organization—has changed.


100 YEARS OF GREENWICH ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

LET’S GO BACK IN TIME TO 1924

and imagine the Chamber of Commerce as the all-encompassing organization for businesses in Greenwich. But a group of real estate professionals began to recognize that they faced different issues than the other Chamber members—principally consumer and property rights—and decided it was time to form their own organization to address those needs. The Real Estate Board of Greenwich was born.

Today the name has changed to the Greenwich Association of Realtors (GAR). But the organization still focuses on the basic reasons it was founded, while offering so much more for its almost 950 members and affiliate members, who include licensed appraisers, attorneys, mortgage officers and home-stagers.

“As the community has grown over the past hundred years, we have developed along with it,” says Stacey Loh, GAR’s executive vice president/chief executive officer. “We exist to promote our members and listings and to protect our listings and consumers. The biggest impact over the years to our industry has been technology and transparency.”

As our world has become more complicated so, too, has the real estate profession, necessitating the need for continuing education and ethics training, all provided by GAR.

In 1950, the National Association of Realtors developed the Multiple Listing Service and provided a guidebook for local associations to adopt their own, a task GAR completed in 1954. GAR owns the Greenwich Multiple Listing Service, while most other towns in the state have joined regional MLSs. “The goal of any MLS is to keep the listings that are available for sale in one place,” Loh says. ‘We verify every listing and refresh them every five minutes.”

“GAR owns the Greenwich Multiple Listing Service, while most other towns in the state have joined regional MLSs. The goal of any MLS is to keep the listings that are available for sale in one place.”
—STACEY LOH

Russell Pruner, a town resident for more than 50 years and a Realtor since 1985 who is now with Compass, has worn many hats on the GAR board, including chair of the MLS committee. “Greenwich is a very unique community,” he says. “What other town offers properties from a three-hundred-thousand-dollar condo to a one-hundred-thirty-eight-million-dollar estate? Or rentals that range from seven hundred dollars a month for a studio, to forty or fifty thousand dollars for a multi-million-dollar property,” he asks. “Our members use the MLS day-in and day-out. Our members tell us what they want in the MLS and we can tweak things. By having our own MLS, we’re able to do a better job of appealing to clients while meeting the needs of our membership.”

Bryan Tunney, GAR’s board president and a Realtor with Brown Harris Stevens, is proud of the town he calls home, the organization he leads and his profession. “We’re often the first people prospective homeowners meet. And our clients put their trust in us. As Realtors, we abide by a strict code of ethics.”

“It might be hard to get into town because of the price of homes, but there are many reasons people want to call Greenwich home,” he says.

Prior to moving to Greenwich in 1991, he lived in Mamaroneck, where taxes tripled over the last five years he lived there. “We decided we were better off living in Greenwich, although the entry cost would be higher,” Tunney adds. He cites the low taxes and the fact that since the 1930s, Greenwich has had no debt.

“The town has it all—multiple arts centers, islands, beaches, four libraries, top-notch schools, many different neighborhoods, shopping, and a host of local business that are the fabric of our community.”

To mark 100 years, GAR is digitizing its archives and planning for future collections, stories and sharing of its history. Realtor Pam Cunconan of Coldwell Banker, chair of the 100-Year Anniversary Committee, explains that plans include updating the website with oral histories, a virtual board room and a timeline to show exactly how far the organization has come in a century of serving Greenwich.


NEW ERA OF HOME BUYING

For many of today’s buyers, the old process of buying homes is not only antiquated but unimaginable

Buying and selling homes used to be a very protected process, with only Realtors having access to information,” says Stacey Loh. “A buyer would have to contact the Realtor to find out what was available. All information was tracked on a card system and then published in binder books on a weekly or biweekly basis. The information was outdated so quickly, because properties were always coming on and off the market. Realtors would call to find out when they could show homes, only to be told the homes had sold.”

Those who bought homes before the advent of internet listings can probably remember sitting in a Realtor’s office watching as he or she leafed through the binder book. If a listing was of interest, off they would go in the Realtor’s car to inspect the home.

“Itʼs a whole new world. … But some things donʼt change, and thatʼs the code of ethics we all follow.”
—Tom Gorin

“Realtors once spent a fortune on their cars and keeping them clean,” says Realtor Tom Gorin. “But we got to know our clients really well just by driving them around. We could also point out houses that were about to go on the market. Or we would drive by a house that the person ruled out, but when they saw it in person, they often decided it was worth a look.”

Today, the first place buyers look is the internet, which offers numerous photos of homes, plus far more information about the property than was ever revealed in the binder listings. And the Realtor/client carpool? Well, that’s gone the way of the dodo bird.

There are other differences as well. Real estate firms were much smaller and numerous compared to today’s large firms that dominate the business in town. Gorin points to the 1980s as the decade that began to usher in change. And one by one over the next three decades, the old firms sold off to larger ones.

“Weʼre often the first people prospective homeowners meet. And our clients put their trust in us.”
—BRYAN TUNNEY

“Consumers are the forefront of everything we are focusing on,” Loh says. “Whether a Realtor is representing the seller or buyer, a Realtor protects them throughout the process. Buying property is among the largest transactions that people do in their lifetime. A Realtor is always acting in their client’s best interest.”

“It’s a whole new world,” Gorin says. “Aerial shots. Video. Realtors dancing around the homes. But some things don’t change, and that’s the code of ethics we all follow.”

TOM GORIN HAS CALLED GREENWICH HOME SINCE HE WAS FIVE. He’s also been a Realtor for fifty years—now with Sotheby’s International Realty—which has given him a front-row seat into how the town has changed. He recently sold the house he grew up in in Old Greenwich for what he says is “one hundred times what my dad paid for it.”

