<p><strong>Darien Sidewalk Sales Returns with a New Twist for Summer 2025!</strong></p><p>Exciting news for local businesses and shoppers alike—Darien Sidewalk Sales is back, and this year brings a brand-new way to participate!</p><p>For the first time ever, vendors can opt for a <strong>one-day participation option</strong> at a special reduced rate. If committing to the full three-day event isn’t ideal, you can now join the action for just one high-energy day!</p><p><strong>Location:</strong> Darien Commons – featuring attractions &amp; entertainment</p><p><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday, July 12 (final day of Sidewalk Sales!)</p><p>While participating stores at Darien Commons will be open for the full three-day event, Saturday, July 12, is the exclusive opportunity for one-day vendors to take part. This flexible option makes it easier than ever to showcase your products, engage with the community, and be part of one of Darien’s biggest shopping events of the summer.</p><p>Don't miss out—<strong>reserve your spot today!</strong> Learn more at <a href="https://www.darienctchamber.com/sws/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Darien Chamber of Commerce</a>.</p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Back by popular demand, the Museum of Darien is hosting a&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Terrarium Workshop on Tuesday, April 1, from 7 to 9 pm.</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> All are invited to enjoy an evening of creativity with friends while crafting a miniature ecosystem.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Led by&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Melissa Kelley,</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"> a talented florist and Darien mom, this hands-on workshop will teach participants the&nbsp;</span><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Victorian-era techniques</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;of building a long-lasting, self-sustaining terrarium. Each attendee will receive a glass container and all necessary materials to design their own lush, living creation.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">No green thumb? No problem! Melissa will guide participants with step-by-step instruction, ensuring that their terrarium will flourish for years to come. Fee for the workshop is $65 for members and $75 for non-members.</span></p><p>To register or find out more<em>,&nbsp;</em>visit&nbsp;<a href="https://museumofdarien.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">museumofdarien.org</a>. <span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">It is recommended to register soon as spaces are limited. For questions, </span>call (203) 655-9233 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ekoch@museumofdarien.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">ekoch@museumofdarien.org</a>.&nbsp;The Museum of Darien is located at 45 Old King’s Highway in Darien, CT.</p><p><em>Established in 1953 as the Darien Historical Society, the Museum of Darien welcomes all ages to discover the town’s history and to experience the objects, narratives and works of art that tell Darien’s story, from its earliest beginnings as Middlesex Parish to the prosperous community it is today. To learn more about supporting the town’s history, visit&nbsp;</em><a href="https://museumofdarien.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;"><em>museumofdarien.org</em></a><em>&nbsp;or call (203)655-9233</em></p><p>For more information, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://museumofdarien.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">museumofdarien.org</a></p><p>Facebook: @museumofdarien</p><p>Instagram: @museumofdarien</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Local Business Champion:</strong><a href="https://www.graymatter-advisory.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong> GrayMatter Advisory</strong></a></h2><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Meet </strong><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mrdavidlgray/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>David Gray</strong></a><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, founder of GrayMatter Advisory.</strong></p><p><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">GrayMatter Advisory provides expert Go-to-Market and due diligence advisory services to consumer and B2B broadband service providers and digital infrastructure private equity and M&amp;A firms. Consulting to video platforms and wireless services, industry analysts, financial and commercial advisories, advertising agencies, and others.</em></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Why did you start your business?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">To provide business, consulting and advisory services to mid-market Internet service providers, and the digital infrastructure PE firms who back them</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Best selling service?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Business advisory services.</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Have you used any local business to support GrayMatter Advisory's operations?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">I worked with Ad Edge, a digital marketing agency based in Westport to create and deploy my website,</span><a href="http://www.graymatter-advisory.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"> www.graymatter-advisory.com</a></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Have you reimagined GrayMatter Advisory?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It’s only been in existence for about a year; it’s gone through several iterations as I refine its function and purpose.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Visit GrayMatter Advisory’s website </span><a href="https://www.graymatter-advisory.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.graymatter-advisory.com/</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and follow along on Instagram </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/graymatter-advisory-llc/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.linkedin.com/company/graymatter-advisory-llc/</a></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Questions? Email </span><a href="mailto:David@GrayMatter-Advisory.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">David@GrayMatter-Advisory.com</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">HamletHub thanks</strong><a href="http://www.jkinfordbeautygroup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong> </strong></a><a href="https://www.fairfieldcountybank.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Fairfield County Bank </strong></a><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!</strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p><strong>Meet the Author Laurie Woolever,&nbsp;<em>Care and Feeding on Wednesday, March 26th at 7 p.m.