Registration is now open for “Reputation MADE,” the third installment in Connecticut’s MADE Leadership Series of conferences, on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at UConn Stamford. The conference will focus on marketing, public relations and other communications and is geared toward businesses, nonprofits, and public officials, an announcement from the Governor’s Office said. “Connecticut is a state of bold ideas, but bold ideas only matter if people hear them,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “We’ve seen that in our own state, which is standing tall lately with recent national recognition, whether for our world-class education system, quality healthcare, basketball, and yes, even apizza.
Attention small business owners: the end of the calendar year is fast approaching! An accountant sponsored by SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) of Fairfield County, will speak Monday night at Darien Library about what small business owners should consider regarding income taxes. — an announcement from Darien Library
The talk runs from 6 p.m. to as late as 8:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 25, in the Heron Room at Darien Library. Attendees will learn about:
Pass-through business forms
Qualified business income deduction for pass-through business forms
Employee or independent contractor?
E-Bike ownership and usage took off during the Covid pandemic as commuters became concerned about close contact and so stopped using public transportation. Yet E-bike sales have not stopped since Covid slowed. Ed Mantaring, the long-time manager of Danny’s Cycles in Noroton Heights, says, “Before Covid, we sold two or three E-bikes per year. Now, we sell 30-40 per year.”
There are many positives to E-bikes, yet one negative threatens to destroy their popularity just as they are gaining traction in the marketplace. In order to help educate the public about E-bikes, Danny’s Cycles is offered an E-Bike Tech Day on Sunday, Sept.
With a new Wegmans supermarket under construction on Route 1 in Norwalk, two blocks from the Darien border, the company took another step toward its goal of opening next summer with an announcement that it’s hiring and training workers now. — a recent announcement (and a previous one) from Wegmans Food Markets Inc.
Wegmans Norwalk will be a 92,000 square-foot supermarket with the space to offer a wide variety of brands, including thousands of organic options and prepared foods. The company says it has “consistent low prices.” The store is on a site with almost 11 acres across Connecticut Avenue from the recently closed Walmart. In addition to a parking lot, the store will have an underground garage.
This year’s Darien Sidewalk Sales, arrives on Thursday, July 11, and lasts until Saturday, July 13, includes 49 vendors, 14 tables in the youth entrepreneurs tent and activities with My Balloon Guy, a face painter and free ice cream tickets. See the map at the bottom of this article. 2024 Vendor Locations
* indicates at own location
A Little Something White
Abilis, Grove Street Plaza
Acevedo Sales, Grove Street Plaza
At Home In Darien, 1101 Post Road/Webster Bank
* Bankwell
* Barrett Bookstore
Beth Ladd Collections, 1057 Post Road/William Pitt
Brett Lauren Jewelry, 1020 Post Road/J.McLaughlin
* Browne & Co
* Choice Pet (in Darien Commons)
* Christ Community Church
* COMPASS
Darien Chamber of Commerce, 15 Corbin Drive/Darien Toy Box
* Darien Community Association Thrift Shop
Darien Pride 1015, Post Road/Blue Mercury
Darien Republicans, 1020 Post Road
* Darien Running Company
* Darien Sport Shop
* Darien Toy Box
* DR Bank
* Everything is Rosey Boutique
Evolution PT & Fitness, 995 Post Road/David Harvey Jewelry
* Fjord Fish Market
Get Joy Food, 1057 Post Road/William Pitt
* Gofer Ice Cream (ticket redemptions)
* Grieb’s Pharmacy
Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys, 995 Post Road/David Harvey Jewelry
* Helen Ainson
Here for You Clothing, 1034 Post Road/Bank of America
* J.McLaughlin
LaSource, 1034 Post Road/Bank of America
Lil’ Dente Pediatric Dentistry, 35 Corbin Drive
* Mandarine Home
* Sail to Sable. the cabana
Sand Accessories, 35 Corbin Drive
Salt Cave of Darien 1034 Post Road/Bank of America
* Shoes ‘N’ More
The Primmer Travel Team Bank of America, Post Rd/Corbin Drive
The Residence at Selleck’s Woods, 1034 Post Road/Bank of America
* The Town Cellar
Thriving Youth Darien, 1101 Post Road/Webster Bank
Tusol Wellness, 35 Corbin Drive
Venture Photography, 1015 Post Road/Blue Mercury
