Entertainment

The Transformative Power of Music

Article by Sarah Bamford @hybridmediacomm | Photography by Jay Cohen Gracie Borja Eleven-year-old Gracie Borja of Stamford, Connecticut has already discovered something many musicians spend years searching for: the joy of performing and the confidence that comes from sharing music with others. Gracie is a dedicated student at Project Music, a Stamford-based nonprofit youth music program that provides immersive music education, mentorship, and performance opportunities to young people. The...

Education

Elaine Guglielmo

A volunteer with a deep commitment to helping children understand healthy relationships, communication, emotional regulation, and personal safety. Article and Photography by Laurie A. Guzda For many people, volunteering begins with a single moment of connection. For this Stamford leader, that connection came through The Domestic Violence Crisis Center's PeaceWorks program, where Elaine Guglielmo began leading educational sessions in Stamford elementary schools. What started as community...

Education

The Power of Music

PROJECT MUSIC Builds Character, DIscipline, Community - Developing Our Future Leaders Article and Photography by Laurie A. Guzda PROJECT MUSIC is far more than an after-school music program—it is a community that uses music as a catalyst for personal growth, leadership development, and social change. Founded on the internationally recognized El Sistema model, PROJECT MUSIC provides intensive music education four days a week to students who might otherwise lack access to arts opportunities...

Life + Culture

Living Between Two Worlds

An Italian Love Story That Never Ends Article and Photography by Laurie A. Guzda As second-generation Italians, Debora and Vin Rosa grew up surrounded by the language, food, and traditions of their heritage. Debora’s family traces its roots to Gravina di Puglia and Pescara, while Vin’s family comes from Calabria. Both were fortunate to obtain Italian citizenship through their grandparents—an inheritance that would eventually shape the rhythm of their adult lives in ways they never imagined. ...

Entertainment

The Anxious Traveler

Tips from a young adult Article by Eva Glassman I love routine and hate change. So you can see why traveling might not be my favorite thing. However, I know the joy and adventure far outweigh the “obstacle” of getting there. I’ve gone on a few international trips as a young adult and learned valuable information each time. Hopefully my stories and lessons can help my fellow anxious travelers out there feel more confident abroad. 1. Pack like your own personal stylist. I lived four days in...

Food + Beverage

Explore International Cuisine Right Here in Stamford

Stamford’s global dining scene invites escape without a passport Article by Marty Shapiro In Stamford, a table can double as a passport. Here are six standout restaurants where each bite evokes another country—through aroma, texture, and tradition—inviting diners to slip across borders without leaving the city, and savor a world of culture in a single evening. BRASITAS Celebrating 25 years of Nuevo Latino Cuisine in Stamford, Brasitas is a vibrant and lively restaurant serving an artistic...

Life + Culture

SpaceKids.Global

Preparing the Next Generation for the Space Age Article by Laurie A. Guzda In classrooms across the world, a quiet revolution is underway—one that reaches far beyond textbooks and into the future of humanity. Organizations like SpaceKids Global are helping lead that revolution by doing something deceptively simple: getting kids excited about space. Founded by Blue Origin Astronaut Sharon Hagle in 2015, SpaceKids Global was created to inspire young people to explore science, technology...

Health + Wellness

SUMMERTIME! Eat Well on the Go

Healthy travel isn't restriction -- it's fuealing adventure, energy, clarity, confidence and curiosity -- one delicious choice at a time. Article by Jacqui Justice, MS, LDN, CNS-C Functional Nutritionist Summer is the season of spontaneity — weekend getaways, family road trips, long-awaited vacations, and lazy days that suddenly turn into adventures. But somewhere between the airport terminal and the highway rest stop, healthy habits can quietly unravel. The good news? Eating well while...

Life + Culture

Dispatches From the Kingdom of Outsiders

Tim Sommer - Writing on Music, Culture and More Article by Laurie A. Guzda Growing up in Great Neck, New York—much like Stamford, where his parents later moved—Tim’s childhood was defined less by classrooms and more by books. Every wall in his home was lined with them. His father and older brother were avid readers, and he was encouraged to explore everything from Graham Greene to histories of Rome and the Civil War. Though he admits he struggled in school, distracted by dreaming and music...

Sports + Recreation

Bobby Valentine

A lifetime of leadership, loyalty, and Stamford pride Article by Tom Chiapetta Fresh off his induction into the New York Mets Hall of Fame, Stamford native Bobby Valentine returned to his hometown to another kind of honor—the enduring affection of the community that has cheered him on for decades. For the city’s favorite son there is still no place quite like home. His Bobby V’s Restaurant and Sports Bar, along with his sports academy, have long been staples of the community—places where...