Mary in the Marketplace

Sunday Brunch at Red Lulu in Norwalk

2011-07-25T11:42:00.000-04:00

Heartbreaker party Friday August 12th at Red Lulu
redlulumexican.com

Sunday Brunch

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!

If you’ve been bad this week

redeem yourself at Sunday school

Red Lulu 128 Washington street.

Sunday Brunch featuring red velvet pancakes giganti! Shameful benedicts, x rated milkshakes and more!

Confess your indulgences here. Brunch starts at 11:30am!

Steve Basso Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning

2011-03-28T15:25:00.000-04:00

I recently did a small kitchen renovation involving a new sink and faucets and was looking for a plumber I could trust. A friend told me about Steve Basso Plumbing, Heating & A/C. She said that they always price up front so there won’t be any surprises. She had a great experience, so I decided to give them a call. The first person I talked to at Basso, was Kevin. He was a fantastic “first impression” of the company. He was friendly and very knowledgeable. Then I talked to Scott Basso and told him what I needed. He gave me a price based on my description and scheduled a time to come to my house. Once there (and he arrived on time!), the job was done quickly, professionally and at the price we had talked about.

Steve Basso Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning is who I’ll be using to do my summer air conditioning “tune up,” as well as any plumbing needs I have. They also install Air Cleaners to control Indoor Air Quality and of course Basso can handle any Heating needs as well. Call them at 203-852-7144 or visit their website at www.bassophac.com. Once you use Basso, you’ll never use any other Plumbing, Heating or A/C company again!

“Treat your Mom for Mother’s Day at Bin 100, where she’ll be treated like royalty with a complimentary glass of champagne! The Mother’s Day menu will include Filet Mignon, Fresh Sea Bass, Veal Chop, and Homemade Desserts. Make Mother’s Day reservations at Bin 100 in Milford today!

2011-03-18T09:16:00.005-04:00

Treat your Mom for Mother’s Day at Bin 100, where she’ll be treated like royalty with a complimentary glass of champagne! The Mother’s Day menu will include Filet Mignon, Fresh Sea Bass, Veal Chop, and Homemade Desserts. Make Mother’s Day reservations at Bin 100 in Milford today!

BYOB Wine on Sundays at Bin 100!

If you still haven’t been to Bin 100 in Milford, you need to experience it! The food is unlike any other restaurant you’ve been to, with a mouth watering 4-course Prix Fixe menu! It’s only $29! And don’t forget to go on Sundays up until April 17th, when you can bring your own bottle of wine to drink with dinner, with no corking fee! My husband and I look forward to our Sunday evening at Bin 100, where we can relax and enjoy the romantic atmosphere.

I was just looking over the menu to decide what to eat this coming Sunday, and I think I will go with the Fresh Canadian Salmon Filet! As for my husband, he will want the fantastic Filet Mignon.The hard part is deciding which dessert to get…it’s between the Eggnog Crème Brule, Warm apple Crisp, or the Rose Water Yogurt Mousse…
There are just so many enticing delights on the Bin 100 Prix Fixe menu that I can’t wait to come back each week!
I may not be a food “critic,” but I sure do know good food. Don’t forget to visit www.bin100.com to check out their full menu!
Great atmosphere, delicious food, and terrific entertainment. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Brandman's Paint

2011-01-19T11:42:00.003-05:00

You can depend on our entire team for an unwavering commitment to offering you the best in customer service. And whether you live near or far, our experts can give you the assistance and advice you need to solve a particular problem you may experience-as well as product recommendations to help you obtain results you'll be proud of!

If you have questions, please E-mail us-and a Brandman's representative will respond with the right answers for your individual projects.

Wallpaper

Brandman's carries an impressive selection of in-stock and custom-order wallpapers as well as coordinating fabrics and accessories. But the most important product we provide is information.

Window Treatments

From wood blinds to cordless cellular shades to sophisticated sheers and more, Brandman's carries expertly crafted window treatments from leading manufacturers that will give your home a fresh, new outlook. But the most important product we provide is information.

Carpets

Brandman's carries quality carpeting from leading manufacturers for every room of your home. But the most important product we provide is information.

Faux Finishing

From paints to sponges, Brandman's carries a wide variety of quality products that will help you obtain a beautiful faux finish. But the most important product we provide is information.

