Treat Yourself in Quarantine
/Quarantine is a slog. Distance learning is a slog. Remote working is a slog. The constant mess that results from being home 24/7 is a slog. 2020 IS A SLOG.
It’s time for a treat. Here are a few easy ways you can treat yourself while still staying safe in quarantine. You deserve it.
Pretend You’re In Paris, France
Even in normal times, Darien’s Flour Water Salt Bread, a sourdough boulangerie and croissanterie, might get you longing for a trip to France. But right now, as we finish up Week 800 of quarantine, the bakery’s ordering process, which involves picking up your treats from a quaint little shop window that overlooks a courtyard fountain while aromas of freshly baked goods waft through the air, might just be the most relaxing and peaceful curbside pick up operation in all the world. The pleasant, almost whimsical feeling you experience when you pick up breakfast at Flour Water Salt Bread is the closest you’re going to get to a trip to Paris right now.
Rob’s hours change by the week, so check the bakery’s social media for up to date details. Only pre-orders are accepted and many items sell out FAST (including the most desired pick up time slots). Each day’s orders go on sale on the bakery’s website at 2pm the day prior to pick up. Be sure to include Rob’s outstanding Coffee Cake in your order; and for a “one stop shopping experience,” pick up a pre-ordered coffee from neighboring Neat Coffee while you’re there.
become aN AMATEUR mixologist
Perhaps the only good thing about our current state of affairs is that liquor laws have been loosened, allowing restaurants and bars to serve alcoholic drinks to go. As a result, many of your favorite local spots have added cocktails to their COVID take out menu.
One restaurant leaning nicely into the new liquor law situation is New Canaan’s South End. Five different DIY Cocktail Kits with all the fixings (and each including a full bottle of booze) can be ordered from the restaurant by calling or using its online ordering system. The delicious options include the “Patio Sipper” (El Jimador Tequila, South End Mixer, Club Soda and Grapefruit) for $55 and the “1420 Mule” (SoNo 1420 We Vodka, Lemongrass Simple Syrup, Limes, Fever Tree Ginger Beer and 2 Copper Mule Mugs) for $95.
In New York, Port Chester’s Saltaire just started offering four spring inspired bottles of Cocktails at Home (Spa Day, Margarita, Daiquiri, and Old Fashioned Punch). Here, the alcohol and refreshing juice components are already mixed in the bottle and all that’s needed at home is a glass and ice. Saltaire is also taking orders by phone and on its website.
It’s time to turn your kitchen into a cocktail lounge!
Breathe in the Healing Power of Florals
A beautiful floral arrangements can be an instant pick me up. And what better season for flowers than spring? Since you can’t just walk into your local florist these days, let the flowers come to you by purchasing a local flower subscription.
I just last week decided to treat myself to a monthly fresh floral arrangement subscription with Stems + Co in Rowayton. Bouquet subscriptions there start at $40 plus shipping and can be delivered weekly, biweekly or monthly. Stems + Co currently delivers to Westport, Norwalk, Rowayton, Darien, Stamford and Greenwich. If you’re not located in one of those areas, reach out to your local florists - it seems that a lot of them (including the Flower Bar in Larchmont and McArdles in Greenwich) are also offering floral subscriptions.
indulge in a Family Sugar Rush
The DIY Donut Decorating Kit from Elm Street Diner in Stamford might be the best bang for your buck I’ve seen in a very long time. The kit is HUGE, allowing your entire family to pig out (and then some) on a dozen cider donuts and a WHOLE LOT of sweet fixings. Our kit came with four different full sized candy bars, sprinkles, M&Ms, Fruity Pebbles, chocolate chips, plus three syringes filled with marshmallow, peanut butter and chocolate syrup, a pint sized Nutella jar and more. It’s a ton of food, a ton of sugar and a ton of fun.
Email or call Elm Street at least one day in advance to order your kit. You might as well as pick up curbside lunch while you’re there.
lean into your health and Wellness
Armonk’s Well Center is a wellness space that provides services, education and resources to inspire health and well being. Started by two local moms, the Well Center normally offers everything from acupuncture and health coaching to body and energy work and even kids mindfulness classes in its beautiful Armonk studio. During the quarantine, the space has pivoted to offer virtual services. Each week offers a full slate of virtual programming for all ages (Think: GirlLife Empowerment for girls aged 6 to 11 and Reiki Infused Sound Healing for adults). You can also schedule a private, one hour personal healing session for $100 to truly treat yourself. Sign up for all virtual programs on the Well Center’s website.
You’re Not Going Anywhere But You Still NEED Pretty sweatS
Who knows when we’ll all be out and about in public again, wearing such fancy things as dresses and heals and jeans? But just because we’re currently stuck in an endless quarantine does not mean we can’t buy some pretty new sweatshirts and leggings to keep us feeling comfy but cute (as cute as frizzy, graying hair allows) this spring.
For adorable women’s clothing, check out local spots Lola in White Plains and Fado in Katonah. For little ones, try Saltwater in Fairfield. Support local businesses, while sprucing up your quarantine wardrobe. All spots mentioned are currently offering free delivery through their websites.
feel THE Rush of Having Something Hard to Get DelivereD to Your Door
Another great thing about the loosening of liquor laws is that suddenly some of the very best local craft breweries that were previously quite inaccessible, now deliver all over New York State. In the Hudson Valley, consider ordering from Equilibrium, Hudson Valley Brewery or Suarez Family Brewery. In NYC, place an order with Other Half, Grimm or Finback. Thanks to the quarantine, if you have a New York address, beers from these coveted breweries can be mailed right to your home. It’s an AMAZING time to explore the New York craft beer scene. Check out the breweries’ websites for more details - each one has specifications on when, how and what they’re shipping (including minimum shipment amounts and shipment costs).
Another GREAT way to take advantage of expanded New York beer delivery is to hit your local craft beer stores such as Beer Noggin in Bronxville and Mount Kisco, Brew and Co in Bedford and DeCicco and Sons in Ardsley, Armonk, Brewster, Harrison, Larchmont, Millwood, Pelham and Somers. They, too, are getting much more diverse shipments from top breweries than they would in normal times. Beer Noggin and Brew and Co have each set up online advance ordering, making ordering and curbside pick up a snap. Ordering from DeCicco requires an in store visit, but they’ve been taking social distancing precautions very seriously.
