A Grand Summer Night of Dining

If you’ve walked the downtown streets of Stamford this summer, you’ve no doubt noticed that there is art everywhere you look.

One of the organizations that you can thank for that is the Friends of Stamford Downtown, a group of volunteers who raise money to purchase permanent pieces of art for the city’s public spaces, in addition to helping to pick up the tab for other outdoor art exhibits throughout the year.

On Wednesday, August 10, the Friends are offering you the opportunity to become a patron of the arts, too, by joining them for their 18th annual fundraiser, A Grand Summer Night.

The evening kicks off at the University of Connecticut at 5:30 pm where attendees will be treated to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, along with a silent auction and a raffle. Then, at 7:30 pm you’ll head out for dinner and dessert at one of 16 participating restaurants, including Aria, Barcelona, Chez Jean Pierre, EOS Greek Cuisine (try their flaming Saganaki), Ferrante and Tappo among many others. In all, some 30 restaurants and shops are contributing goodies, making the event a foodie’s dream come true.

While you’re on your way to the restaurant of your choice, you should save time for a side trip to Latham Park, where you can view two of the works purchased by the Friends in the past: the earthy statue Gossip by Martha Pettigrew, which depicts a pair of women chatting over their backyard wall, and Mommy’s Shoes by Prince Monyo, in which a pigtailed little girl is caught in the act of playing dress-up.

More details about A Grand Summer Night can be found on the Downtown Special Services District website at www.stamford-downtown.com. But, the deadline to sign up for the event is Monday, August 1st.