1. Age Of Reason
City: Westport, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (203) 226-8199
Address: 19 Post Rd. West
Description: Children are like sponges, and will absorb whatever we expose them to. That’s why independent stores like Age of Reason are so vital. Walking inside this shop just up the hill from the Westport River, you’ll find toys and games you won’t find in a chain store. There are multifunctional easels for budding artists, language blocks, and tool technology kits. Age of Reason has toys for all age groups, but you won’t find video games here; these toys engage both body and mind. Of course, they do have brand names like LEGO, Buckyballs, and other toys that stimulate creativity. “The important thing is not to stop questioning,” said Albert Einstein, who had a summer home in Connecticut. A few games and toys from Age of Reason will start everyone out on the right foot.
2. Dovecote
City: Westport, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (203) 222-7500
Address: 56 Post Rd. East
Description: Domestic visionary Sarah Kaplan has created this unique home goods store in Westport, full of “mid-to-the-19th-and-beyond century furniture and furnishings.” To do so, she travels to France six times a year and scours the countryside for antiques of worth and beauty. The merchandise here is divided into apothecary, furniture, and fabric and wallpaper, but those distinctions don’t really do the store justice. The interior might remind you a little of one of those big chain furniture stores, but a hundred times classier and cooler. Yes, cooler. Kaplan’s eye for the old that can become new again is flawless, and her thousands of satisfied customers agree.
3. Cocoa Michelle
City: Westport, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (203) 221-0020
Address: 54 Railroad Place
Description: This Westport institution makes “the best coffee ever” along with its artisanal candies and daily handmade chocolates. These chocolates are favorites among Westport’s elite, and you’ll find them on the tables of movie stars and CEOs throughout Fairfield County. Along with espresso and all the usual drinks, Michelle serves Euro-cocoa, a delicious drink that is head and shoulders above ordinary hot chocolate. Pick out a few dainties, and have a seat in the beautiful stone and wood interior to relax. There used to be a Main Street location as well, but Michelle closed it so she could expand this one, and is now offering paninis and breakfast sandwiches.