Swank North
Stamford
With skyscrapers crouching beside busy
Interstate 95 and a bustling downtown
of shops, restaurants and corporate business, it’s hard to imagine that Stamford
is a haven for the rich and famous looking
for a peaceful getaway.
But the area of North Stamford between
Long Ridge and High Ridge roads is an exclusive enclave of grand homes along treelined streets and woodlands. Over the years
it has drawn the likes of Mount Rushmore
sculptor Gutzon Borglum and baseball great
Jackie Robinson. More recently, rocker Cyndi
Lauper has made North Stamford her home,
as well as the comic Gene Wilder.
Strict zoning has allowed North Stamford
to retain its rural beauty, so the neighborhood has only a few small shops and restaurants. Visitors may enjoy the Stamford
Museum and Nature Center. Once the mansion of department store mogul Henri Bendel,
the museum boasts art and science exhibits
as well as indoor and outdoor concerts. The
Nature Conservancy maintains trails covering
more than 126 acres of woods and fields,
and the Bartlett Arboretum & Gardens’ rare
specimen plants are not to be missed.
Visitors can round out their jaunt into
North Stamford by checking out the newly
restored, 165-year-old Long Ridge Tavern
in Long Ridge Village, a National Historic
District that was once home to bandleader
Benny Goodman.
LEFT: The historic Avon Theatre
shows indie and art films
in downtown Stamford.
ABOVE: North Stamford,
a posh neighborhood, retains
its rustic charms.