He remembers the Post Road before I-95 construction in 1957—a bustling place that was the main road between New York and Boston. There were truck stops, hamburger stands and gas stations, but there was also a large swath of land featuring big homes. Elm trees shaded the street. Greenwich Avenue was a two-way street, and there were hotels, small businesses and a bowling alley. There were two movie houses (admission was a quarter, and since he describes himself as a short, skinny kid, he was able to keep his admission at a quarter until he was fifteen).

“Times have changed. Prices have changed. The town has changed. But it is still a wonderful place to live,” he says. Both statements are very true.

Throughout its 100th year, GAR is digitizing archives, including statistical reports on housing prices. “The housing prices referenced between 1970 and 2020 can be reported with a high level of confidence,” says Stacey Loh. Housing prices between 1920–1960 are estimates gleaned from statistics in archival documents. Loh emphasizes that until GAR finishes going through all the documents, the figures provided below should be considered approximations. But the one constant is that for Greenwich, there was never a backward slide, no matter what was happening in the world.


THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’

AND FOR GREENWICH, THAT’S ALWAYS BEEN GOOD NEWS. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PROPERTY VALUE GROWTH. *Estimated average home price

1920s
EAHP*: $20,000-$35,000
Accompanied by financial innovations that boosted the supply of credit to real-estate developers and homebuyers, the mid-1920s experienced a home-building boom. And as wealthy New Yorkers searched for places to escape the city’s heat, Greenwich saw an increase in summer home development.

1930s
EAHP*: $20,000-$35,000
GAR’s focus was to support its members during the challenges faced by the Great Depression. Because fewer people were able to buy homes, there was less home construction. For those who could afford to buy a home, stock was limited, which kept prices high.

1940s
$50,000
The last half of this decade is often called the decade of recovery, as soldiers returned home from World War II, ushering in the era of the baby boomers. GAR was instrumental in managing the surge in demand for post-war housing, including homes for veterans.

Woolworth’s on the Avenue in the ’50s

1950s
$65,000
This was the decade of prosperity for many Americans. Suburban living became more attractive— families were buying cars and highways were built—and GAR’s focus was on promoting and managing this trend. It was also when celebrity homes started to sprout up around town. The National Association of Realtors changed the way the profession conducted business when it developed the MLS in 1950, providing a guidebook for local associations to adopt their own, a task GAR adopted in 1954.

1960s
$90,000
This was the decade of upheaval: the Vietnam War, protests, the Civil Rights Movement, interest rates rising and inflation picking up. The Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 to address discrimination in the housing market. GAR’s focus was to guide and educate its members through all the changes and the real estate market’s response to the decade’s cultural and social changes.

1970s
$206,000
Ah, the ’70s, a decade marked by a new term—stagflation—a combo of high inflation and slow economic growth. This was the decade of the energy crisis and long lines at gas pumps, which definitely impacted home construction and sales, since people were not driving. But it was also the decade when baby boomers were entering the housing market for the first time, choosing adjustable-rate mortgages that made a house affordable, with an eye toward refinancing when interest rates came down. GAR was at the forefront of promoting energy efficiency and sustainability in the market.

1980s
$738,000
First, a real estate boom, followed by a market crash and job losses close to 4 million. The average person found it hard to buy a home, with mortgage rates reaching an all-time high of 16.63 percent. Those living through this time remember Black Monday well, Oct. 18, 1987, when the stock market dropped 22.61 percent. During this decade, GAR’s role was to navigate these turbulent times.

1990s
$850,000
After a decade of decline, this was the decade of recovery, low interest rates and the rise of luxury real estate in Greenwich, a market GAR had a huge role in managing—along with the birth of the internet and its impact on real-estate practices.

2000s
$1,525,000
In the early part of the decade, the housing market continued to grow, until the housing bubble burst in 2008. GAR found itself deep in the impact of the financial crisis, its effect on the Greenwich real estate market and its role in supporting its members and the community during the recovery. The one thing the financial crisis did not touch was the cost of housing, which came pretty close to doubling.

2010s
$1,750,000
Technology really began to make an impact on the real-estate market, as listings were in the consumers’ hands at the click of a mouse or a swipe on their phone. Social media changed everything, with listings dotting many platforms. GAR was busy dealing with the newest trends in technology while promoting diversity and inclusion within the real estate industry.

2020s
$2,295,000
Covid changed everything. People fled the city looking for space to live, and owners of backcountry mansions on acres of land that sat on the market the previous year found themselves in bidding wars. Pools—not favored for years—became attractive, because people were vacationing at home. But it wasn’t just the backcountry estates that were selling. Everything was selling, which remains the case today.


TABLE HOUSES

THE HOMES OF SOME OF OUR FAMOUS FACES

Photograph by Daniel Milstein for Sotheby’s International Realty

COPPER BEECH FARM
495 Indian Field Road
$138 MILLION
Sold in 2023 Listing agents were Leslie McElwreath and Joseph Barbieri of Sotheby’s International Realty

At $138 million this was the largest private home sale in Connecticut’s history. Today the home—with twenty-five rooms and fourteen bedrooms—differs greatly from the original home purchased in 1905 by Harriet Lauder Greenway, whose father, George Lauder, was the cofounder of the Carnegie Steel Company with Andrew Carnegie. In 1905, Harriet bought the nearly 58-acre property. In 1909, 1910 and 1921 she purchased adjoining land, bringing the estate to more than 100 acres. In 1912 the Greenways added two wings, creating the magnificent Neo-French Renaissance mansion that remains today.

Harriet’s husband, Dr. James Greenway, founded the Department of Health at Yale in 1915, which meant the family’s main home was in New Haven. They summered here until 1935, when he retired and they made it their main residence.

