[willow wind]

I'm wondering if you are perhaps looking for a time and place that doesn't exist anymore, at least not in CT. You may be 40 years too late for what you seek in CT-- if it ever existed.

There are hardly any independent, neighborhood movie theaters, except for a few arts type theaters widely spaced around the state ( one in Madison),. Family entertainment theaters can't afford to stay in business with a single screen, neighborhood theater. They're all multi-plexes now- at a mall.

Neighborhood bookstores- what are those ? They're mostly all out of business since the advent of downloads on electronic devices or cheaper prices and easy ordering from places like Amazon. Not to say that there are none- but they are few and far between and they won't be open on Saturday night or found in a enclave like Old Greenwich. Not financially feasible.

I can't think of a single, small town, village type, down town area in CT where stores are open Saturday night. They all close at 5-6. Bars, pubs, restaurants, etc. open- retail stores closed. In other words, stuff for adults open, places to take kids- closed. If you can't find a coffee shop it means, again, no business person found enough foot traffic in the area to make it a viable business proposition. If people want to wander around at night with kids, they find a regional mall.

As for parks and playground - usually just at town rec center areas or at the local school. . Too expensive for a town, too much liabilty to have dozens of neighborhood parks. Better to concentrate the activity in a few places. So where so kids play ? Well, on a play scape in the yard or mom or dad take them to the town rec center/ playing fields. CT is very car centric. People expect to drive to things, rather than walk.

And as KidYankee said, that little private beach at the end of street is very CT. That's the whole CT shore. People love those tiny, private places.

Good luck with your search, but I'm not sure you're going to find everything on your wish list. I hope you find this mythical place, but for the life of me I can't think of where it might be in CT.

[Stylo]

Indie bookstores and coffee shops would have a very tough time surviving in that area. Rents are too high. We have both in downtown Milford, but it is MUCH cheaper for independent retailers to survive there. Completely different environment. In a downtown like Greenwich, Westport, New Canaan, you're looking at at least double the rent compared to a less affluent CT town.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Indie bookstores and coffee shops would have a very tough time surviving in that area. Rents are too high. We have both in downtown Milford, but it is MUCH cheaper for independent retailers to survive there. Completely different environment. In a downtown like Greenwich, Westport, New Canaan, you're looking at at least double the rent compared to a less affluent CT town.

New Canaan does have Elm Street bookstore and a (crappy) indie coffee shop, both in the center of town.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

New Canaan does have Elm Street bookstore and a (crappy) indie coffee shop, both in the center of town.

Must be hobbies.

[willow wind]

I think the problem here is that OP seems to be is looking for something that may not exist. Sort of a Disney theme park Connecticut village. One where you walk out your front door and within a sort walk you're at the grade school, the neighborhood playground and the neighborhood village center. Not the town center but neighborhood center. That neighborhood center would be fully stocked with a variety of amenities and open late nights every day of the week and it would also be kid friendly. It would include a number of venues that simply are not economically viable any more. Plus, all the residents would be out walking around that neighborhood center in the evening.

I don't know where that exists in CT ! There are city planners elsewhere in the country that are trying to develop planned communities where homes have small lots, front porches and the town design includes a village center with stores and every home is within a short walk to that center. But that's not Connecticut. People in CT don't necessarily want to interact with their neighbors- lol

You know every now and again some one comes onto this board looking for the " Stars Hollow" type place. I often wonder how Connecticut is seen by the rest of the country. Stars Hollow, Mayberry, Christmas in Connecticut were fictional and I don't know how the idea takes root in people's mind of some sort of idyllic Connecticut that is actually like that.

The OP can certainly have some of it and I sure hope the OP can compromise and find a good spot to live here.

[groove]

Thank you all for the replies and reality check. We have these amenities in our current location, in NJ on the train line to NYC. Park and elementary school around the corner, beautiful old homes, coffee shops and indie bookstore and movie theatre downtown, performing arts center close as well. It's a liberal, well-educated, very diverse and artsy community, and we feel very comfortable here.

