Archive for the 'Recreation & Sports' Category
The 5 Best Ways to Chill Indoors in Ridgefield This Summer
July 30th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Keep Your Kids Busy, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield
The sun doesn’t always shine around here. And sometimes it shines too bright so you need a respite from the heat and humidity. Here’s 5 great ways to beat the heat and entertain yourself and your family indoors this summer.
Enjoy the Great INDOORS in Ridgefield, CT
- WEIR FARM -Weir farm has served as home and inspiration to 3 generations of artists. The art center sustains the legacy of American Artist J. Alden Weir. This National Historic Site (operated by the National Park Service) offers guided tours, art history programs and an art gallery throughout the summer. NOTE: Indoor gallery is not air conditioned.
- DANBURY DUCK PIN LANES – Small pins big fun! Never been? You gotta try duck pin bowling. These are small pins and small bowling balls and it great family fun. Great for kids birthaday parties too. Learn more: Small Pins Offer Bowlers a Big Challenge – New York Times
- SUGARBEADS – This beading studio in Copps Hill Common provides the best selection of the finest beads found today. Everyone, novice to professional will be comfortable stringing this extraordinary collection beads (over 5000 types).
- THE RIDGEFIELD LIBRARY – The Ridgefield Ferguson Library is more than just books! The library folks provide programs and activities all summer long. Reading programs for kids and adults, a movie series and more. Check it all out at their website.
- THE RIDGEFIELD PLAYHOUSE – The Ridgefield Playhouse sure doesn’t take the summer off. World class Live music, comedy and first-run movies right right here in town! Don’t miss The Second City Comedy Troop, Bruce Hornsby, Kenny Rankin or the new Kitt Kittredge movie.
- THE RIDGEFIELD RECREATION CENTER – Enjoy the pool, gym and workout facilities all summer long. The Ridgefield Rec Center offers organized activites including basketball, yoga, dog obedience, ballroom dance, swimming lessons and more.
Related Posts:
- The 5 Best Ways to Chill in Ridgefield This Summer
- How Talking Sidewalks Can Teach You the History of Ridgefield, CT
- Now You Can Have Local Organic Food and Live Healthier in Ridgefield
- Where To Go For Arts & Culture Around Ridgefield, Wilton & Redding CT
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How to Savor Fine Wines and Save Animals in Ridgefield, CT
May 12th, 2008 categories: Cultural Resources, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Local Events, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield
Rob and I are very proud announce that we will be the exclusive real estate sponsors for ROAR’s (Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue) 6th Annual Woofs Wines & Felines event on June 7, 2008. This exciting and fun wine tasting extravaganza is one of Ridgefield’s most successful fund raising events. It’s held every year under a big tent in the grassy field across from Cellar XV Wine Market.
Enjoy music from “The Loft“, while sampling more than 60 wines from around the world and delicious gourmet food provided by Bailey’s Backyard, Bernard’s, Gail’s on the Common, Piccolo Pizza & Toozy Patza, Southwest Cafe, Wild Baby Greens Catering, Whistle Stop Bakery, Ridgefield Organic Market and Ridgefield Prime
All proceeds from Woofs, Wines and Felines go to ROAR to help hundreds or dogs and cats find much needed homes every year. You can even buy raffle tickets to win a trip to California Wine Country, a 30 Bottle Wine Cellar or a Richard Budman original painting!
We’ve had a great time at Woofs, Wines & Felines in years past, and this year promises to be the best one yet. Please stop by our table to say “Cheers!” and to pick up some treats for you and your pets.
Please purchase your tickets in advance TODAY! Click Here To Buy Tickets (They are more expensive at the door.) or make a Donation .
We are looking forward to seeing you there!
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6 Reasons Why South Ridgefield Is Such A Popular Place To Live
March 2nd, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield, Schools, Talking Real Estate, Wilton
Many people who are looking for a home in Ridgefield, CT choose to start their search in popular South Ridgefield. Aside from the close proximity to Town Center, South Ridgefield is sought-after for the following reasons:
1) South Ridgefield is close to other popular towns like Wilton, Westport and New Canaan in Connecticut and Bedford, Pound Ridge and South Salem, in New York.
2) South Ridgefield is very convenient for NYC commuters. It is the closest point in Ridgefield to I-684 and the Merritt Parkway for driving to New York City. The Katonah and Branchville commuter train stations are also close by.
3) For golf lovers, Silver Spring Country Club is located in South Ridgefield.
4) The terrain of South Ridgefield is beautiful. There are rolling hills and lovely homes set on picturesque properties. It is all residential, very quiet and private.