</em></strong></p><p>Take a dive into the fast-paced, sometimes unscrupulous restaurant world with author Laurie Woolever, the longtime assistant, collaborator, and co-author to the late Anthony Bourdain.</p><p>Darien Library and Barrett Bookstore welcome Woolever, who will discuss her new book,&nbsp;<em>Care and Feeding: a Memoir</em>. Laurie will be in conversation with writer Page Berger.</p><p>In this moving, sharp-witted, and insightful memoir, Woolever traces her path from a small-town childhood to working at revered restaurants and food publications, alternately bolstered and overshadowed by two of the most powerful men in the business. Woolever attempts to carve her own space as a woman in the restaurant world that is, by turns, toxic and intoxicating.</p><p>Come join us for this exciting and memorable event!</p><p><a href="https://darienlibrary.us5.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8c17339c2ea9922174f2c0428&amp;id=3f0574c8db&amp;e=75920aab3b" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Sign Me Up</strong></a></p><p><br></p>

<h2><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Local Business Champion: </strong><a href="https://www.teamholland.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>TeamHolland LLC</strong></a></h2><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Meet Tom Holland, founder of </strong><a href="https://www.teamholland.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>TeamHolland</strong></a><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Tom walks the walk and talks the talk when it comes to fitness and nutrition. He is the author of six books, including </span><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The 12 Week Triathlete</em><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (two editions), </span><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Marathon Method, Beat the Gym, Swim, Bike, Run - Eat</em><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and </span><em style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Micro-Workout Plan.</em><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Tom co-founded and coached the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's "Team for Cures" program for ten years, coaching hundreds of athletes for various events and helping raise over 30 million dollars for the top-rated cancer charity. Here, we learn more about this athlete, author, and health guru.</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Q: Why did you start TeamHolland?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A: I founded TeamHolland LLC driven by my deep passion for health and wellness and a genuine desire to help others transform their lives. The profound impact that fitness and proper nutrition can have on both physical and mental well-being has always inspired me. Whether through one-on-one coaching, writing books, hosting a podcast, creating fitness videos, or working with teams and organizations, I love helping people look better, feel better, and live longer. I’m dedicated to debunking common myths around exercise and nutrition, offering empirically-backed guidance that empowers individuals to make informed choices. My ultimate mission is to help people live their best lives, adopting a holistic, sustainable approach to health that is both effective and rooted in science.</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Q: Best selling product or service?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A: While I offer numerous products and services, my best selling will be a new home fitness device I invented and recently received a patent.</span></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Q: Have you reimagined your small business?</strong></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A: I have expanded my revenue streams into numerous new areas, such as serving as a fitness expert in multiple lawsuits, appearing as a TV presenter for fitness products on QVC &amp; HSN, being an advisor to fitness companies and more.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Questions? Email </span><a href="mailto:TH@TeamHolland.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">TH@TeamHolland.com</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and visit TeamHolland’s website </span><a href="https://www.teamholland.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">https://www.teamholland.com/</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and follow along on social media:</span></p><p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/tomhfit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Facebook</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and Instagram @</span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tomhfit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">tomhfit</a></p><p><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">HamletHub thanks</strong><a href="http://www.jkinfordbeautygroup.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong> </strong></a><a href="https://www.fairfieldcountybank.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Fairfield County Bank </strong></a><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!</strong></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p>The Museum of Darien (MoD) invites the community to explore local history at an&nbsp;<strong>Open House on Sunday, March 23, from 11am&nbsp;to 2pm.</strong>&nbsp;This free, family-friendly event offers visitors a unique opportunity to engage with Darien’s rich heritage through exclusive archival materials, expert-led tours, and the current captivating exhibition. All are welcome.</p><p>Visitors will have the chance to view a selection of objects from the museum’s archives, including the&nbsp;<strong>unseen “Darien Review” bound-books dating back to 1924</strong>. Talented Museum educators will lead&nbsp;<strong>guided tours of the historic Homestead</strong>, offering insights into life in early Darien. Visitors can also explore the Museum’s current exhibition,&nbsp;<strong><em>"Darien Dresses Up!",</em></strong>&nbsp;alongside curators&nbsp;<strong>Lynn Sheppard and Cynthia Stamm,&nbsp;</strong>as they showcase the evolution of style and fashion in the community.</p><p>Whether a history buff, a curious learner, or simply looking for a great way to spend the day with family and friends, the MoD Open House is a perfect way to connect with the past.</p><p>To find out more<em>,&nbsp;</em>visit&nbsp;<a href="https://museumofdarien.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">museumofdarien.org</a>,<span style="color: rgb(5, 5, 5);">&nbsp;</span>call (203) 655-9233 or email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ekoch@museumofdarien.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">ekoch@museumofdarien.org</a>.&nbsp;The Museum of Darien is located at 45 Old King’s Highway in Darien, CT.</p>