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Check out a map of Fairfield County’s best kept secrets!

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by Keri Harrison, Hillary Tomsyck, Sarah Hassan, and Deanna Mitchell

Are you stuck in Fairfield and looking to get away for a day? Whether you want to shop, tour a vineyard, or reflect on Connecticut’s past, you don’t need to cross the county’s lines. Hop in your car and enjoy these six exciting and interesting trips that won’t break your budget.

Jones Winery and Vineyard

If you are a wine connoisseur and live for tasting wines from all over the world, you must participate in the wine tour of Fairfield. Your first stop should be in Shelton, Connecticut at the Jones Winery and Vineyard.

Just to get to the vineyard, you must drive through rustic Connecticut—I suggest you go in the fall when the New England autumn is at its finest and most brilliant colors. The Jones’ parking lot is gravel and dirt, leading up to the many cottages and barns spread across the hills of the vineyard. They even have signs leading you from your car to the wine!

For only $6.50 plus tax, you can get a state of the vine wine testing experience, plus a complimentary Jones Winery and Vineyard glass! The testing takes place inside one of the rustic cabins, where bottles of wine are lined up throughout. Each person participating gets to taste six different wines, with at least two choices for every set. From white to pink to rose, the vineyard more delicious boutique wine than you can imagine, some with the flavors of the Connecticut harvest swimming in them.

Like any of the wines you tasted? You can purchase bottles of them at your leisure, and you get special deals if you purchase a certain number of bottles. I would personally suggest the Woodland White wine—crisp and fruity, it’s an easy fine wine choice.

Best part of the whole experience is the hospitality of the Jones’ family and staff. Always willing to help, they suggest wines to taste if you are torn and they are willing to aid you in any way. If you leave wanting more, as I know you will, they will even provide you with a map of the Connecticut wine tour, if you are feeling very adventurous. Since Connecticut has a number of vineyards throughout the state, you can taste as much wine as your day can handle!

As Leigh Mabee, the tasting room manager at Jones Winery, enthusiastically encouraged, “End your visit at the farm by enjoying a relaxing, wine tasting or glass of wine in the Jones Winery Tasting Room.  You don’t have to travel to
California to enjoy a high quality local wine or tasting room experience -
Just come to Shelton!”

Feeling up for a glass or two? Head to the Jones’ Wine and Vineyard Web site for more information.

Address: 606 Walnut Tree Hill Rd, Shelton, CT 06484

Price: $6.50 plus tax for tasting of six wines plus wine glass

Beardsley Zoo

The Beardsley Zoo, one out of the two hundred accredited members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is the only zoo that you can visit in the state of Connecticut. Operating since 1922, the zoo is home to fourteen endangered species. The AZA Species Survival Plan is the breeding program that keeps these animals from becoming extinct.

“We uphold the goals of providing professional animal care, educational programs and conservation programs,” said Gregg Dancho, the Beardsley Zoo Director who was recently awarded a Culture and Tourism Distinguished Advocate Award by Governor Rell on April 15, 2009.

The zoo was also the first to breed the Amur Tiger, scientifically known as the Panthera Tigris Altaica, in Connecticut. This breeding is an example of the release program featured by the zoo that includes taking animals such as red wolves and Tamarins from South America, breeding them here and finally releasing them back into the wild.

Besides the more than 300 animals that you can see, there are many things to do in the 52 acres of the zoo. If you are interested in seeing some history of the city of Bridgeport, then take a short walk to the Carousel Annex. There is a beautiful carousel that you can ride, no matter how old you might think you are, and see other historic carousel horse from the old Pleasure Beach, which was the site of an amusement park from 1892 to 1958.

There is also a greenhouse with tropical plants, a sculpture garden and a maze that will be available in the summer for kids to get lost in and try to find their way out.

“We also have educational programs on the weekends for families and children where they can see animals like otters being fed” said Dancho.

For a video of Beardsley peacocks, see here.

Pleasure Beach

Do you believe in ghosts? Are you a fan of abandoned amusement parks? Have you ever wanted to walk around a ghost town? Would you like to be let in on a small Fairfield secret?

