Good morning, Stamford! In today’s edition: New restaurant openings, a candlelight tribute to Queen, a 15,000-cookie fundraiser, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Buzzy additions to the scene: From Coracora’s soft opening this month to a new Vietnamese market in Meriden, five spots are lighting up Connecticut dining. NAYA opened in Westport and plans Stamford in February — check out the full lineup.

Neighborhood landmark changes hands: The former Stamford Elks Lodge on Hope Street has sold for $1.1 million. Buyer Joel Ephraim of Dano Enterprises acquired the 1928 building, a familiar Hope Street site — see who bought it.

Citywide growth takes shape: Stamford’s construction boom is set to add thousands of homes in 2026, with major projects downtown, in Bull’s Head, and the north end, plus Avon Theatre renovations starting mid-January — see what’s planned across town.

Fairfield Farmers Market Winter Edition @ Penfield Pavilion | Sunday (1/11) at 10:00 AM – Whether you think veggies hibernate or not, Fairfield’s first winter farmers market is showing up with 35 vendors every week, snowflakes or not. Expect crisp greens, hearty soups, fresh bread, and neighborly chatter, plus the smug satisfaction of shopping local without the summer crowds — see the event listing.

Inside a sweet community effort: Stamford’s Lisa Pensiero baked 15,000 cookies in a week, raising $5,000 for Cookies and Cocktails for a Cause, with funds going toward replacing the patio at the Stamford Senior Center — see how they did it.

Big burrito energy: Craving a weeknight upgrade? La Taqueria rolls hefty, flavor-packed burritos in handmade tortillas, with mix-and-match fillings and legit vegetarian picks. Add bright salsa and, if you’re in the mood, a craft cocktail… then call it a small victory for your dinner routine.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

✂ Bruce Beginnings: Pretty Paper @ Bruce Museum | Wednesday (1/14) at 10:00 AM – If your little art critic needs to burn off energy, take them to the Bruce for a Pretty Paper session with songs, wiggles, and a tactile craft. You get culture points, they get to crinkle, tear, and glue, then wander the galleries together.

🔭 Planetarium Show: Stamford Skies @ Astronomy Center | Thursday (1/15) at 3:00 PM – Stamford Skies is our live planetarium show, a narrated trip through the cosmos that beats squinting at the night sky from your driveway. Lean back, let someone do the steering, and remember stars, no hiking boots, bug spray, or clear weather required.

🥂 Opening Reception for Performative Stories @ Flinn Gallery | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – The gallery kicks off Performative Stories, an opening reception where art, movement, and narrative get cozy and tell on each other. Expect smart conversation, solid pours, and small bites, with artists on hand so you can ask good questions and call it culture without homework.

📚 Friends Author Series: Melani Sanders @ Ferguson Library | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Settle in for an evening with Melani Sanders, the viral voice behind the We Do Not Care Club and The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook. Expect sharp stories, irreverent wisdom, and permission to skip the nonsense. Finally, a club worth not trying for.

🐦 FeederWatch Fridays @ Greenwich Audubon Center | Friday (1/16) at 3:00 PM – This winter bird hangout turns Friday afternoons into a cozy stakeout at Greenwich Audubon, watching feeders and getting to know the locals, the feathered ones. Audubon naturalist Ryan MacLean helps you ID chickadees, juncos, and show-off woodpeckers, and score easy citizen science without frostbite.

🕯 Candlelight: Tribute to Queen @ Bijou Theatre CT | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – Consider this your cue to swap the arena for candlelight, as a string ensemble serves up Queen’s greatest hits in an intimate room. All the drama, harmonies, and goosebumps, none of the stadium beer spills. Grab a seat, sing softly, savor it.

🎸 Lez Zeppelin @ District Music Hall | Friday (1/16) at 8:00 PM – Celebrate 50 years of The Song Remains the Same with Lez Zeppelin ripping the whole soundtrack at District Music Hall. Think MSG swagger without the knee pain, and yes, it’s the crew Jimmy Page endorsed. Bring your air guitar, leave the ego.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Stamford report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 44°F – Low: 37°F – Precip: 83%

Rain after 1pm. Mostly cloudy. High near 44, with temperatures falling to around 42 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 3 to 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 37. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 45°F – Low: 28°F – Precip: 66%

Rain likely before 1pm. Partly sunny. High near 45, with temperatures falling to around 41 in the afternoon. West wind 7 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 28. West wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Most popular house this week

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