Visit our website here: www.brandmans.com

Have fun at Marisa's

2011-01-13T12:32:00.001-05:00

If it seems like there’s always something exciting going on at Marisa’s on Main Street in Trumbull-that’s because there is! Besides their fabulous menu combining traditional Italian and classic steakhouse, who else but Marisa’s has first rate entertainment, practically non-stop? The hottest live bands, DJs, hilarious comedy shows, musicals, memorable parties hosted by talented artists, and more. Check www.marisastrumbull.com

Carmiuccio's

2011-01-13T12:30:00.002-05:00

There are plenty of good reasons Carminuccio’s is voted one of the top 10 pizzas in the country, REALLY good reasons! Like that chewy rim of crust all the way around the edge of every pizza, mmm. And that brittle under crust with just enough texture from the oven to give it real character. Want some more good reasons? How about Carminuccio’s fresh custom salads, hot and cold subs, wraps and stuffed breads, or homemade cookies! Pick any good reason, 76 South Main Street, Route 25, in Newtown. Carminuccio’s, a little slice of heaven. www.carminucciospizza.com.

A New Seasonal Four Course Prix Fixe Menu at Bin 100 for only $29!

2010-10-12T15:19:00.000-04:00

A New Seasonal Four Course Prix Fixe Menu at Bin 100 for only $29!

With the holidays fast approaching, Bin 100 is on the top of my list for holiday parties: for family, AND for the office! The new Prix Fixe menu is only $29, and incorporates all of my seasonal favorites, making it easy and affordable for any party! PLUS, with live music every Friday and Saturday night, you can’t go wrong! What to choose, what to choose...To start, there’s the Amuse Bouche that will tickle your taste buds and leave you wanting more! Next I think I’ll have the Parma Prosciutto Pizza with fresh arugula, goat cheese, mozzarella, and roasted red peppers. Yum! There is nothing better than a gourmet pizza!

And for the main course, Roasted Butternut Squash Risotto with creamy rice, crisp shitake mushrooms, and parmigiano reggiano for me, and the Penne Bolognese with veal, pork and beef ragout tossed with penne pasta and shaved parmigiano reggiano, for my coworker Tom!

Now for dessert! I don’t know whether to choose the delicious Churros tossed in cinnamon sugar with hot chocolate dipping sauce, or the comforting warm apple raisin crisp with vanilla ice cream! I guess we’ll just have to get both and split them!
There are just so many enticing delights on the Bin 100 Prix Fixe menu that I can’t wait to come back! I know what I’ll do! I’ll give my friends Bin 100 gift cards for the upcoming holidays, and then we’ll all have to come back together!
And I may not be a food “critic,” but I sure do know good food, and I can’t wait to get back to Bin 100! Don’t forget to visit www.bin100restaurant.com to check out their full menu!

Great friends, delicious food, and terrific entertainment. It doesn’t get any better than that.

Ride Safely in Style with Hoyt Livery!

2010-10-06T13:29:00.000-04:00

Last week I was coming home from a “girl’s trip” to Colorado and needed a ride home from the airport. So, I called my friends at Hoyt Livery! If you think limousine services are pretty much alike, think again. Lynda and Santo Silvestro are owners of a truly exceptional transportation service, Hoyt Livery. Some limo services are simply transportation “brokers,” which means they hire freelance drivers. These drivers are sometimes inexperienced, with inadequate insurance, not to mention the condition of their vehicles. But at Hoyt Livery, their drivers are their employees … insured, trained in Hoyt’s high standards of customer service, and thoroughly background-checked. If you’re traveling alone like I was, or if they’re transporting your children, you have peace of mind. They even have their own body shop with three detailers on staff! As we were coming back from LaGuardia in that terrible traffic, I realized just how important that was. Bumper to bumper can really beat up the car inside and out!

You ride in style and you ride safely with Hoyt Livery. So wherever you’re going … to a show, the city, the airport … travel with less stress. And don’t worry about things like parking. Life’s tough enough. Let someone else do the driving! Hoyt Livery. Courteous, professional transportation for business or pleasure. Call Hoyt Livery in New Canaan, or visit online at Hoyt Livery dot com, and tell them Mary says “hi!” Hoyt’s here!

A four course Prix Fixe Dinner for just $26 at BIN 100!

2010-09-21T15:58:00.003-04:00

WOW – what an amazing deal going on right now at Bin 100! A four course Prix
Fixe Dinner for just $26 per person!!

Have you ever heard of “amuse-bouche?”

