Haven’t Seen a Fazzino? You Should - Makes People Happy
The Debbie Nigro Show
I’ve been focusing on people who make the world a more beautiful place this week. People who through their work, their ethics, their integrity, their talent, their genius just makes it happier for the rest of us. Charles Fazzino has been called one of the most famous pop artists in the world. I've been a huge fan of his style of pop art since the minute I first saw it in a window decades ago in New York City. I would stand there and stare in the window amazed at every little intricate pop-up thing he thought of to make a piece come to life. Often because I was in NYC it would...
info_outline
Alvin Clayton Paints Humanity Colorfully to Take Color Out of The Picture
The Debbie Nigro Show
I can’t get enough of my friend Alvin Clayton. He is bursting with talent and great energy, and I think he makes the world a more beautiful place through all he does and especially through his art through which he tries to speak to people’s humanity. Recently I felt compelled to introduce Alvin to as many people as possible who may not know about him just to be able to see the amazing art he creates. Famous people collect his stuff. People like Robert De Niro and Denzel Washington and Halle Berry just to name a few. Alvin has a fabulous restaurant in New Rochelle, NY called...
info_outline
We’re at The Beginning of The Next American Business Revolution
The Debbie Nigro Show
I'm All About Innovation and Innovators So I Love This Story. In his new book “Clean Economy Now: Stories from the Front Lines of an American Business Revolution" Bob Keefe the Executive Director of E2 a national nonpartisan business group of 10,000 business leaders which has been around for 25 years, describes his recent travels across the country. He wanted to witness first-hand all the clean energy projects in motion because of the significant private sector investment and job creation that’s happened incredibly fast over the past 20 months since The Inflation Reduction...
info_outline
I’m Stuck on Following Stephanie Stuckey’s Comeback Road Trip
The Debbie Nigro Show
Stephanie Stuckey a lawyer by trade, who spent 14 years in the Georgia House of Representatives and was also appointed along the way by the mayor of Atlanta as Atlanta’s 'Chief Resilience Officer', is sure showing how resilient she is. And how resilient her family business is! Stephanie is now on the road herself promoting Stuckey’s Corporation - the iconic roadside stops famous for its pecan candies and souvenirs that her grandfather founded in 1937. She bought the company in 2019 for $500,000 and has been spearheading the brands big return. It’s a big year for brand...
info_outline
7M People in U.S. Living with Alzheimer’s 2X As Many Family & Friends Are Providing Care But There's' Hope
The Debbie Nigro Show
Seven Million People Are Living with Alzheimer’s Disease in the US. 80,000 in CT alone & twice as many unpaid family members and friends are providing their care. But the money being raised is making a difference. Nobody signs up for a brain disorder that gets worse over time. Alzheimer’s is a gradual decline in memory, thinking, behavior and social skills. These changes completely affect somebody's ability to function. The bad news is the number of people with Alzheimer’s is increasing, but the good news is there are real advancements in treatment. These...
info_outline
At Prospector Movie Theater: Employees with Disabilities Sparkle & Transform Passions into Professions
The Debbie Nigro Show
Have you heard about the AMAZING Prospector Theater in Ridgefield CT? The Prospector Theater is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing competitive and inclusive employment to people with disabilities through the operation of a premium, first-run movie theater. Employees of the Prospector, referred to as Prospects, are encouraged to sparkle, shine, and transform their passions into professions. The Prospect Productions team creates high quality digital content for the Prospector Theater. Prospects working on the Production team learn in-demand trade...
info_outline
How To Stand Out By Going All In? Just Ask Tiffany McQuaid
The Debbie Nigro Show
There are surely a lot of real estate people in the country, but Tiffany McQuaid figured out a way to really stand out. Her real estate agency in Jupiter Florida has been called the most innovative agency in the country. What makes her stand out above all others in the space? She said all her efforts have ‘caring at the core'. Tiffany does ‘little things’ in her business that bring people joy. It’s something she’s been doing since she was a little girl. She decided to write a book about what works so well for her, to share with others Her book just out is called “The...
info_outline
Pinky Cole aka “Slutty Vegan” is a Class Act Her Celeb Backed Restaurant Chain Has a BIG Mission
The Debbie Nigro Show
Pinky Cole aka Slutty Vegan is WOW. There are a thousand reasons why. She’s a very innovative gal, entrepreneur, and really good human. Pinky Cole owns and operates the celebrity backed restaurant chain ‘Slutty Vegan’ with 11 locations and counting including Atlanta, Birmingham, Baltimore, Dallas, and NY. She’s opening a new location in NYC this weekend on Bleecker Street making that 3 spots now in NY with the others in Harlem and Brooklyn. “When you walk into Slutty Vegan, you will see yourself “, said Pinky. “It doesn't matter if you are white,...