Harriet eventually gave some land to the couple’s daughter, Anna, and to the Indian Field School. Some property was lost to the railroad and the Connecticut Turnpike. When she died, the remainder of the property was bequeathed to the couple’s three sons and daughter. In 1978 the house, with its remaining 50 acres, was sold for $7.5 million.

The Greenway family is still remembered for donating Island Beach (Little Captain Island) to the town, as well as the first ferryboat to transport residents to the island.

Photograph by Steve Rossi for Sotheby’s International Realty

MEL GIBSON

ADDRESS 124 Old Mill Road
BUILT 1927 by investment banker Charles L. Ohrstrom and architect Charles Lewis Bowman

Mel Gibson called Greenwich home for 15 years in an impressive 15,800-square- foot house, built in 1927.

The palatial estate, at 124 Old Mill Road, sits on 75 acres of land very close to the New York border, a true great estate complete with a grand manor house, stables, greenhouses and outbuildings.

It is now home to the Foundation House, which defines itself as a creative community committed to providing a place for gatherings, workshops, lectures and events. Every few months it opens its doors to artists and activists working on projects related to their mission of bettering the environment, community and mental health.

There are three miles of wooded trails on the property for riding horses and walking. There are loops, grazing meadows, small hills and bridges, all open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photograph by Steve Rossi for Sotheby’s International Realty

REGIS PHILBIN

ADDRESS 56 N. Stanwich Road

Regis Philbin—beloved talk and game show host, comedian, actor and singer—was often called the hardest-working man in show business. When he died in 2020, his cohost and friend of many years, Greenwich’s Kathie Lee Gifford, was quoted in People saying: “I loved that man dearly. We worked together for fifteen years and for the next twenty, we just hung out as friends.”

The year he died, his backcountry home sold for just over $4 million. The nearly 14,000-square-foot English Manor-inspired residence sat on about two and a half acres. Of the house, Joy Philbin has said: “We’ve lived in many houses together, but this will always be our favorite. We celebrated birthdays and holidays and never had to worry about inviting too many people. There was room for everyone.”

Photograph by Daniel Milstein for Sotheby’s International Realty

MARY TYLER MOORE

ADDRESS 50 Dingletown Road

When the late Mary Tyler Moore was playing Laura Petrie on The Dick Van Dyke Show, living a fictional suburban life in New Rochelle, she probably had no idea that eventually she would be physically living about 12 miles north at 50 Dingletown Road. It’s a home that career girl/journalist Mary Richards could only dream about.

The house, a distinguished Georgian Colonial, is currently for sale for $21,900,000. The 13,825-square- foot estate was designed by architect Stephen Wang—and the primary suite, at 2,000 square feet, is bigger than some homes. Called Harkaway, it sits on just over seven acres, buffered by five acres of conservation land. Oh, and did we mention the glass conservatory, gym with jacuzzi, shower and steam, elevator and a 65-foot pool with an outdoor fireplace?

Photograph by Steve Turner for Coldwell Banker

DONALD TRUMP

ADDRESS 21 Vista Drive

Back in the ’80s, before Donald Trump was President, he was married to Ivana and the father of three young children. Although his name was synonymous with Manhattan real estate, the couple bought a six-acre estate in Greenwich for $4 million in the gated Indian Harbor Association.

It was the perfect weekend retreat, complete with a deep water dock, pool, tennis court and, no surprise, a putting green. When the couple divorced in 1992, Ivana got the Greenwich manse, although she didn’t keep it very long.

The house sits on almost six acres, including 1,570 feet of shoreline, and has panoramic views of Long Island Sound. Currently the house is off the market, although it has been on and off the market since 2015.

CHARITABLE OUTREACH

LENDING A HAND WHERE IT COUNTS THE MOST

“We painted the inside and exterior of the home and the garage. We replaced windows. Redid a bathroom. Replaced the shrubbery. There was so much overgrowth that underneath the shed we found a car and boat that we couldn’t see before the area was cleared. Everything was completed in just one day!”
—PAM PAGNANI

According to GAR board member Pam Pagnani of Sotheby’s International Realty, it recently stepped up its charitable commitment with the formation of Community Affairs committee.

In honor of GAR’s 100th anniversary, the board is in the process of setting up a 501(c)(3) Community Foundation, which will allow the organization to formalize its charitable giving.

“GAR has always given money and participated in events. The more we do together not only helps the community but bonds us together,” she says. “Although we do compete against each other, we need to work together in many transactions. We want more congeniality and camaraderie in our industry.”

The newest initiative is a partnership with HomeFront, a volunteer-driven home-repair program that provides free repairs to low-income homeowners. HomeFront identifies homeowners that need help, and then it solicits teams throughout the state to adopt a home. In 2023, GAR adopted a home in the Pemberwick section of town, assembled a cast of 30 GAR volunteers. Pagnani enlisted the help of a contractor she often uses, Enrique Guitterrez, owner of AEG Contracting, who volunteered to do a lot of prep work, so when the team arrived, a great deal of work had been completed. In addition, volunteers spent months seeking donations of shrubbery, supplies and equipment.

The homeowner was an elderly man with serious medical issues that kept him from doing any work in both the interior and exterior of his 1,700-square-foot home. “We were able to totally clean the inside of the home, which hadn’t been done for months,” Pagnani says. “We painted the inside and exterior of the home and the garage. We replaced windows. Redid a bathroom. Replaced the shrubbery.

There was so much overgrowth that underneath the shed we found a car and boat that we couldn’t see before the area was cleared. We also replaced stairs inside and outside. And everything was completed in just one day!”