Literally, it means “mouth amuser ,” and is a bite of something that the chef prepares and sends out to excite your taste buds and offer a glimpse into their approach to cooking. Well, when my family and I went to Bin 100, we experienced the most amazing amuse-bouche I’ve ever had! It was a bite of salmon with jicama, wasabi, cilantro and caviar! Amazingly delicious. My taste buds were so excited that I couldn’t wait for our appetizers! They didn’t disappoint. We tried first, not to fill up on the crunchy, warm peasant style bread served with a sun-dried tomato butter… Then we shared the tuna ceviche and the fried calamari. If my taste buds were excited before, now they were doing back flips! The tuna was mixed with tiny bites of Anjou pear. Both the tuna and the pear in a small dice which made it very easy to eat! It looked like a little box and was wrapped with finely sliced cucumbers and served with a sauce that I could have eaten with a spoon, but of course it complimented the ceviche perfectly. On to the calamari… crispy, light, tender and to the delight of my daughter, no tentacles! The ponzu sauce was a little bit spicy and something I’m going to have to try at home!

Are you hungry yet? Check back on my blog and I’ll tell you about the Veal T-bone, Gnocchi and Soft-Shelled Crabs.

I may not be a food “critic,” but I sure do know good food, and I can’t wait to get back to Bin 100! Visit www.bin100restaurant.com

Today's Topic...Rugs, rugs and more rugs!

2010-09-09T17:11:00.003-04:00

Hi, It's me, Mary. I have been desperately looking for a couple of new area rugs for totally different purposes. I needed one for my teenage daughter's room and one for my entrance hallway. So, I needed economical, durable, attractive and of course for the hallway, it needed to make "a statement!"

Guess what? I found EXACTLY what I needed at a brand new store that you just have to visit! Capel Rugs of Connecticut just opened in Westport at 222 Post Road West - right next door to J. Pocker & Son Framing. The selection at this beautiful store is enormous and the staff is friendly and extremely knowledgeable. They had the hottest trends which made my daughter very happy (not an easy thing to do for a teenage girl) and for me, the most amazing hand tufted rug with an intriguing geometric design that was inspired by antique Chilean pottery art circa 1850 - it definitely will make a statement!

See for yourself and visit them in Westport or at www.capelrugsct.com!

CT Legal Coaching

2010-09-08T10:42:00.007-04:00

Connecticut Legal Coaching

FREE DIVORCE WORKSHOP Thursday, February 10th, 2011 @ THE SOUTHPORT OFFICE from 6:30pm – 8:30pm

***If you or a friend are contemplating or going through a divorce or separation, you can find out what Connecticut Legal Coaching is all about by coming by the office in Southport for a FREE Divorce Workshop held on the 2nd Thursday of every month. You can meet Attorney Susan Wakefield face to face, ask questions, and you’ll be in a group setting with others who share similar circumstances. Come see if Connecticut Legal Coaching is right for you. Please call in advance to reserve a spot.***

www.ConnecticutLegalCoaching.com

A dear friend of mine recently made the difficult decision to end her marriage. She had been struggling with it for quite some time because she knew she wouldn't be able to pay costly litigation fees and was scared to face the process on her own. She had been to a free 'consultation' with an attorney, but left feeling more afraid and confused. My friend expected the consultation would be an opportunity to talk about her specific concerns and the facts about her case and instead found the attorney was trying to sell her, rather than advise her. My friend heard about Connecticut Legal Coaching, an alternative to hiring an expensive lawyer that offers legal services especially designed to empower the self-represented.

Connecticut Legal Coaching provides the information, advice, support and confidence individuals like my friend need to represent themselves in their divorce. Despite her apprehension from her previous experience, which only left her feeling alone and overwhelmed, she made an appointment to meet Attorney Susan Wakefield at Connecticut Legal Coaching. She was greeted warmly by Susan, and learned she is an experienced Family Law and Divorce Attorney of 22 years. Susan spent a lot of time in the courtroom litigating, but over a year ago decided to take her practice in a new direction due to the growing number of people who simply could not afford an attorney.

Susan started Connecticut Legal Coaching to help individuals who are forced to represent themselves in their divorce. Her step-by-step approach to the divorce process is cost-efficient, time-efficient and sensible. She talks with you, not at you, and breaks things down in language you can understand, not ‘Legalese’. During my friend's consultation, she received a lot of information about what she would be facing regarding the divorce process, legal documentation and court forms. Susan discussed Connecticut law, custody options, property division, and more. After sitting with Susan my friend felt like a new person. She had walked in uncertain and intimidated, and walked out relieved and confident; sure of herself and her decision. She hadn't realized that the fear of the unknown was what had held her back from finally taking the step toward a fresh start.

