By Paul Reitano
Whenever I get a call from a 718 area code, I get a little excited and a little nervous. Excited, because Brooklyn people are my people: loud; funny; unaware of their surroundings. Nervous, because it could be my mom. Did I miss her birthday? Wait, did someone die? Still, Brooklyn people are often the best people. The combination of good food, foul language, and exposure to all of the ups and downs life has to offer on a daily basis can really sharpen one’s toolset for the onslaught thrown at you later in life. But what happens when you take one of us and plop us down in tony New Canaan? Read on to find out.
Paul: When did you decide to move to New Canaan?
Vanessa: April, 2018. I will tell you I came here kicking and screaming.
Paul: Why?
Vanessa: Just the idea of it. Mike, my husband, he took me up – he was like “just trust me.” It was Christmas time, I was pregnant with my second, Preston – and I don’t know if it was the hormones or what – but we drove down Elm Street for the first time, the lights were twinkling, the lampposts were all dolled up; I felt like I was in a Hallmark movie. And I just started crying.
Paul: Why the emotion you think?
Vanessa: I think it was the first time I realized that I could maybe give my kids a life I never had.
Paul: Where’d you grow up?
Vanessa: Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Paul: How was growing up there different from growing up here in town?
Vanessa: You know, I get laughed at a lot because I didn’t know how to swim for a long time. I was good at running though. I killed in the relay.
Paul: Top three things you ran from as a kid?
Vanessa: Pitbulls, drug addicts, and cars. We lived under the BQE.
Paul: You don’t have to run from the Pitbulls here.
Vanessa: No, the dogs are much nicer here. Growing up here is a dream for my kids.
Paul: Are you keeping it real with them, or full bubble?
Vanessa: A little bit of both. The other night our school had bingo and they’re like “who didn’t get a prize?” Ten hands go up and boom, everyone gets a prize. My little guy looks at me like, “Mommy, I only got one prize.” I said look, “sometimes you lose in bingo. Sometimes you lose.”
Paul: Things were harder for you.
Vanessa: I grew up in a house of substance abuse, stuff like that. There would be times where I’d walk in my house and there was like no lights and no hot water. To take a bath, sometimes my mom would boil water in a pot. I remember…having to wait for the water to cool off.
Paul: How’d that life, and growing up in the city, mold you?
Vanessa: I grew up fast, Paul. I went to my first nightclub at 13. By the time I was 21, I’d experienced pretty much everything.
Paul: So, growing up fast – you actually miss out on growing up?
Vanessa: Yes. Just the city too, it tweaks you.
Paul: Agreed. I pulled up at a valet the other day – tipped him, gave him the keys. I was watching him drive off and for a moment I thought, “I really hope that guy works here.”
Vanessa: They’re not driving away with your car here, Paul, don’t worry. I will tell you though, New Canaan is my forever place. I will be buried here. My kids will always have a home here.
Paul: Does your Brooklyn come out though, sometimes? Like when you least expect it?
Vanessa: You know what? I’ve built such a nice community of friends in New Canaan, and I think they love me for who I am. My Brooklyn comes out all the time to be quite honest with you. I don’t hide her anymore. I am who I am, and I think my friends here in town appreciate me for that.
Paul: What’s your mom think of New Canaan?
Vanessa: She thinks we live on an actual farm. Like, she thinks I’m actually going out and milking cows.
Paul: Just to be sure – you’re not milking cows, right?
Vanessa: No, our milk comes from Walter Stewarts.
Paul: That’s some nice milk. Alright, give me your favorites in town.
Vanessa: My family and I do this thing called Summer Sundays. When the weather gets nice. First we walk to Red Grape and get a Paso Robles Cabernet. We take it to Locali-
Paul: BYO at Locali. Smart.
Vanessa: Yeah. We start with the meatballs and polenta.
Paul: Very nice. I’m good with polenta now – all because of Locali.
Vanessa: Right? Then my husband and I get the Chicken Milanese.
Paul: You share it?
Vanessa: Absolutely not.
Paul: Also, very nice. So you’re taking down the whole thing solo?
Vanessa: I cut it in half and save the rest for later.
Paul: That’s disappointing. I pictured you crushing an entire Milanese in front of the kids.
Vanessa: Most of the time I just eat the other half when I get home.
Paul: To be fair, that’s not saving half. That’s just waiting.
Vanessa: I’m spreading it out.
Paul: Spreading out the Milanese.
Vanessa: Anyway, after Locali we all go to Gelatissimo.
Paul: Flavor?
Vanessa: The Fig and Goat Cheese.
Paul: Goat Cheese gelato?
Vanessa: I’m telling you.
Paul: It’s good?
Vanessa: You have to try it. It’s excellent.
Paul: So, Summer Sundays. Is it the food or is there something more going on?
Vanessa: It’s the whole thing. It’s walking through New Canaan with my kids. Knowing I could have never even have imagined this when I was their age – and just feeling really proud that I can give them the life growing up that I never had. And really happy that we can all experience it together, as a family.
Paul: We’re glad you’re here, Vanessa. Thank you for sharing.
Vanessa: Anytime.