Beyond Homes

GAR IS BUILDING COMMUNITY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

GAR’s Scholarship Committee vets candidates annually and awards two scholarships to high school seniors. The scholarships can be renewed on an annual basis so long as the student maintains good grades.

NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR provides residents in need with food, clothing and basic living essentials. GAR has partnered with the organization by participating in food drives and holiday toy collections. This past December, GAR collected flannel pajamas, thermal tops and thermal hot/cold water bottles. And in November, it organized a virtual food drive by providing a link to a list of healthy foods. The public bought the food that was then delivered directly to Neighbor to Neighbor.

KIDS IN CRISIS provides temporary housing and comprehensive medical, educational and therapeutic support services for children of all ages in Fairfield County.

YWCA GREENWICH offers domestic violence services, and Realtors participate in and raise funds for its annual Walk to End Domestic Violence.

MONETARY DONATIONS ARE A PART OF GAR’S PHILANTHROPY AND INCLUDE THESE LOCAL NONPROFITS:
Pathways
Abilis
Greenwich United Way
River House Adult Day Center
GEMS (Greenwich Emergency Medical Services)
Silver Shield Association
Greenwich Tree Conservancy
Greenwich Community Projects Fund, Let There Be Lights
Teddy Balkind Charitable Foundation
Transportation Association of Greenwich

Emily Liebert’s Spring Book Picks

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Emily Liebert is the USA Today bestselling author of seven novels and a New York Times bestselling celebrity ghostwriter. Her books are available worldwide. Here, the Westport resident shares with us the books she’s looking forward to reading this spring. 

My Name is Barbra


MY NAME IS BARBRA
BY BARBRA STREISAND

Barbra Streisand is a living legend. She’s won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards and has one of the most distinctive voices in music. With the film Yentl, she became the first woman to write, produce, direct and star in a major motion picture. Now, in her breathtaking memoir, she shares her full story—from growing up in Brooklyn and her performances in New York nightclubs to her stunning turn in  Funny Girl on-stage, and a litany of unsurpassed accolades. In her honest and charismatic way, she details early struggles to become an actress, her turn to singing, her direction of  The Prince of Tides, her political advocacy, friendships with Marlon Brando and Madeleine Albright, and her marriage to James Brolin.

The Fortune Seller


THE FORTUNE SELLER
BY RACHEL KAPELKE-DALE

Rosie Macalister has strived for years to assimilate with her wealthy Yale equestrian teammates. Yet upon her return from her junior year abroad with newfound confidence, she’s surprised to find a mysterious intruder in her group: Annelise Tattinger. Annelise, a gifted tarot card reader and excellent rider is unlike anyone Rosie has known before. But when one of their friends notices money disappearing from her bank account, Annelise’s character comes into question, and the girls turn against each other, with devastating consequences. It’s not until Rosie graduates and takes a job at a Manhattan hedge fund that she unearths Annelise’s true identity and how she landed in their elite Yale set. Is it too late for Rosie to right past wrongs?

Blank


BLANK
BY ZIBBY OWENS

At 40-ish, Pippa Jones is a former literary sensation. After the sophomore book she was almost done writing has to be discarded—because it shares a plot and title with another superstar author’s—Pippa has serious writer’s block and spends months staring at a blank page. When she finds out she only has five days to finish (rather, start) her new manuscript, Pippa has a brilliant idea. OK, fine, her twelve-year-old son pitched it as a joke. But, still, she’ll see it through and take the literary world by storm! Only, when Pippa’s publisher gets involved, a series of unexpected plot twists arise. As Pippa races against time, she discovers more about her career, marriage, family, friends and herself than she ever could have imagined.

Interesting Facts About Space


INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPACE
BY EMILY AUSTIN

Ever worry that you’re a terrible person? Then this book—filled with quirky humor and heart—is for you. Enid, the main character, is obsessed with space. Her biggest phobia is bald men. And when she’s not listening to her favorite true crime podcasts, she’s serially dating women from dating apps. Oh, and she’s also trying to forge a new relationship with her estranged half-sisters after the death of her absent father. When she unintentionally dives into her first serious romance, Enid starts to think that someone is following her, and paranoia spikes. Is something seriously wrong with her, she wonders? The beauty of this page-turner is that it demonstrates the power of revealing secret shames, the most human parts of us all.

Bye, Baby


BYE, BABY
BY CAROLA LOVERING

Cassie Barnwell’s infant daughter is missing, and her lifelong friend, Billie West—who lives one floor below in their New York apartment building—is the first to hear her panicked screams. Though when Billie looks into her own arms, she sees Cassie’s baby and remembers, with a jerk of terror, that she’s responsible for the kidnapping. Once indelibly connected by their secrets, Cassie and Billie are no longer as close as they used to be. Cassie, a burgeoning lifestyle influencer, is a mother, married to an affluent man. She’s desperate to leave her past behind, including Billie, who knows the worst thing Cassie has ever done. Told in alternating perspectives, Bye, Baby confronts the ways friendships change and the lingering echoes of childhood trauma.

Photographs: Portrait by Kyle Norton; book covers contributed

Mastering the Move: Moving Tips from The Settler

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In the Northeast, after a long, cold winter, spring is a season of fresh beginnings. And for the real estate market, spring is generally viewed as the best time to buy a house. So if you’ve been considering putting your house on the market, now is the time to get your current home organized and start shopping around for your next dream home.

When packing things away, inventory what’s in each box.