A coach doesn’t play the game; A coach teaches one to play the game. At Connecticut Legal Coaching Susan will coach you on everything you need to know to represent yourself in your divorce.

Connecticut Legal Coaching: Empowering the Self-represented

www.ConnecticutLegalCoaching.com

Happy Anniversary to Toyota of Greenwich!

2010-08-02T17:05:00.001-04:00

I would like to wish Toyota Greenwich a Happy 40th Anniversary Ever since I bought my Highlander I have felt like I was part of the Steen Family who has owned Toyota of Greenwich since 1970.

I love my Toyota Highlander Hybrid from Toyota of Greenwich, where we actually got the best price, and we’re just thrilled with their service! The hours are convenient, and they’re always courteous, prompt, and very respectful of our time.

That’s just the way they are at Toyota of Greenwich – a family business that treats us like family, too. Tom and Clint Steen are now our good friends, providing service that’s way beyond the ordinary. Like when you visit “Toyota of Greenwich dot com” there’s a place to click to have someone call you - and they will! Almost immediately!

Here’s something else I like – Toyota of Greenwich gives members or our military a special 500-dollar rebate on top of their already great deal on any new car when you finance it through Toyota Financing.

So get to know my friends, at Toyota of Greenwich, 75 East Putnam Avenue, and at Toyotaofgreenwich.com

Half-Priced Bridgeport Bluefish

2010-07-29T08:43:00.001-04:00

It is summer time and nothing says summer like Baseball! Right now, on sale on the WEBE 108 website are Half-priced Suites to the Bridgeport Bluefish! What a deal!

For half price you can have all the action of the game with the intimacy of a private party. Bring out a group of 25 clients, friends or family to share in the experience. The Luxury Suites are a great way to enjoy a birthday party, family reunion, bachelor/bachelorette party or a business event.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Indoor and Outdoor seating available in the suites
16 Outdoor seats - Luxury Suites
TV service for your entertainment
PA system and video board recognition
Air conditioning
Great food menu
Personal waiter/waitress service
Wow, I cannot wait to buy one of these suites for my son’s birthday in August. What a great way to celebrate. Go on line now to get your suite before they are all sold out. CLICK HERE!

A four course Prix Fixe Dinner for just $26 at BIN 100!

2010-07-22T16:14:00.002-04:00

WOW – what an amazing deal going on right now at Bin 100! A four course Prix Fixe Dinner for just $26 per person…through September 5th.

It starts off with an “amuse-bouche”. You remember, the “mouth amuser ,” a bite of something that the chef prepares and sends out to excite your taste buds and offer a glimpse into their approach to cooking. Then you get to choose from a large list of Second Courses. I had the Baby Arugula Salad with caramelized walnuts, and poached pears. So tasty! My husband had the Angus Meatballs and couldn’t stop dipping the bread into the delicious sauce they were covered in! Next we moved onto our Third Course, which included some many options, I didn’t know where to start! Should I have the Filet Mignon? The Tilapia Florentine or the Sea Scallops? I finally decided on the Shrimp-sautéed with artichoke hearts, arugula, grape tomatoes, feta cheese, oil cured olives tossed with DeCecco linguine. I just couldn’t stop eating it! It was so light, so delicious, so full of flavor! As in my last visit to Bin 100, my taste buds were doing back flips! My husband picked the Veal Scallopine layered with caramelized onions, Portobello mushrooms, roasted peppers and fresh mozzarella served over pappardelle pasta in a wine sauce. Let me put it to you this way, my husband wants to know when we can go back! We ended the evening with our Fourth Course Selection of Sorbet for me and Tres leches for him. I just don’t have any more adjectives left for a description so I will use one simple word…tasty!

I just cannot believe how much food we got for $26 per person! It was really amazing and available on a Saturday night no less. Please, don’t walk, run to Bin 100. It’s well worth it! Check back on my blog and I’ll tell you about the Veal T-bone, Gnocchi and Soft-Shelled Crabs.