info_outline
When a Psychic Is Thinking of You & Calls Out of The Blue
The Debbie Nigro Show
I’ve had some very interesting experiences with psychics and psychic mediums throughout my life. I’m always open-minded and do believe that some on this planet can see farther than the eye can see. On more than one occasion, I’ve had a psychic contact me out of the blue for one reason or another. (vs me asking them to contact someone. LOL) I probably haven’t seen Francine Tesler in over 20 years. She’s a psychic medium and medical intuitive, best known as the psychic, for people who don't usually go to psychics. She’s been making psychic predictions since she was 6 years old....
info_outline
Kindness IS Trending Thank Saratoga NY and THIS Guy!
The Debbie Nigro Show
I need to shine a light on Saratoga NY one of the kindest places in America. That’s where the idea for a viral event that took place across the country this year called “Leap of Kindness Day’ emanated from. It was held on …you guessed it…Leap Day! I love Saratoga. Been there enough times to know I could live there. I invited Todd Shimkus the President of The Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, and originator of the kindness idea, to join me on The Debbie Nigro Show to talk about ‘The Kindness Movement’ they started in 2016. Leap of Kindness was such a great...
info_outlineMy gal pal Lisa who lives far from me had missed me during Covid. She texted me to come join her for some networking fun at a place called Pinstripes in Norwalk, CT. Her gal pal Sherry who I love, had taken over the Director Of Sales position there.
I'd never heard of Pinstripes. Sounded to me like it might be a baseball joint or sports venue. I love my pal Lisa and she told me to bring my other half Dave, and Dave and I said what the heck and went for a change of pace. I'm so glad we did. We had so much fun and were so impressed with the place (not a baseball joint) I thought some of you might want to check it out.
'Pinstripes' Bocce Bowling and Bistro entertainment venues started in Chicago and they're expanding around the country. They're all about best in class food and experiential entertainment. Norwalk, CT is their 13th location. 5 more locations are opening in N.J. and Florida. Founder and CEO Dale Schwartz was just quoted in Forbes as saying the plan is open 100 more over the next 10-15 years.
The Pinstripes we went to was up on the rooftop of the brand new Norwalk, CT mall I'd heard so much about but never seen. Needless to say Malls are now betting on 'experiences' more than shows to draw a crowd.
Whoever decorated Pinstripes needs to come to my house and decorate for me. Such a cool vibe. 'Pinstripes' in this case refers to the kind you might see in 'classy Italian suits'. So it's no surprise the place is classy and the Italian American food is made from scratch. Great food and wine and drinks, but family friendly too. Love the choice of high and low tables and comfortable bars to dine at. You can also be served at the bowling lanes while sitting in comfortable leather couches. And there are 3 cool Bocce courts inside and one outside and the outdoor area also has a fire pit.
Let's talk about Bowling.
I love it. I was once a kick ass bowler but it's been 8 years since I bowled, mostly because the last time I did I snapped a body part. My then date (Dave) had to lend me his late mothers cane still in his trunk to get me out of the alley. I miss bowling and heard my own advice in my head, “Risk It or Regret It!" so I stirred up some good commotion by being first to say let's bowl! Before you knew it everybody had bowling shoes on whether they were good or not, and we all had a ball. Bowling is great for camaraderie. Pinstripes encourages local businesses to use the place for that purpose. The Norwalk location has 23 luxury lanes with full service so that's a nice way to business bond.
Now let's talk Bocce.
Did you know Bocce is the 3rd most participated sport in the world? Way back my typically low key Italian Grandma Garfield surprised everybody when she made the local newspapers as a contender for the Annual Sambuca Romana Bocce Tournament. I found the ripped clipping. (1981I think) Grandma didn't play any sports so we had no idea she was a Bocce babe. That's the thing about Bocce. Anybody of any age or ability can play it, and anybody can be good at it. It’s a marquee sport in the Special Olympics. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides social contact.
Don't’ know how to play bocce? No problem. Pinstripes puts out instructions and the staff will also explain how to play. The balls by the way are light, not heavy like bowling balls.
Pinstripes In Norwalk, CT is a 27,000 square foot full service Italian American bistro restaurant with lots of space for the current #1 participation sport in the world …social distancing.
They do weddings, bridal showers, baby showers, bar mitvahs and catering and they have a roof top patio. The bowling lanes can be semi private or private for any occasion including corporate team building.
You'd think from this conversation with Pinstripes Sherry Wyatt that I hadn't been anywhere exciting in a year. I loved the fun of re-connecting with my friend and loved the whole fun experience and wanted to share it.
“People are missing not just dining but reconnecting with friends and family,” Dale Schwartz Founder and CEO of Pinstripes (FORBES)