[1010]

My family and I bought a house in Bethel (Rt 6 side) this past April, and so far, really love it. The house is great, our dream home, and the neighborhood is fantastic, the general area very appealing. I have a young child under 2, and another on the way this summer.

Coming up on 1 year, and we are having a tough time making friends and finding stuff to do in town. Any suggestions? We looked into the Newcomers group, but it looks like a joke (no response from the administrators from our multiple attempts to contact them, which leads me to beleive that there aren't any members). There are almost no activities in town for my son at his age. No library programs for those under 2. We attend Gymboree in Danbury, but that is it. Otherwise, we wind up heading back to where we moved from (lower Fairfield) to spend time with our other friends. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[jdhall1]

1010,
I'm sorry that your move up the northern Faifield County is not working out to be as nice as you imagined. I am familiar the area of out Rt 6 in Bethel. I'm glad that your home and neighborhood is enjoyable for you.Maybe when the weather gets nice, go out on walks with your childern and try to talk to other parents out with their kids. Talk to other parents at the gymboree . Go knock on your neighbor's doors to meet them and see what they are involved in. Strike up conservations when you are out shopping at the grocery store and so on.

I think the Danbury Library has some stuff for your son. The programs they have (I saw on their website) are in the 2-3 year old range, but if he is close to 2 years old it could work.

[mdkkr]

We found we had similar experiences. Bethel is a great town, but until your kids are school age, you can feel a little isolated. The good news is that the school system is tremendous and once they are in school you will know more people than you might care to. Sooner than you think - your kids will be old enough for T-Ball, Soccer, etc, and you will run into the same people over and over.

You should go to the Park and Rec office and explore programs for younger kids. They are very inexpensive. One of the teachers of different programs is known as Miss Sharon, she is wonderful with the kids.

Also, in better weather, Meckauer Park is loaded with people with little kids who you will run into in many other places.

Newcomers could be a waste of time since half the people are really into it, but the other half are indifferent - and many of the members are here for a brief stop, making some of the outings seem a little stiff - like job interviews or corporate affairs.

Good luck and hang in there - this is a great place to be, but it takes a little time to get assimilated.

[1010]

Thanks - we think it will ultimately be wonderful. Everyone we have met has been very friendly, and the community appears fantastic. Like I said, we love our house (could never afford something so perfect down-county). We are looking into a 2's program in Newtown that was recommended as well, so that should be good.

Thanks so much for your help!

Any suggestion on restaurants as well? We have been to La Zingara, which is good, but beyond that, we haven't reall found any place else!

[jdhall1]

Most of the restaurants in the area are in Danbury. If you like Chinesse Food, call Dragon Chang on West Street in Danbury. It's more of a takeout place. My family has been going there for over 20 years, never a bad meal. They run the Century Buffet (also Chinesse Food) in the large shopping center on North Street across from Burger King.
Another good italian price is Bambinos on Mill Plain Road. The owner is is the brother of someone I took my real estate licensing class worth. It's more of a casual Italian place. Prices are very good as well as the portions.

Rosy Tommorow's (Mill Plain Road right before exit 2)and Chuck's Steakhouse on Segar Street have lots of good selections. Chucks is busier and a little bit pricer than Rosys, but both places are family friendly.

Great places to go for lunch are Famous Uncle's Al's Hotdogs on Newtown Road and Widow Browns on Federal Road. I haven't been to Widow Browns in a while, mostly because I'm saving money by bringing my own lunch to the office, but I have been going to Uncles Al's every couple of weeks for lunch since they opened and they have lots of good hotdogs and sandwitches.

A great Indian food place is Bombay restaurant, located on Pembroke road (rt 37) past the prison. Other interesting places to eat are Two Steps Grill on Ives street (downtown), Kabuki Japanesse Steakhouse on Lake Ave (great food but pricey), Windmill Dinner on Mill Plain Road (I'm friends with the owner's sons and it's your typical greek owned dinner) and the Goulash Place on Highland Avenue.

I can think of a lot more, but I'm trying to do some work and I will most some more later tonight.

JH

[mdkkr]

Restaurants around here are pretty weak, beyond pub food which is sometimes appropriate. La Zingara was very good I thought, also.

LaFortuna is on Stony Hill, and in the category of a better place. Food is good, atmosphere nice, but unfair as I may be to compare to Manhattan establishments, I never felt the service or price was great. Olde Heidelberg is on the same side - a German restaurant which is a little pricey, but always crowded on the weekends and a nice experience if you like German food. Make a reservation and don't be late - you'll lose your table.Greenwood's is downtown and very good, American/English food. Slighly cheaper is Putnam House next door on the hill - very good food, nice atmosphere, reasonably priced and the owner is a young guy with a family. I think Village Pizza (just past 7/11)has the best pizza, but we like more New Haven style thinner crust pizza. (Other pizza joints up here make it very doughy.) Also, Pancho & Gringo's (Mexican) is in the Dolan Plaza off Greenwood Ave.
Oh yeah, you have Bangkok - a Thai restaurant in the Stop&Shop Plaza. Rosie Tomorrow's and Chuck's are decent and not wallet-busters, like the other guy said. Also, in Danbury, there is Jim Barberie's - in business for 50 years. They have a great selection of seafood/prime rib and sometimes live entertainment. Crowded and noisy - and sometimes a slightly older crowd (40's, 50's,60's) - but is kid friendly. I heard Tuscany on Stony Hill was good, but haven't been there.