You can find abandoned houses and feel like the spirits of ghosts as you walk around Pleasure Beach, which happens to be Connecticut’s largest ghost town. Lucky for those in Fairfield County, it is located in Bridgeport, right near the Stratford border, and is surrounded on three sides by water, including the Long Island Sound.

Why visit the Long Beach/Pleasure Beach town? You can walk along the beach and see firsthand the ghost town that was created 14 years ago when an arsonist burned down the bridge that connected the town to the mainland. According to news articles, 45 cottages were in the town and all of the residents were forced to evacuate since there was no other means of traveling to and from the island.

Now, all of the cottages boast graffiti, broken windows, and ripped off roofs. Just to get there, you have to park near the public beach and walk down a gravel road for about ten minutes. As you stroll down the beach past the No Trespassing signs, with hundreds of sea shells crunching under your feet, you will reach a small, rotting wooden staircase that connects the beach to the small road behind the beachfront cottages. If you can manage to step on the wobbling stairs and keep your balance, you will see the remains of a few cottages littering the area. Recently, arsonists burnt them completely to the ground, along with the old amusement park about a mile down.

If you do decide to venture into this ghost town, make sure you go in the daylight. Not only will you be able to see the lawn mowers, boats, and other artifacts left abandoned by their owners years ago, but you will be able to spot any ghosts wandering around looking for something to do!

Address: Pleasure Island, Bridgeport, CT 06615

Price: Free!

Discover more secrets about Pleasure Island:

What will happen to Pleasure Island? Read about the future of the town in this recent Connecticut Post article.

What happened to the amusement park? Find out in this Connecticut Post article.

Downtown Westport

A sunny day, friends, and perhaps some extra cash are the only things you need to have a good time in downtown Westport. With shops ranging from GAP to Tiffany & Co., there is a store for almost everyone on the quaint strip of stores on Main St, Westport. Kristy Larson, the manager of Soleil Toile, a lingerie and bathing suit store in the area said that she has customers from every age, as well as both men and women.
While some of the stores are a little on the pricey side, frequent shopper, Susan Malone, 50, a native of Westport, states, “There are some affordable stores and it’s a lot of fun to just walk around and try things on.” Since most of the stores cater to high end cliental, college students with limited funds might have to search for deals or they can simply enjoy the fresh air and browse. Larson spoke of college students saying, “We do get some college age shoppers, mostly for the bathing suits, but most tend to just browse.”

Whether you are buying or just looking you will definitely be provided with great customer service, which makes this day trip more pleasant than a trip to the mall. Larson spoke of how the training that her employees go through, is different than typical stores, “We definitely cater more to the customer. Most stores in this area work hard at making sure that the customer is helped.” Malone agreed saying, “I enjoy shopping in this area because it’s just a better atmosphere then the mall, which can be hectic.”

With stores such as GAP, J-Crew, Claire’s, Tiffany & Co., Vineyard Vines, as well as food choices such as Starbucks and Baskin Robbins, when you have extra money, downtown Westport is the ideal spot. After shopping, unwinding on the benches by the Saugatuck River adds the final touch to your day.

For more information on the stores in downtown Westport, visit www.westportdma.com

Barnum Museum

“The Barnum Museum is a cultural icon in Downtown Bridgeport. Visitors are invited to explore the history of Fairfield County as well as the life of one of Bridgeport’s most famous men, P.T. Barnum,” said Lindsay Heffernan, the Visitor Services Representative at the Museum.

Visiting the Barnum Museum, which is made up of three floors, is not only a history lesson on the man who used to run a general store in Bethel and created the American Museum in New York City, but also satisfies one’s natural curiosities.

Visitors can learn about Tom Thumb, which is the stage name of Charles Sherwood Stratton, who was showcased by Barnum.

In the first floor gallery, there is an interesting display of a souvenir piece of cake from Thumbs wedding to Lavinia Warren in 1863.

Also, don’t forget about the mummy, Pa-Ib!

“The mummy is one of our prized objects and has been the subject of recent scientific inquiry.  Pa-Ib was scanned with modern technology this past January and new information about her is now available to visitors,” said Melissa Houston the museum Registrar.