5) South Ridgefield is an easy commute to Greenwich, Stamford, and White Plains, NY from South Ridgefield.
6) Ridgefield schools are among the best in Connecticut.
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11 Ways Young Athletes Win in Ridgefield
February 27th, 2008 categories: Keep Your Kids Busy, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield, Talking Real Estate
Ridgefield, CT is serious about youth sports. Organized youth sports is key to keeping your children on the path to success. Development of our kids’ teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership skills brings benefits across many aspects of a young person’s life.
Additionally, fresh air and athletic activity are proven ingredients to children’s long term health and happiness. As a town, Ridgefield recognizes these needs and provides an abundance of opportunities for young boys and girls to participate. Our excellent playing fields, gyms and other sports facilities are in constant use.
The Ridgefield Press plays an integral role in youth sports. Not only does The Press provide a vehicle for sign-up and registrations, but each week they publish articles, stats and results for all of the youth leagues. Every Thursday, the kids can read about their teams and how they’ve done. More importantly, they learn to read the local paper and become more aware of current events and the town and world around them.
Organized Youth Sports in Ridgefield, CT
Check out these websites for registration, schedules and general information:
Soccer Club of Ridgefield
Ridgefield Little League
Ridgefield Babe Ruth Baseball
Ridgefield Girls Softball
Ridgefield Basketball Association
Ridgefield Lacrosse
Ridgefield Youth Football
Ridgefield Youth Hockey
Ridgefield Youth Wrestling
Ridgefield Youth Cheerleading
Laurel Ridge Skating Club
We’re all thankful to the army of volunteers that make all this possible. These folks (not all are parents) dedicate untold hours to scheduling, coaching, fund raising and more to keep these organizations going.
Please contact us with any specific questions or leave a comment.
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Getting To Know The Ridgebury Community of Ridgefield
February 21st, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Eat, Drink and Be Amused, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield, Talking Real Estate
When you are looking to buy Real Estate in Ridgefield, “Ridgebury” is a section of town you should not miss!
Located in the northwest corner of the Town of Ridgefield, Ridgebury is one of the most beautiful sections of town. Homes here are spread out amongst rolling hills, working horse farms, and historic churches.
This section of town borders Danbury and North Salem in Westchester County, NY. There is a rural feeling to Ridgebury as you drive up Ridgebury Road between the High School, and I-84 in Danbury. You should drive around and take in some of the scenic, winding country roads like Chestnut Hill Road, Mopus Bridge Road and Spring Valley Road.
Ridgebury is served by the Ridgebury Elementary School, Scotts Ridge Middle School and Ridgefield High School.
It is a little further from Downtown Ridgefield than most communities in town, but is closer to convenient Danbury shopping. Shops like Trader Joes, Stop and Shop, Starbucks, Staples & Ethan Allen Furniture are just minutes from Ridgebury.
The Danbury Fair Mall is within 5 minutes as well. You’ll enjoy dining at popular Danbury restaurants like Spasi, The Windmill Diner, and 121 Restaurant , in North Salem.
Ridgefield’s beautiful DHLY Public Golf Course is located in the Ridgebury section of Ridgefield.
There are two planned communities in Ridgebury including Pleasantview Estates and Stone Ridge Estates. Pleasantview provides facilities for swimming, tennis and field sports. Both are very sought-after places to live in North Ridgefield.
Those who live in Ridgebury and commute to NYC or White Plains will usually use the Purdy’s or Golden’s Bridge stations on the Harlem Line of Metro North commuter railroad.
Trains depart often and go directly to Grand Central Terminal in NYC. The train ride is just over an hour, and there is ample parking for $3 per day. Danbury Municipal Airport is just minutes away!
Wherever you decide to live in Ridgefield, Ridgebury is just one of the many special places from which to choose.
Happy hunting; let us know how we can help!
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3 Reasons Why Ridgefield is a Hiker’s Paradise
February 20th, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield, Talking Real Estate
One of the biggest benefits to Ridgefield home buyers is our open space. Ridgefield is dedicated to maintaining these undeveloped forests, meadows, lakes and mountains for several reasons. In the Plan of Conservation and Development, our town leaders have declared a goal of permanently preserving 30% of Ridgefield’s land as open space.
Reasons for making open space such a priority include recreation, maintaining Ridgefield’s rural character, keeping ecological peace and long term economic value.