I said this before, but I have to say it again. I may not be a food “critic,” but I sure do know good food, and I can’t wait to get back to Bin 100! Visit www.bin100restaurant.com

Bin100 Restaurant

2010-05-20T11:46:00.003-04:00

Have you ever heard of “amuse-bouche?”

Literally, it means “mouth amuser ,” and is a bite of something that the chef prepares and sends out to excite your taste buds and offer a glimpse into their approach to cooking. Well, when my family and I went to Bin 100, we experienced the most amazing amuse-bouche I’ve ever had! It was a bite of salmon with jicama, wasabi, cilantro and caviar! Amazingly delicious. My taste buds were so excited that I couldn’t wait for our appetizers! They didn’t disappoint. We tried first, not to fill up on the crunchy, warm peasant style bread served with a sun-dried tomato butter… Then we shared the tuna ceviche and the fried calamari. If my taste buds were excited before, now they were doing back flips! The tuna was mixed with tiny bites of Anjou pear. Both the tuna and the pear in a small dice which made it very easy to eat! It looked like a little box and was wrapped with finely sliced cucumbers and served with a sauce that I could have eaten with a spoon, but of course it complimented the ceviche perfectly. On to the calamari… crispy, light, tender and to the delight of my daughter, no tentacles! The ponzu sauce was a little bit spicy and something I’m going to have to try at home!

Are you hungry yet? Check back on my blog and I’ll tell you about the Veal T-bone, Gnocchi and Soft-Shelled Crabs.

I may not be a food “critic,” but I sure do know good food, and I can’t wait to get back to Bin 100! Visit www.bin100restaurant.com

Taylor Rental & Party Plus

2010-04-29T10:47:00.001-04:00

My husband and I attended our 4th wedding this year a couple of weeks ago. Needless to say, we were getting a little burnt out! The ceremony was beautiful, however we were a bit hesitant about attending the reception because we had heard the weather might be unfavorable, and since the reception was tented, all I could think about was the last tented reception we had been to, where a leak had put a real damper on the day! Despite our sentiments, when we got there we were pleasantly surprised. Not only were there no leaks, but the presentation was spectacular!

When I asked who provided the tent, my friend told me Taylor Rental & Party Plus. And not only that, but she also went on to tell me they provided the beautiful linens & china and the elegant champagne & chocolate fountains. Taylor Rental & Party Plus had set up the entire event and I was so glad we decided to go.

We had such a wonderful time dancing the night away (on the dance floor provided by them too!) This past week a friend had asked me for a recommendation for an upcoming graduation party she was planning for her daughter and I didn't hesitate to rave about the reception I had just been to that was put together elegantly and seamlessly by Taylor Rental & Party Plus in Orange.

Taylor Rental and Party Plus in Orange www.taylor-rentals.com.

Fovama Rugs

2010-04-06T15:28:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday I was at Fovama Rugs in Westport. I got to chatting with Javad, the owner of Fovama and he was telling me how many of his clients are seeing their oriental rugs as an investment these days. I asked him to explain, as I always viewed them more as a beautiful piece of furniture.

His response, handmade rugs are some of the best values in home decorating due to several factors.

1) The economic growth in China and India (two of the most prolific rug producers) has led to an increase in wages in the building industry when compared to the textile industry. The result is many workers are going into construction creating a labor shortage of rug weavers.

2) Chinese rug factories refuse to make hand knotted rugs because it takes eight to ten months and two weavers to make a 9’x12’ hand knotted rug.

3) Machine made rugs can offer higher profit margins for the manufacturers leading to an increase in inventories of machine made r rugs and a decrease in hand made rugs.

Accorting to Javad these elements will result in much smaller supply and higher prices for hand made rugs in near future!

Of course the prolonged economic slowdown has resulted in a buyer’s market. Last year many rug retailers and even some manufacturers were forced to liquidate their inventories.

How has this affected pricing?

Just a year over a year ago the cost could purchase a fine 9x12 hand knotted rug from India, or China was in the price range of $4,000 to $5,000. Right now many of these rugs arr selling for $2500 to $3000 dollars.

(As I explained to my husband, that could translate into our $2,500 rug turning into a $5,000 floor covering when prices stabilize.)

Javad also mention that many rug retailers have also been forced to sell wall-to-wall carpeting to raise Cash flow. They might not have as big a selection as your average wall-to-wall carpeting dealer, but if you can find what you like you might be able to save a bundle!

Bottom line is now is a great time to go deal hunting! Javad is letting me post a price savings on the blog. Good luck shopping!