The mummy was donated to the Museum by Nancy Fish, who was Barnum’s second wife, and is unique because other mummies which were excavated in Egypt were usually unwrapped at “unwrapping parties” said Houston.

Here is a table of upcoming events that you might enjoy. For complete details and a listing of more events, visit www.barnum-museum.org

The Maritime Aquarium

Located in Norwalk, the Maritime Aquarium is the perfect day trip for a family or if you are simply looking for some fun. With admission to the aquarium starting at just $11.75 for adults, you will definitely get your money’s worth, while also helping to preserve the Long Island Sound, one of the Aquarium’s main goals.

There are constantly new exhibits being added, with some of the staples being the entertaining harbor seals, river otters, sting rays, frogs, sand sharks, and turtles. There are special presentations of the feedings for the harbor seals, as well as hands-on opportunities, which include touching the sting rays and the interactive “tidal zone,” where you can touch starfish.

For some extra money you can also see an IMAX movie while at the Aquarium. Make sure to stop by the gift shop on your way out which offers souvenirs and memorabilia to remember your trip by. The location in Norwalk offers plenty of options for dining afterward as well.

The Maritime Aquarium is located at 10 North Water St, Norwalk. The hours are 10am-5pm every day during winter months and 10am-6pm during the summer. For more information on tickets and exhibits, visit www.maritimeaquarium.org

Check out a map of some of Fairfield’s best kept secrets here!

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Nightlife

If you are still ready to go after the sun goes down, Fairfield is ready to entertain you. Believe it or not, Fairfield has a few hangout spots that are worth more than just a single visit.

College students age 21 and older may find themselves behaving like kids in a candy store with the buffet of options placed in one general area. Fairfield Avenue is the Las Vegas strip of bars and lounges that always have something going on almost any night of the week. Whether you’re in the mood to jam to the sounds of local bands, dance until you can’t feel your toes, or if you feel like talking with an Irish accent, there is a place along the avenue for you. The best thing is that if you can’t make up your mind, they’re all relatively close to each other; bar hopping made easy.

If you and your friends are in the mood for a more relaxing evening, venues such as Little Joe’s Café or Frankie’s Sports Lounge have a laid-back atmosphere with pool tables a dart machine, video games and more. Courtney Whiting, manager of Little Joe’s Café, describes the atmosphere as a place where “…everybody has fun, and it’s comfortable. It feels comfortable for everyone who comes by.”

Despite the recent passing of the owner this past Easter, Ray Kelly’s Pub not only keeps the party going, but keeps the community involved. “We have everyone from the Blackrock community…everyone knows each other here,” says Sarah P., manager of the pub. “The one thing that this bar offers is a family to anyone. No matter who you are, what you are, wherever you’re from.”

Acoustic Café was recognized by Fairfield County Weekly’s poll as “Best Place to Hear Local Music,” and “Best Open Mic”, something that owner William Vega believes his guest should enjoy. “Because we’ve been around here we already built a network of local artist and course advertisements,” says Vega, “We [also] get a lot of e-mail requesting bands…[and] open mic helps reach out to the younger crowd.”

While relaxing to new music provides entertainment for some, those who want to do a little dancing can; almost all of the night places feature musicians both local and from neighboring states. A lot of rock/cover bands will stop by to put on a show, but there are nights when a DJ can be found starting the party.

While lounges and bars are fun for some, those who are not of age shouldn’t be discouraged. Club Lo and Club Azure are both urban dance clubs for people 18 and older, and each club has a number of events and features going on. For a more artsy feel, students can make their way to Poetz Realm, a place where a variety of people come together for spoken word and stories. Also in Bridgeport is Two Boots, a pizzeria that holds live performances.

Whatever you are looking for, Fairfield County has something to keep you busy all day and night. Think of it this way–the sun never sets on fun in Fairfield County.

