The Birth of a Hopeful Future at Stamford Hospital
a Note From the Editor
Last week, the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) sent me an email that said it was my turn to get the COVID-19 vaccine as an EMT. As easy as ordering take-out, I had an appointment for December 29th at Stamford Hospital. Many asked what my experience was.
…
I didn’t feel the shot, I truthfully didn’t even know it was administered until the bandaid was pulling at my skin. It was unceremonious, quick. I walked out of the small makeshift room into the observation area where a scene of the pandemic crisis was burned into my mind.
Doctors, nurses, and other hospital staff sat in small chairs in this hallway with “I Got My COVID-19 Vaccine” stickers on their lapels and tears slowly absorbing into the edges of their masks. I sat at the end of the hallway with them as they cried, called their children, Facetimed their spouses, hugged and clapped as one-after-another received the new Pfizer vaccine. This was the beginning to their victory in surviving the pandemic as a frontline worker. They made it out alive. They survived.
So there we all sat. The newly vaccinated hospital staff resembled a family celebrating the birth of a child - everyone filled with joy and hope - everyone celebrating the birth of a hopeful future - sitting on those chairs in the middle of the hallway - taking selfies, crying, hugging, laughing, celebrating the hope that they felt under the bandaid on their arms.
And there I was, feeling so small, and so grateful, sitting there on my chair at the end of the hallway.
This is their light at the end of the tunnel. This is their hope. This was my experience.
Jaime Bairaktaris
An Evening in Bedford Square
An evening under the lights in Bedford Square’s Amis Trattoria.
Basso Restaurant: Hopeful Opening This Week Brings Nightlife to Jesup Road
Co-owner Gilda Scorza, left, stands with Co-owner and Chef Renato Donzelli in their newly finished restaurant space at 33 Jesup Road, the former home of Matsu Sushi. They are hopeful to open this week to the public, pending their liquor license approval from the State.
Basso Restaurant and Wine Bar has been a 15 year veteran on the food scene of Norwalk, and with the passion of owners Gilda and Renato - the renowned mediterranean cuisine and live music will now fill the Jesup Road area of Downtown Westport. The husband/wife duo began work on the 33 Jesup Road space in the early Fall, renovating and remodeling the former sushi bar with interior architectural design by Stamford based CPG Architects.
The space includes a main level with dining room seating as well as a full bar overlooking the large copper pizza open, a loft dining space, a small private dining room, and outdoor dining along Jesup Road. Scorza added that they were finalizing plans to extend their outdoor seating into the alleyway between the restaurant and next-door 23 Jesup Road - allowing more customers to enjoy the outdoors in warmer weather.
Chef & Owner Renato Donzelli tends to the wood-fired pizza oven.
Cuisine will be a warm mix of mediterranean style meals designed and prepared by Chef Renato, who is Venezuelan and Italian, and will include favorites from their former Norwalk location. Some of the favorites include authentic Napoletana wood-fired pizza, Tapas, seafood dishes, Italian pastas, and signature salads. Meals will be available dine-in or take-out.
Although restaurants are currently bound to State COVID-19 restrictions, Basso has applied for hours that will go until 2:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays with live music until midnight, when the restrictions are lifted. They hope to be open by New Year’s Eve, however if not, plan to be open by the first week of 2021.
Learn more about Basso at their website: bassobistrocafe.com
Busy Day for GG & Joe
GG & Joe, a locally owned coffee & health foods shop, was busy this afternoon as a line was maintained outside for hours as locals opted for healthier options today.