Waveny LifeCare Network, 35 Corbin Drive
* Wee Mondine
Westy Self Storage, 35 Corbin Drive
* Whim
* William Day Spa
William Raveis Real Estate, 15 Corbin Drive/Darien Toy Box
Youth Entrepreneurs, located at Bankwell
Youth Entrepreneur Location 1065 Post Road/Bankwell
Angela’s Plants and Arts
Aria’s Looms
Avery’s Bakeshop
Babe & Babe Co. Beads by Sakky
The Crafty Cove by The Hussain Sisters
Coastal Beads by Rebecca
DA Designs
Designs By Danielle
Ivory Moon
Lily’s Yarn Works
MCS Designs
seacdesigns
Swim & Dive Team Car Wash Ticket Sales (DHS)
Sure, there are plenty of Connecticut-grown vegetables, fruits, berries and mushrooms at Darien Farmers’ Market. But the once-a-week gathering of nine vendors also has sourdough bagels, flowers, cut flowers, plants, pasture-raised Angus beef, pork, poultry, breads, pastries and other baked items.
Darien Farmers’ Market is open this year every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Old Kings Market (formerly Goodwives Shopping Center), at 25 Old King’s Highway North. The vendors come here from farms and bakeries as close as Norwalk and Westport and as far as Oxford, Windsor, Roxbury, Niantic and South Glastonbury — but they’re all in Connecticut. While you’re there, you can pop into Stop & Shop and pick up whatever you just ran out of, or head over to Darien Cheese & Fine Foods for something you’ve never heard of that will become your new favorite food. Aux Delices is right there, too, and you’ve got to try the ginger scones.
The Transportation Security Administration is prepared for 270 million air passengers across the country during this summer’s travel season — the highest volume the agency has seen. But what does the record number of flights mean for air travelers? An increased risk of delays and cancellations compared to the rest of the year. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
According to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, across the United States, from June to August 2023, nearly 73% of flights departed on time, compared to roughly 80% throughout all of 2023. Early flights are more likely to depart as scheduled.
Most of the office park at Thorndal Circle is close to being sold to TC Northeast Metro Development Inc., which is proposing to demolish five office buildings and construct five residential buildings with 175 homes, according to filings with the Darien Planning and Zoning Department. The proposal will be the subject of a public hearing by the town Environmental Review Commission at 7 p.m., today, Wednesday, May 22 in Darien Town Hall, Room 119. If approved and built, the 11-acre development will be one of the biggest in town, comparable to the Corbin District downtown as well as Darien Commons and Heights Crossing in Noroton Heights. Cushman & Wakefield Capital Markets, a large commercial real estate firm that represents the owners, says on its website that the Thorndal Circle property is “under contract,” a real estate term meaning “the seller has accepted an offer, but there are still conditions to clear before closing,” according to Opendoor, a San Francisco-based real estate company. Although the reasons for the buyer to have conditions before actually acquiring the property are unclear, the decisions town land use boards make on whether to approve the project and under what conditions could potentially make the buyer cancel the deal, likely putting the property back on the market.
Palmer’s Market will have limited or no access to several departments Tuesday, May 14,
between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., because a condenser unit is being replaced, the supermarket announced. “As a result, there will be limited/no access to the following departments: frozen foods, prepared foods, meat, and specialty cheese,” the announcement said. “We apologize for the inconvenience and will work to get everything back up and running as quickly as possible.”
J.McLaughlin Darien is hosting a Sip & Shop event from 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 9 at the store, located at 1020 Post Road in Darien. — an announcement from J.McLaughlin
The event is in support of Rare Sarcoma Research, and J.McLaughlin is a proud supporter of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. “We will have custom hand painted wicker bags and accessories on site with local artist Katie Lashendock, and a Build Your Own Stem Bar,” the JMcLaughlin announcement said. The event is hosted by Susan and Tyler Boston.