DATE/TIME	EVENT	DESCRIPTION
Saturday, April 10 3:30p.m.-4:00p.m.	“Struggles and Triumphs,” The autobiography of P.T. Barnum Highlights Tour	Immediately following the Struggles and Triumphs lecture at the Bridgeport Public Library, there will be a special Highlights Tour at The Barnum Museum.
Tuesday, April 13 and Thursday, April 15 2:00 p.m.	Parlour Games	An old fashioned afternoon of parlour games that will take place within the museum and education room. Crafts will also take place during our afternoon of fun.
Saturday, April 24 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m	Jenny Lind Operatic Competition	The 62nd Annual Jenny Lind Competition will be held to select the widely acclaimed 2010 Jenny Lind soprano.
Sunday, May 2 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.	The Man, the Myth, the Legend: P.T. Barnum Highlights Tour	Learn of many of the extraordinary stories of P.T. Barnum’s long and busy life.
Saturday, May 22 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon	Circusworks!	The Barnum Museum will once again host the wonderful Peggy Williams, teacher and clown extraordinaire!
Sunday, June 6 1:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.	The Man, the Myth, the Legend: P.T. Barnum Highlights Tour	Enjoy the new and exciting displays of Barnum artifacts and delight in the magnificent history of this remarkable American icon.
Saturday, June 19	Wing Ding Parade	Presented by the Barnum Festival at the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport.
Thursday, June 24 7:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.	Jenny Lind Concert	The winners of the 2010 American and Swedish Jenny Lind competitions will perform an exceptional evening of musical selections.

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H1N1. State of emergency. National epidemic. Fairfield University.

In the past few weeks, those phrases have all been connected to one another due to the recent spread of the H1N1 virus, which is commonly known as the swine flu. A few weeks ago, President Obama declared swine flu a national emergency. Not long after, on October 30, New York Governor David Patterson declared a state of emergency in New York. As of recently, Fairfield has seen several cases of swine flu on campus, with more than 100 students having flu-like illnesses and being sent home.

Fairfield receives the H1N1 vaccine

As of this past weekend, the University has acquired the Influenza A 2009 Monovalent LAIV Vaccine, which is a nasal spray form of the H1N1 vaccine. This vaccine is available to all healthy individuals between the ages of 2 and 24, which means the entire student body, including those who were excluded before.

On Tuesday, November 3, the University received a number of vaccines from the state of Connecticut. According to a University announcement, the vaccine, which was acquired by the University with the help of the Town of Fairfield Health Department, is available only to those who meet the federal and state government requirements. Such people include pregnant women, children with high risk medical conditions, and healthcare workers.

Interim Director of the Health Center Susan Birge said Fairfield is excited to have received the vaccines, and that the Health Center has been working closely with the state government’s health department in order to prepare for a possible outbreak.

“Over the summer, Fairfield University Health Center personnel attended numerous workshops on planning for the H1N1 pandemic. A University Task Force to deal with H1N1 was formed,” said Birge.

According to Birge, the Task Force created an area in the University, specifically a floor in Dolan Hall adjacent to the Health Center, for students who may come down with the swine flu and cannot make it home. The isolation dorm has not been used as of yet, but is equipped to handle approximately 22 students.

Although the University has only sent out few notifications to the University community in the past few weeks in regards to the flu outbreak on campus, they maintain that they are keeping everyone up to date with a page on the Fairfield Web site.

Swine flu reaches epidemic national heights

According to a CNN article, the state of emergencies allow for more health officials, such as dentists, pharmacists, and emergency medical technicians, to be able to administer the H1N1 vaccine. Since there are a limited number of vaccines available, the government has put a limit on who can receive the vaccine.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said in the CNN article that the state of emergency declared by New York will “let a large number of health care workers administer vaccines, and strengthen our health department’s ability to track the use of vaccine supplies.”

According to a New York Times article detailing Obama’s declaration of swine flu as a national emergency, the statement was made due to the number of hospital treatments and not the small number of vaccines available.

Another New York Times article, released on Saturday, illustrated the lack of vaccines available, for the national guidelines limit the number of people who can actually receive the vaccine, which actually differs from that of the seasonal flu shot.

Fairfield follows those guidelines when it comes to the normal H1N1 vaccine. However, the nasal version has a separate set of procedures for its availability.

Many health officials say that the flu season is only getting underway and it is encouraged for all those who can receive the H1N1 vaccine to do so.

Watch an interview with college student Kevin Rooney, who has received the H1N1 vaccine.

ABC News recently aired a report that addresses the national public concern over swine flu and the new vaccine.

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