Woodbridge Social -- New Spot Coming to New Haven County

12 Selden Street in Woodbridge has been the home of several local facilities. Among them was Sachs Hair Salon, The Fan Sports Bar, and most recently The Winchester restaurant. Over the years these places have come and gone, as long-time Woodbridge residents and visitors could attest. Soon, we will welcome a new restaurant/bar to the area called Woodbridge Social.

The crew is working hard to get the space ready for its grand opening, and they look forward to bringing a cool and exciting new place to New Haven county. Please go and show your support!

In the meantime, you can visit Center Street Social in Shelton (under same management) for an idea of what your experience will be. Or, you can connect with Woodbridge Social's Facebook page and get updates on specials and yummy food & beverage photos as they come!

Woodbridge Social is accessible via bus by taking the B line toward Amity Road. Your stop is Amity Road & Lucy Street. Walk toward the bowling alley, and Woodbridge Social is located in that same plaza. Cheers!

The Future Home of Woodbridge Social!

Woodbridge Social
12 Selden Street
Woodbridge, CT 06525
(203) 553-9135

Project Storefronts - New Haven Events!

Part of the beauty of our New Haven community is that people are willing to share these cool events going on around town. In turn, I can write about it and share these events with you! We have Vivian on Twitter to thank for providing us with the Project Storefronts events, held at 45 Church Street (cross: Crown Street). Events include beauty, wellness, Pop-Up shopping, live music and more! Check out details on the flyer below or by downloading the January/February schedule here.

**Events were cancelled for today, 1/22, but it sounds like all future events are a GO!

Project Storefronts January/February Events Calendar

4th Annual Martin Luther King Day Celebration Concert

I have my dear friend Michelle to thank for the heads up on this free, inspirational event!

Come celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, 1/20

A concert will be held on Monday, January 20th at 2pm to commemorate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. The celebration will be at St. Luke's Episcopal Church at 111 Whitney Avenue in New Haven.

Enjoy musical performances by the Haven String Quartet, Music Haven's young violin, viola, cello and bass students, St. Luke's Steel Band and special guest musicians. They will perform uplifting pieces such as "Lift Every Voice and Sing", "Lean On Me", and "Isn't She Lovely".

The guest speaker at this event is Erik Clemons, CEO of ConnCAT. I had the honor of hearing Mr. Clemons speak last spring at an event for The WorkPlace, Inc. He is a humble leader with an inspiring story to tell. No doubt he will leave the audience recharged and uplifted once again with the celebration next Monday.

It may be tough to make it to this event for those working 9-5 shifts. However, if you believe that positive energy and beautiful music can transform your day for the better, please try to make it to this event!

Come Celebrate ViVa! Z's 2nd Anniversary Party This Saturday -- Zumba Style!!!

Q. What do you get when you combine hot beats with fitness, high energy and fun people?

A. A slammin' good Zumba party at ViVa Z, of course!! 

ViVa! Z Fitness & Wellness is turning 2, and co-owners Ivette Altieri and Roselyn Altieri Zayas invite you to share in the fun this Saturday from 4-6pm!! 

This event is free for members and only $10 for non-members. There will be Zumba (por supuesto!), raffles, and refreshments provided. The ViVa instructors + guest instructors will have you shaking your bon bon for sure.

What is Zumba?

In a nutshell, Zumba is a dance-fitness program inspired by international rhythms. It is considered "exercise in disguise" because you will smile, you will say "woooo!" -- but you will also burn hundreds of calories without realizing it. This two-hour party is high energy, so consider packing a bottle of water and towel for this event.

Below is ViVa's 2013 Year in Review. If this looks like fun, then come be a part of the action on Saturday! (Adobe Flash is required to view video.)

ViVa! Z Fitness & Wellness is located in our neighboring city, 243 Captain Thomas Boulevard, West Haven (cross street: Campbell Avenue).

Taking a bus? The J line (toward West Haven Ctr - Savin Rock) and B line (toward West Haven Ctr - Savin Rock) will get you there in about 30-40 minutes from downtown New Haven!

Flights of Fancy 2014 -- Thursday, January 30th!

 

WINE + SHOPPING, anyone? This year's Flights of Fancy is one exciting event that you don't want to miss!

On Thursday, January 30th from 4-8pm, Flights of Fancy is happening at The Study at Yale. A $20 ticket includes: 

• wine tasting
• shopping discounts
• live entertainment
• fun giveaways

 Get your tickets now by clicking here!

Your 20 beans will go a long way with this fun evening out! Flights of Fancy is sponsored by The Study at Yale and The Wine Thief, and it is presented by The Shops at Yale and the Town Green District.

Backyard Humanitarians of New Haven Coat Drive - Happening Now!

I would like to thank Welcome to New Haven for providing the heads up on this wonderful giving opportunity.