The idea of moving can be overwhelming, and many people don’t know where to begin. Enter The Settler, a full-service concierge move-management and organizational company. The Settler is the brainchild of Darien resident Jackie Randall, who recently joined forces with New Canaan’s Bridget Urgo (formerly of B.Organized Home), to create a singular, all-encompassing, one-stop solution to move management and home organization. Whether you’re upsizing or downsizing, moving down the street or across the country, The Settler’s owners say they understand why people feel overwhelmed and truly believe the process of moving can be a stress-free reset and refresh. Here are some helpful tips they shared for simplifying and mastering your move:

1. Cleanse

Parting with your belongings can be emotional and difficult, and it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Decluttering doesn’t mean getting rid of everything though; it’s about making intentional choices to keep what adds value and purpose to your life. The Settler recommends being truly honest with yourself and starting in small increments. “Spend 15 to 30 minutes in each room and get rid of anything that no longer serves you and that will not have a spot in your new home,” Urgo says, adding that it costs money to pack up, move and unpack items. So if you aren’t going to use something—just get rid of it off the bat.

right: Sit down and make a step-by-step packing plan.

2. Categorize

After you’ve streamlined your belongings, the next step is to categorize by room or destination. Think about the layout of your new place and where items will live. Will you move seasonal items to the attic or certain toys from a bedroom to a playroom? The Settler also recommends color-coding packing tape for each room for easy identification (green for kitchen, blue for bathroom, yellow for bedroom, etc.), and taking inventory of each box. Mapping out the process ahead of time should make unpacking a breeze.

3. Showcase with storage solutions

After cleansing and categorizing, the next step is to utilize storage solutions—baskets, containers, drawer dividers/organizers, etc.—to make the most of your space. The Settler says that storage solutions don’t have to be boring—there are lots of options that blend functionality with flair.

4. Relish the results

The final step is the best part—enjoying your hard work! Making your home look perfect for listing or making a new space feel like a home can be a journey, but if you start early and use the simple tips above, there is a stress-free path to creating a meaningful and purposeful home that reflects who you are and what’s important to you. Life is busy and hectic enough; moving doesn’t have to be.

Photographs by Pedro E. Guerrero/courtesy of Pamela Gores

5 Westport Cafes We Love Right Now

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Shearwater Coffee Bar offers an array of pastries

above: Shearwater Coffee Bar offers an array of pastries

left: Cabbages Cafe’s menu features a variety of beverages and nourishments; right: Casa Me is open for both lunch, dinner and a seated bar

Whether you’re running in for a grab-and-go snack or sitting down to get some work done, these local cafés will have your back.

1. CABBAGES CAFE AT AYR BARNS

Ayr Barns opened their first brick-and-mortar store in September 2023 at 1835 Post Road East, Westport. Ayr Barns is a chic lifestyle brand founded in 2019 by interior designer Becca Casey. In their flagship store is Cabbages Café, founder Becca Casey explains why she opened a café, “It was really important to me that this is a space of immersion. My hope is for each customer to cross through the threshold of our shop and smell the coffee in the air, as they peruse the shop for inspiration.” In 2024, Cabbages is looking forward to welcoming customers for their new Happy Hour where they will be “offering small apps and a crisp glass of wine as the temperatures warm up,” Casey said

Ayr Barns
1835 Post Rd E suite 6,
Westport, CT
(203) 292-3016


2. THE GRANOLA BAR

The Granola Bar opened their flagship store in December 2013 in Westport, CT by Founders and friends Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain. In 2013, Noorily and Mountain founded TGB Hospitality Group which now consists of six restaurants a catering business, food truck and restaurant consultancy. The Granola Bar located in Playhouse Square has been a Westport staple ever since 2013. You can run in and grab a Nutella latte coffee and The Shrek smoothie or sit down for their famous chicken sandwich “The 203” or their signature avocado toast on artisanal sourdough from Flour Water Salt Bread. Don’t worry if you sleep in, they have all day breakfast. In 2024, The Granola Bar will be opening a location on the Upper West Side in Manhattan

The Granola Bar
275 Post Rd E, Westport, CT
(203) 557-0945


3. STUDIO CAFE

Studio Café is located adjacent to The Tailored Home by Jhon Ortiz in Sconset Square. Jhon Ortiz and Scott Falciglia, both interior and furniture designers, opened Studio Café to create a space that is both casual and over-the-top at the same time. The atmosphere was inspired by Spanish influence and maximalism. The menu includes all-day breakfast, sandwiches, entrees and empanadas. Scott shared Studio Café’s goals, “Our goals [are] to inspire people to eat whole foods and to always be a place that brings cheer through hospitality, food and design,” he said.

Studio Café
15 Myrtle Ave, Westport, CT
(203) 292-9111


4. SHEARWATER COFFEE BAR

No wonder the coffee at Shearwater Coffee Bar is so delicious, it’s made right here in Fairfield County. Shearwater Coffee Roasters was founded in 2013 and is up the road in Trumbull, CT. After four years operating as a roaster and distributing wholesale to restaurants, independent coffee shops and food markets, Ed Freedman launched the first Shearwater Coffee Bar in Fairfield. In 2019 he opened the Westport location. “After 10 years and roasting 500,000 pounds of organic coffee, we continue to demonstrate to the market our vision for high quality, delicious and healthy coffee,” Freedman said.

Shearwater Coffee Bar
833 Post Rd E, Westport, CT
(203) 557-6046


5. CASA ME

As spring approaches and we return to Al fresco dining, a slice of Italy will be waiting for you at Casa Me. Casa Me triples as a café, restaurant and bar. In October 2022 Casa Me opened their doors with a classic Italian menu. All items are made with the finest simple ingredients that have been carefully sourced from the best farms and vendors in Italy. Day or night they pride themselves with providing an authentic Italian ambience, “Our mission was to transport our guests to an Italian holiday where the feeling is effortlessly chic,” said founders Mario Fontana and Pina Ferlisi.