More and more, people moving to Ridgefield see the value in open space for passive recreation. They’re willing to pay more to live in a community that makes trail accessibility a priority. Today we’ll take a look at some of the incredible hiking opportunities offered in Ridgefield and see one of the reasons why so many people move here.
Hiking in Ridgefield
Currently, over 5300 acres of Ridgefield’s area is preserved as open space (23%). Folks travel from all over the region to enjoy our wonderful hiking trails. The Ridgefield Walk Book lists over 30 places to hike complete with directions, difficulty and features of each area. My favorites include:
Bennetts Pond – This state-owned parcel features 440 acres of lush forest with beautiful Bennetts Pond as the centerpiece. The trails are well marked and include everythign from flat to steep. The topo trailmap will help you steer clear of the steeps if that’s your preference. There’s also some great rock formations on the far side of the pond for any climbers out there. Bennetts Pond trails connect with the Lake Windwing, Pine Mountain and Hemlock Hills trail systems.
Pierrepont State Park – I love this park for it’s mountain top views from Barlow Mountain and I often spend hours here hiking with my yellow lab, Bentley. The trails start off flat along the lake and then, if you choose, you can climb up one of several routes. Barlow Mountain is particularly fun for the kids if you take a lunch or snacks and hang out at the summit for a while. It’s about 40 minutes to the top. Check out the Pierrepont trail map to plan your hike.
Pine Mountain – This is Ridgefield’s highest point, 1060 feet above sea level. The views are breathtaking from the top of Pine Mountain: you can see the Long Island Sound and all the surrounding ridges, mountains and hills to the north and west. There are over 360 acres of well marked trails. I’ve also come across a campsite or 2 while hiking across the higher elevations of Pine Mountain.
Can you believe what wilderness exists just an hour away from New York City! What else can I tell you about what awaits the outdoor enthusiast in Ridgefield?
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10 Things To Know About Rainbow Lake in Ridgefield, CT.
January 16th, 2008 categories: Buying Your House, Lake Living, Recreation & Sports, Ridgefield, Selling Your House, Talking Real Estate
I moved to Rainbow Lake in Ridgefield, CT from the Upper West Side of Manhattan in December 2001. We bought one of the original little lake cottages built in 1940. It was an 860 square foot, “winterized” summer cottage on 1/2 an acre with fantastic lake views.
The house itself was”charming” but lacked the creature comforts that Americans have come to expect: a working bathroom, insulation, and enough room for my small family to hear ourselves think. Regardless, it was the best purchase I’ve ever made. In November 2004 we began remodeling (which became demolition and the biggest nightmare of our lives), and now live in the 1800 square foot home you see below. If it weren’t for the rustic beauty of the lake and the incredible spirit of our neighbors and friends around the lake, we couldn’t now say that we are living our dream. Here are 10 things you should know about our magical lake community:
1 ) Originally named, Wataba Lake, Rainbow Lake is a wonderful community of lake homes in Ridgefield, CT ranging in value from $299,000 to about $1,600,000.
2 ) Rainbow Lake is a private 44-acre, man-made lake that was developed in the early 1940’s by Willie Winthrop as a summer destination for wealthy New Yorkers. Our community is now inhabited mostly by full-time, year-round residents.
3 ) Rainbow Lake is just over 1 hour to Mid-town Manhattan by car and by train.
4 ) Some of the largest bass in Connecticut can be caught while fishing on Rainbow Lake (residents only).
5 ) The Ridgefield Lakes Association (RLA) is an optional association open to those residents who live within the Association’s boundaries. The RLA is responsible for maintaining the lake’s two beautiful beaches, water quality, and the dam. There are two social events held for the RLA membership every year: the holiday caroling & party, and the summer beach barbecue.
6 ) The people who live on Rainbow Lake are an eclectic bunch of people: artists, attorneys, educators, surgeons, contractors and even a celebrity singer who has weekended here for decades. We walk around the lake and wave hello at every chance we get.There is a wonderful combination here of privacy and friendliness.
7 ) The lake does not allow motor boats, but you can canoe, kayak and sail on Rainbow Lake until your heart’s content.
8 ) We abut hundreds of acres of open space including, Hemlock Hills, and the Bennett’s Farm Trail System where you can hike and mountain bike like a champ.
9 ) The roads are narrow, and there is limited parking, but somehow we all get where we are going and rarely (never) have to drive around in circles looking for a parking space like I did in NYC.
10 ) Rainbow Lake is quite possibly one of the best place to Live in Connecticut, if not the United States.
If you are a Rainbow Lake resident, please feel free to post a comment about your experience of living on Rainbow Lake.
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