That said, commuting up to CT from here would not be doable. Part of our decision re: accepting a potential job offer hinges on whether we can find a similar community in CT. I'm realizing that we will need to make concessions - and will need to prioritize our wish list . CT has a *lot* going for it (despite perhaps my negative wish-list posts); location on the Sound with water access is a huge selling point, as is the extremely strong public school system. Much much lower property taxes than what we currently pay, as well.

I appreciate the feedback, and we will be back to check out Greenwich proper for the downtown scene. I loved Fairfield downtown in the Sherman school district, but as many of you warned, when we drove the Merritt in the late afternoon it was clear we would be miserable if commuting to/from Greenwich. Based on another thread we will explore Rowayton along with private school options for middle/high school.

Many thanks!

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by groove

Thank you all for the replies and reality check. We have these amenities in our current location, in NJ on the train line to NYC. Park and elementary school around the corner, beautiful old homes, coffee shops and indie bookstore and movie theatre downtown, performing arts center close as well. It's a liberal, well-educated, very diverse and artsy community, and we feel very comfortable here.

That said, commuting up to CT from here would not be doable. Part of our decision re: accepting a potential job offer hinges on whether we can find a similar community in CT. I'm realizing that we will need to make concessions - and will need to prioritize our wish list . CT has a *lot* going for it (despite perhaps my negative wish-list posts); location on the Sound with water access is a huge selling point, as is the extremely strong public school system. Much much lower property taxes than what we currently pay, as well.

I appreciate the feedback, and we will be back to check out Greenwich proper for the downtown scene. I loved Fairfield downtown in the Sherman school district, but as many of you warned, when we drove the Merritt in the late afternoon it was clear we would be miserable if commuting to/from Greenwich. Based on another thread we will explore Rowayton along with private school options for middle/high school.

Many thanks!

You must live in Ridgewood. I can't think of too many towns that fit your description in New Jersey either. Even there finding a home within walking distance of Ridgewood Center would be difficult too and very expensive.

Greenwich (which is different than Old Greenwich) has a nice downtown with more action than Old Greenwich. There are movie theaters there and a lot of shops (including Saks and Tiffany's) and restaurants. I am not sure how late stores are open but I do know they are open late at least one night a week. As someone else said, anmother option would be New Canaan. It has a beautiful downtown with a lot of what you are looking for too. Darien might be another option. Good luck, Jay

[Stylo]

I don't think Rowayton is going to be what you're looking for. It's nice, but mostly residential with few businesses and no downtown. I'm not sure it's right for you.

[Mike 75]

Take a look at New Canaan, although it's not liberal, diverse or artsy. It does have a very nice downtown area that is walk able, with nice shopping and restaurants.

[willow wind]

One more thought and then I'm done. Something to consider is that children are only small for a few short years and boy do they go by fast. By the time they're 10-12 or so, they want less and less to be with you and will want to be more and more to be with friends.

Now they look to you for entertainment, but soon their minds may be more sport oriented and/or more electronic game oriented. The friends they make in school may not live all that nearby and they may see you more as chauffeur than as a someone to spend time with. By the time they're teenagers this is even more pronounced.

Perhaps in choosing a place or live it can be helpful to think both in the short term and in the long haul. Of course, if your husband has to transfer frequently for work this makes no sense. But if you plan on staying in CT long term, then also think eight to ten years down the road, when it's mostly just you and hubby looking to spend time with each other. Maybe some of the immediate neighborhood factor may not weight so strongly then.

Consider then that Greenwich proper may do quite nicely. There's a good retail center of town with things for adults to do. There's plenty for kids to do too, it's just the driving factor that comes into play. Living close to the water and driving into town for amusement may not so bad when there are no kids in tow. A very tough decision to make if you are happy where you are now.