In the wake of these bone-chilling days, here is something you can do to help others and all it takes is a little spring...errr...winter cleaning!

The Backyard Humanitarians (New Haven Chapter) is asking for new or gently used adult-sized jackets for their Coat Drive. Details may be found on the flyer above for drop-off locations and donation hours. Your old coats would be tremendously appreciated as some New Haven folks are (sadly) braving the single-digit temperatures without a coat on their backs!

The Backyard Humanitarians is an all-volunteer group that dedicates its efforts to minimizing problems within our community. If you would like to get involved, you may e-mail volunteer@backyardhumanitarian.org for more info.

Additionally, keep up with the Backyard Humanitarians on their Facebook page and/or request to join their Facebook group!

Local Talent Spotlight: Makeup Artist Francesca D'Amato!

Sure, I like makeup. It covers up blemishes and makes me look tan, but I'm not passionate about it. The words "contouring" and "highlighting" hardly exist in my book! This is why we have professionals like Francesca D'Amato who LOVE makeup and learning new application techniques. As a result, clients like us end up with a "flawless" face!

Gretchen's amazing face done by professional makeup artist Francesca D'Amato!

Francesca is a MAC & Professional Makeup Artist servicing New Haven County. Stop by the MAC counter at the Westfield Connecticut Post Mall in Milford and have fun exploring MAC collections with her. Otherwise, Francesca is available to travel to New Haven (YAY!) and surrounding towns. Great for a girls night in, wedding parties, proms -- if we're thinking that far down the line. Sky's the limit! To book your appointment, email: promakeupbyfrancesca@gmail.com. 

Very happy clients on New Year's Eve. Thank you, Francesca!

Oh, and FYI ladies...Francesca is teaming up with Amanda Rose Photography for a Valentine's Day Boudoir Marathon this Sunday, January 5th. This fabulous duo will help you get your sexy on. Book your appointment soon! 

Weather the Storm! Safety Tips and Where To Buy

This is our weather forecast for the day, according to WTNH.com. We can already see a dusting, but it's supposed to worsen, and several schools have early dismissal today. Rather than prep you for Thirsty Thursday, it may be more beneficial to prep you for the storm this evening and for the future storms we're bound to encounter! 

I'm no expert at storm survival so I'm taking some tips from a Chiff.com article and can recommend some places to try if you are still preparing for the weather conditions that we're anticipating. 

1. Stay Off The Roads

If you don't have to drive tonight, don't. Even if you're a good driver, snow + front-wheel drive and/or crazy drivers don't mix well. Stay home today. If New Haven isn't home to you, you can stay at hotels such as The Omni, New Haven Hotel, La Quinta (right off I-95 exit 46) and the Courtyard by Marriott at Yale. 

2. Have Blankets Handy

Heavy snow on power lines and accidents into electric poles can result in power failure. Keep blankets and warm clothing handy! Trailblazer and Denali have cold weather essentials or else you can find blankets at CVS (Westville location) and Walgreens (York Street location open 24 hours). 

3. Blizzard Kit Essentials

Chiff.com recommends: "batteries, flash lights, battery operated radio/television, bottled water, toilet paper, nonperishable foods such as cereal or crackers, canned goods, a non electric can opener, a small cooler, candles, prescription medicines and any over-the-counter remedies you use regularly; and if you have young infants or toddlers - diapers, baby wipes, formula, baby food". These items may be found at superstores such as Wal-Mart and Stop & Shop (2 locations -- one on Whalley Avenue and one in Amity Plaza).

4. Charge Your Phone and Write Down Numbers

As mentioned before, there is a chance that some places will be left without power. Be sure to keep your phones charged and keep an extra battery handy if you can. You can get electronic accessories at Radio Shack. Also, write down important numbers in case your battery runs low and you need to get in touch with someone quickly.

5. What Have I Missed?

I'm not an expert on this topic, so I welcome any additional ideas in the comments section or on Facebook/Twitter. Good luck, stay warm and be smart over these next few days!

Fun N Fit Day at the JCC: FREE Fitness Classes for Everybody!

 

Where are my New Years resolutioners?? Whether you're looking to get fit, get social, slip into those skinny jeans you bought over holiday sales -- whatever your goal, here is a FUN, FREE fitness idea for you to entertain.

The JCC of Greater New Haven is hosting a Fun N Fit Day on Sunday, January 5th. All classes are FREE and non-members are welcome. Have you been wondering what the Zumba or TRX hype is about? This is a great day to explore those classes in a positive environment! View the complete class schedule here.

In addition to fitness classes, there will be a Bagel Brunch featuring your kids' favorite superheroes, as well as facility tours, open swim, membership specials and more!

JCC of Greater New Haven

360 Amity Road

Woodbridge, CT 06525 

New Haven Public Transit: Bus B3 will get you there!

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