Casa Me
7 Sconset Square, Westport, CT
(203) 571-3230

Photographs: Shearwater images by Julie Denby; Ayr barns images by Rikki Snyder; other photos courtesy of cafés

New York’s Hottest Bakery Launches Delivery to Connecticut

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An assortment of cakes offered at Lady Wong featuring the best-selling Calamansi & Passionfruit cake (Left), Salted Coconut Sugar Caramel Cake (Center) and the Pandan Pistachio Royaltine (Right)

above: An assortment of cakes offered at Lady Wong featuring the best-selling Calamansi & Passionfruit cake (Left), Salted Coconut Sugar Caramel Cake (Center) and the Pandan Pistachio Royaltine (Right)
Photographs: pastry images by Lady Wong; portrait by Dan Ahn Photography

Seleste Tan and Mogan Anthony are the husband and wife duo behind Lady Wong

Samantha Yanks: Tell us a bit about the inspiration behind Lady Wong?
Seleste Tan: The inspiration behind Lady Wong comes from our deep roots in Southeast Asian cuisine and our desire to introduce these vibrant flavors to a wider audience.

We found an unexpected opportunity when the pandemic led to the temporary closure of our workplaces. It was Lunar New Year, and we longed for the traditional pastries of our Malaysian childhood. With extra time on our hands, we began crafting traditional Southeast Asian-inspired pastries and delivering them to friends and family. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we began formalizing our deliveries within the CT/Westchester area.

It became so popular that we decided to open a brick and mortar store in New York City’s East Village in 2022, where we honed our offerings to not only include traditional Southeast Asian flavors but modernized execution using a French culinary technique, in which both Mogan and I had been trained. Customers were going wild for the unique flavors like Pandan, an Indonesian vanilla, and tangy calamansi and passionfruit curd.

Within just one year, we received many accolades from top press. Eater named Lady Wong “the hottest bakeries in NYC right now” and the New York Times named our Black Sesame Cake, “One of the best dishes they ate in 2022,” among others.

We began seeing people travel all over the country to try our pastries, which planted the seeds of ideas for future expansion to nationwide shipping and delivery even outside of New York City.

left: The Strawberry Guava cake features strawberry compote and guava marmalade surrounded by a velvet cream cheese mousse on top of an almond sponge cake

SY: Share with us a bit about your backgrounds.
Mogan Anthony: I am originally from Northern Malaysia, and Seleste is from Southern Malaysia. She’s a talented pastry chef, and I specialize in savory cuisine. We met at the Four Seasons Singapore, where I worked front-of-house and Seleste was a pastry chef. We spent a decade there before moving to New York City, where we both spent many years within five-star hotels, resorts, and Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Jean Georges and Wylie Dufresne’s WD-50.

Together, we worked together at Village Social Group with restaurants in Rye, Pleasantville, and Mount Kisco and New Canaan. I have (and still) work as the culinary directory while Seleste has handled pastries for the restaurant group.

SY: You have just launched delivery to Connecticut and Westchester. What prompted that?
MA: Launching delivery to Connecticut and Westchester was a natural progression for us. In a way, it has allowed us to get back to how we initially started during the pandemic when we only delivered locally, albeit now as an extension of our full-service bakery in the East Village. Now being able to deliver to our initial customers’ doorsteps, without having to go in the city, has certainly been a bonus for them.

We look forward to expanding our clientele and give this area something they’ve been missing — a special occasion cake or pastry at the center of their table and conversation.  It’s something different than most of the traditional bakeries in the area, which focus on children’s cakes or other more traditional offerings.  While we also love those spots for the right time and occasion, we think there’s a need within the market for a sophisticated and elevated cake that would be something luxurious enough for special occasions but approachable enough to have everyday. We also offer catering for parties, which has already excited many clients, wanting a unique conversation piece and elevated sweets offering to their gatherings and special occasions.

Our priority is to make these Southeast Asian flavors accessible to everyone and to share our love for friendly, approachable flavors with the community.

left: The Black Sesame Passionfruit Entremet features a black sesame mousse centered with passion fruit caramel over a chocolate sable; right: The Uji Matcha Cherry Mille Crêpes has diverse flavor profiles of matcha with handmade crêpes layered with matcha pastry cream and featuring Zinfandel red wine cherries.

SY: Talk to us about some of your key flavors.
ST: Some of our standout flavors include pandan, passion fruit, sour plum, ube, calamansi and durian keep customers wanting to try more, while colorful shades of lilac, mint green or poppy red serve as iconic styles of the shop.

Pandan, which is a traditional Indonesian vanilla, is featured in one of our bestselling cakes, Pandan Royaltine. It’s a crowd favorite and one of my favorites, too. In the beginning, many customers did not know what Pandan was, so it was really fun to introduce people to this traditional Southeast Asian flavor.  We added pistachio to it within this cake, in addition to Valrhona White chocolate and a coconut Anglaise mousse.  It’s a fragrant and delicious cake.

MA: One of my favorites is the Calamandi cake. It is also one of our best-selling cakes.  It has the tanginess of a key lime cake but uses passion fruit yuzu to give it its tang. Combined with a buttercream frosting with coconut (almost like a tangy Pina Colada).  It’s a cake probably most traditionally aligned with a traditional American-style cake, however, like our other cakes, it tends to be less sweet but is packed with a lot of flavors.

SY: What are some of the most popular pastries you are highlighting for delivery?
ST: For delivery, we are highlighting our whole cakes, which include best-selling cakes as well as cakes and desserts that will change by season and limited edition offerings for holidays. Additionally, platters featuring a mixture of Lady Wong’s traditional and modernized treats, are available for online ordering. For more information and to place orders, customers can visit ladywong.com.