A retail marijuana seller has just received approval by the Stamford Planning Board to open a store on Route 1 at the Stamford-Darien border, where the Boatyard BBQ & Grill is now located, First Selectman Jon Zagrodzky said in an announcement issued Wednesday. The Stamford Zoning Board will schedule a date for a public hearing. “Marijuana remains troubling for many reasons, not the least of which is its negative effect on driving skills and on the development of our young people,” Zagrodzky said ‘The opening of a cannabis business so close to the Darien border is deeply concerning, which is why our own Planning & Zoning Commission recently initiated zoning rule changes to ban stores like this.” The CT Examiner reported on April 11 that the Stamford board voted unanimously to recommend that the Zoning Board approve the application from Nautilus Botanicals. “So far there is little opposition to the Nautilus Botanicals proposal,” the article said.
In an upcoming Shart Tank-style event at Fairfield University, $30,000 will be awarded in seed grants to some of five competing teams to help them expand their startups. This year’s annual Fairfield StartUp Showcase, on Thursday, April 25, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts on the Fairfield University campus. The event is free and open to the public. — an announcement from Fairfield University
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the Showcase starts at 7 p.m. Winning teams will receive monetary awards from the investor panel. Here’s how the $30,000 in showcase seed grants will be awarded:
· $2,500 for honorable mentions
· $5,000 for third place winner
· $7,500 for runner up
· and $12,500 for the top team
Last semester, students progressed through a series of workshops to develop their pitch presentation skills.
Presenters from SCORE will be at Darien Library starting Tuesday, March 26, for a five-part series on simple steps to creating your own business. — an announcement from Darien Library
MARCH 26 — Week 1: Introduction to Business Concepts
Led by successful business start-up entrepreneurs, this presentation portrays the risk and reward of starting a business in today’s competitive marketplace. The traits that lead to success will be discussed. Also participants will be introduced to concepts of market need, the role of one’s personal background, building a plan, and idea feasibility. Tools to be surveyed include Market Research and data collection for industry, customer, competitor, and market trends. APRIL 3 — Week 2: Business Case and Financial Projections
The session focuses on the importance of a Business Case. Covered will be the questionnaire-based “Business Case” and Financial Projection worksheet that are helpful in assessing your readiness. APRIL 9 — Week 3: Marketing Concepts
This presentation walks the participants through marketing plans to start and build a successful business. Emphasis will be on the value of marketing, branding, messaging, target markets and channels, positioning products and services, marketing methods, social media, and sales.
Chip City Cookies – a gourmet cookie brand that rotates its sizable cookies every week — is opening its Darien location this Friday, Jan. 26, and the first 100 customers will get a free cookie with a purchase. — an announcement from Chip City Cookies
Update: The new store opens at 11 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m., seven days a week. The shop is near the Heights Road entrance, on the left, next to Van Leuwen ice cream shop and behind Gregory’s eatery. For those looking for gifting options, Chip City is introducing a special Valentine’s Day themed tin (available at all locations), which is an add-on of $12.50 (it fits at least six cookies for the one you love and appreciate).
The Darien Chamber of Commerce, collaborating with HAYVN Coworking Community, is presenting a Professional Development and Networking Series, with the first of three networking event on Feb. 13. — an announcement from the Darien Chamber of Commerce
The series is aimed at empowering members and the community with insights into key business areas. Registration is open for “How to 10X your Business with AI” with Maria Fernanda Ordonez, CEO & founder of 360AdMedia & Richard Glover, CEO & founder of The Social Media Agency, taking place Feb. 13.
Connecticut drivers today are seeing the fifth and final nickel increase in fuel taxes as the state ends its incremental tax phase-in at the pump, says AAA Northeast. — an announcement from AAA Northeast
The nickel increase began January 1, ends this month, and has finally reached the full 25-cent a gallon tax. Despite the tax increase, today’s statewide average for a gallon of self-serve regular is $3.58, a penny lower compared to last week. Today’s average is also 54 cents lower than last year. Because of the tax increase, the Nutmeg State has moved up three spots to the 15th place on the list of the highest gas prices in the nation.