OVME Darien Offers a Bespoke Approach to Skin Care

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OVME VIP members can choose a monthly facial or chemical peel.

above: OVME VIP members can choose a monthly facial or chemical peel.

Photographs: Venera Alexandrova

Instead of associating facials with birthday gifts and special occasions, OVME medical aesthetics has a novel approach. The studio, which opened February 2023 in Darien Commons, invites guests to prioritize self-care—and their skin-care routines—with a VIP membership plan and regular visits.

OVME (pronounced “of me”) specializes in skin treatments, injectables and wellness, delivering customized plans for every client, and the concept is gaining popularity.

According to Chief Marketing Officer Ryan Bennett, customers appreciate OVME’s approach to “the art of skin science” and the patient-focused concept. People drawn to the studio and the rewards program typically “incorporate routine skin maintenance into their daily life.”

VIPs also receive priority appointments.

By signing up for membership ($99 per month), VIPs receive priority appointments and can choose from a monthly facial or chemical peel. Other benefits include a weekly B-12 shot, as well as 15% off services and products. Membership starts as a three-month commitment and then goes month-to-month from there.

Beyond the membership program, OVME offers a variety of additional skin treatments ranging from signature facials and dermaplaning to microneedling and laser resurfacing. One of the most popular is the hydrafacial—a “non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that cleanses, exfoliates, extracts and hydrates the skin using a specialized device.” The hydrafacial, which works on all skin types, is even more in demand when the weather is cold and dry.

In addition to facials and cosmetic injections, OVME offers wellness treatments such as IV Hydration, which helps increase energy, provide nutrients, improve hydration and enable the body to recover more quickly.

left: OVME offers complimentary skin consultations. right: The studio carries Revision, OVME and SkinMedica products.

Founder and CEO Dr. Mark McKenna launched the concept in Atlanta in 2018 when he saw “an opportunity to bring a more patient-centric approach to medical aesthetics,” says Bennett. Growing up in a family of physicians, McKenna’s “call to care ran deep because his childhood heroes wore white lab coats.”

While OVME has nearly 30 locations nationwide, Darien is the first in Connecticut. The professionals on staff receive training by Dr. McKenna, who also serves as chief medical officer.

OVME caters to more than just members. Guests can come in for a complimentary skin consultation using state-of-the-art technology. A VISIA scan helps determine how much someone’s skin has aged, allowing for a more targeted skin care plan.

“We are always refining the art of skin science to focus on improved skin texture, reduced fine lines, unclogged pores, and increased hydration, improved skin elasticity, reduced hyperpigmentation, anti-aging and an overall healthier complexion,” says Bennett.

Visit ovme.com to set up a consultation and to “find your glow.”

Is Connecticut one of the next Blue Zones?

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If drinking an elixir of bone broth, dehydrated pig blood, and celery juice while cold plunging in 39-degree spring and sea water could potentially extend your life, would you try it?

Chances are, you would, because the pursuit of longevity has become mainstream, with the global market expected to reach $183 billion by 2028.

But what if it was as easy as, say, living in Connecticut?

That’s what NowPatient’s newest index—inspired by the 2023 Netflix series “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones”—suggests, as
it aims to predict the next ten states to become Blue Zones.

Blue Zones are where some of the world’s oldest people live, characterized by lower chronic disease and significantly longer life expectancies. Currently, there are five Blue Zones globally, located in Italy, Greece, Japan, Costa Rica and Loma Linda, California.

According to the index, Connecticut is the eighth most likely state to become the next Blue Zone. So we asked an expert for his take.

“We have to remember that Blue Zones are something researchers have been looking at for years, but the man who popularized it wasn’t a researcher, but a journalist,” says Andrew Garritson, vice president of education at the Nutritional Coaching Institute and founder of Argentum, a quality information control organization.

“By nature, his job is to capture attention. So when we see one of the Power 9 criteria for a Blue Zone being ‘Wine at 5’, we should be skeptical,” he says.

Research is pretty well established around alcohol consumption being associated with all-cause mortality, he adds, so to claim that ‘moderate drinkers outlive non-drinkers’ is misleading.

“It’s correlation, not causation,” he says. “That said, everything is a trade-off. Moderate alcohol consumption can be the mechanism indicating that a community is more socially fulfilled—and social fulfillment and belonging has been shown to increase longevity.”

“So the physical trade-off of alcohol consumption can be offset by the social benefits that come from the environment it’s consumed in,” says Garritson.

In the new index citing Connecticut as a promising Blue Zone candidate, researchers looked at mental healthdiet, exercise, religion, plant-based diets, sleep and life expectancy.

When asked for his take, Garritson largely agreed with the criteria observed to increase longevity. “It’s not necessarily about religion … per se,” says Garritson. “Religion might be the mechanism that shows you’re plugged into a social community.”

He adds that recent research showed that there was decreased all-cause mortality with a plant-based diet, but notes that people who follow plant-based diets can be at higher risk of nutrient deficiencies, which can lead to sickness.

“The key is to eat complete sources of protein in a plant-based diet, which requires a more mindful food selection,” he says.

So, does Connecticut have a shot at becoming the next Blue Zone? Yes, but the criteria for getting there might need a bit of a deeper dive.

WHEN IT COMES TO DIRECT, NO-NONSENSE, SCIENCE-BASED FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO LONGER, HEALTHIER LIVES, ANDREW GARRITSON DRILLS IT DOWN TO THESE FIVE HABITS:

    • Having a strong sense of purpose
    • Strength training 3 to 5 times per week
    • Getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep
    • Drinking at least half your bodyweight in ounces of water per day
    • Managing obesity

Image: Julija – stock.adobe.com


Andrew Garritson has helped more than 2,000 people lose 40,000+ pounds of fat, gain 4,600+ pounds of lean body mass, and eliminate 100+ medications You can connect with him on LinkedIn.

Gold & Home Brings Snaidero to Westport

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This Frame design skips the hardware for a streamlined effect.

Custom Cucina

A new showroom delivers the best in Italian kitchen design

PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY OF GOLD & HOME

Contemporary meets traditional in the Kelly series.

A little slice of Europe is coming to the Post Road. With the opening of Gold & Home, customers can shop the full line of Snaidero kitchens, a globally recognized brand crafting award-winning cabinet systems from their Italian factory. For over seven decades, Snaidero has redefined the art of kitchen design, collaborating with designers and architects to create offerings that blend today’s trends with classic sophistication, all with a steadfast commitment to style and sustainability. Gold & Home’s exclusive introduction (serving as far as New York and New Jersey) of Snaidero to the American market means you’ll have access to see and feel their high-quality, eco-friendly materials in person. Be sure to stop in and say Ciao when they open their doors in April.

Gold & Home

1046 Post Rd E.
Westport, 203-900-4653
goldandhome.com

The Chatham Bars Inn: A Gem in All Seasons

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Everyone feels at home at the Chatham Bars Inn.

above: Everyone feels at home at the Chatham Bars Inn.

Photographs: courtesy of Chatham Bars inn

If Wes Anderson attempted to capture classic New England, with its shingled cottages, wild beaches and bracing ocean breezes, he’d film at Chatham Bars Inn. The Inn opened its doors in 1914 as a hunting lodge for discerning Bostonians. Even then, it appealed to the luxury market, offering swanky new amenities such as saltwater baths and steam heat. Over a century and many renovations later, Chatham Bars Inn is still the place to stay on Cape Cod. Returning guests may say it is the Cape.

The stunning coastline.

From Henry Ford to Bruno Mars, this little dot on the map where the Mayflower first landed has seen its share of the rich and fabulous. Today, guests make the journey to the edge of the eastern seaboard for many reasons: a classic summer vacation, a weekend of sport fishing on one of the Inn’s boats, whale watching, daytrips to Nantucket, a recent Robert Burns’ supper or for upcoming Wellness Weekends in partnership with Canyon Ranch.

A vacation on the Cape has been a summer rite of passage for generations. But we could argue that Chatham Bars Inn is a year-round destination. From January through March, the Inn invites travelers to “activate their winter” with wine tasting and mixology classes, iPhone photography, astronomy, line dancing and an art series.

A homey vibe welcomes guests.

There’s a room to suit every vacationer, from multigenerational families to romance-seeking couples. Book a suite or two in an Ocean View cottage and load in all the grandkids. Heck, bring the dog—the hotel is pet-friendly. The suites have separate bedrooms with sofa beds in the living room. Families looking for even more space can rent the stand-alone Kettledrum House, which sleeps ten.

Want to leave the kids behind? Book one of the twelve spa suites (conveniently located just above the spa). Each has a private in-room wood sauna, oversized hydrotherapy tub, steam shower and cozy fireplace. Indulge in spa treatments ranging from CBD massages to oxygen facials. No children are allowed, so it’s not your fault the kids had to stay home.

Have a meal fit for, well, a star at the Inn’s STARS restaurant— Provincetown scallops with sunchoke risotto, pancetta and aged balsamico.

The Inn is only a ten-minute walk from downtown Chatham. But why walk if you can borrow one of the classic bikes with wicker baskets for hauling swag bought at the famous Black Dog t-shirt shop in town? And, thanks to a new partnership, guests also have access to Lexus vehicles, which are on loan for a few hours so you sightsee or book for over-sand excursions.

You’ll want to stay on the property for dinner. The award-winning STARS restaurant has the only ocean view of any eatery in Chatham. It’s the definition of classic New England, with Norman Rockwell’s “Spirit of America” hanging over the fireplace. The menu keeps it local with Cape Cod oysters, American Waygu and produce from the Inn’s farm. In summertime, the Beachhouse Grill is the place to be. Chilled lobster rolls and refreshing cocktails are a must. Guests can also book a clambake on the private beach. And if your crew has a lucky day of fishing on one of the Inn’s boats, bring in the catch and the chef will prepare it for your dinner.

The Inn’s fleet of cars lets guests cruise around in luxury.

Chatham Bars Inn recently received the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Award, reserved for the most luxurious properties worldwide—only 360 hotels boast this accomplishment.

If you’re looking for a winter escape, the room rates are tempting, starting at $356 per night in the Main Inn and running to just over $1,000 per night for the Presidential Suite. Starting rates will climb by the July 4th weekend to $1,200 per night. Be sure to check out the events calendar for upcoming art series, line dancing and mixology classes. chathambarsinn.com

Well-appointed New England luxury is a hallmark of the Inn.

Paper Your Walls in Designs from Iconic English Properties

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Prints Charming

Fresh off their U.S. launch, Little Greene unveils new wallcoverings from historic archive

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LITTLE GREENE

Bamboo Floral is based on small painted sections of Chinese wallpaper found at Kingston Lacy Estate in Dorset. – Photos courtesy of Little Greene

The British brand renowned for its heritage-inspired paints and wallpapers, has once again joined with the National Trust—Europe’s largest conservation charity—to introduce a new collection. National Trust IV includes eight meticulously adapted designs, featuring a range of botanical scenes and floral motifs sourced from iconic properties like Montacute House and Standen House, and one design that comes straight from Little Greene’s own archive, adding a personal touch to the mix. Available across 42 colorways, there are options to match any modern aesthetic. Visit the Greenwich store to see them all and bring some British history into your next project.

Little Greene

9 East Putnam Avenue
Greenwich, 203-485-0433
littlegreene.us