When people used to ask me where I was from, I would tell them… New York. I’m not really from New York, although I lived there for about 6 months when I was doing a college internship at an interior design firm. I’m really from Connecticut. Stamford. But nobody knows where the hell Stamford, CT is (except if you are from CT… or NY… or have taken the train from NY to Boston and paid attention to the train stops). I would tell people I’m from Stamford, CT and I would get the following response, “Oh, is that near Hartford?” Because although CT is a small state.. it’s not THAT small. No, Stamford isn’t near Hartford. So then I would try to explain that it’s less than an hour outside of NYC. They would look confused.
Did I mention I used to tell people I’m from New York? It’s easier.
Part of the confusion is the whole airport thing. When you are flying out of or into CT…. you fly out of or into New York airports. I’m pretty sure there is an airport somewhere in CT but I have no idea where it is and I’m pretty sure there are no international flights.
It’s the same reason I now tell people I’m from Los Angeles. I used to live in Los Angeles, but now we live in the suburbs north of LA. When I actually say I’m from Santa Clarita, people look at me like I live on the moon. If I would just tell people I’m from Six Flags Magic Mountain.. AHA! The light comes on. They certainly know where THAT is. So I tell people I’m from LA. Easier.
I’m pretty sure it’s the same reason people say they are from Boston, Chicago, Dallas, or any other major metropolitan area. I think life it too short to stand there for 10 minutes explaining where you are from to someone who probably doesn’t give a damn anyway.
So… I’m from Los Angeles. But I used to be from New York.
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“Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England. Stamford is in the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk Metro area which is a part of the Greater New York metropolitan area.”
I can see why years ago you may have said you were from New York just for ease of explanation. But,…
I always explain that “I am from Connecticut; Fairfield County; about 45 minutes from NYC. It is one of the wealthiest areas in the country.” No, this does not mean that I am rich, necessarily, but it does make me proud to say that I’ve raised my nose with the best of them.
This is not some rinky-dink, rural outpost of uneducated people.
“Stamford has one of the highest educated populations in the US. Nine out of ten are high school graduates. Those possessing a bachelor’s degree or higher is estimated at 45.9% of the population. Stamford is tied with Iowa City, Iowa for the US metropolitan area with the highest percentage of the adult population holding a bachelor’s degree or higher; 44 percent of adults hold a degree.[6]”
There are a number of fortune 500 companies that have (or did have at one time) their corporate headquarters.
“Stamford’s cluster of corporate headquarters includes a number of Fortune 500, Fortune 1000 and Courant 100 companies.
Among the larger companies with headquarters in Stamford are World Wrestling Entertainment, Tasty Bite and Pitney Bowes. UBS also has its North American headquarters here and its trading floor holds the Guinness World Record as the largest column-less trading floor in the world. Royal Bank of Scotland moved its North American operations into Stamford in 2009, including its RBS Greenwich Capital subsidiary.[10]
In recent years, many large corporations have moved offices outside of the city due to the high rental cost, including Xerox, MeadWestvaco, International Paper, GE Capital, NBC and Clairol.”
And, my favorite part is the recent number of films using the Stamford area as a backdrop:
” Away We Go - 2009 , produced by Sam Mendes, starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, written by Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida. The movie was filmed on May 23, 2008, at Remo’s Brick Oven Pizza on Bedford Street (presented as a 24-hour French-Canadian diner in Montreal, with the “Remo’s” name retained in the movie); a bar scene at the Medieval-looking Dragonfly Restaurant and Lounge on Summer Street is also represented as taking place in Montreal; scenes shot on May 12, 2008 at the Waterware Showrooms on Research Drive represent a bathtub and whirlpool showroom in Arizona; a blue raised ranch home on Vine Road, representing the home of the parents of the character played by Maya Rudolph.[2]
The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009).
Everybody’s Fine (2009)
Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009), John Goodman, Joan Cusack and Isla Fisher were filmed in a scene at United House Wrecking on Hope Street in the Glenbrook section of town on April 7, 2008. The location is depicted as the “Nutley Stop & Swap” flea market in New Jersey. Sophie Kinsella, author of the book on which the movie is based, was also at the shooting. Playing vendors in the scene were a number of local antique dealers. Extras were recruited in January 2008 at a casting call at St. Basil College. Another scene for the film was shot in the Sheraton Hotel on Summer Street.[3]
Rachel Getting Married, In one scene, Anne Hathaway was shown entering the Post Grocers deli on Long Ridge Road. A scene was also filmed in the former Long Ridge Congregational Church.[4]
Old Dogs (2008) - Filmed inside UConn Stamford Campus.
Pistol Whipped(2008) - AKA Marker
Person of Interest (2007)[citation needed]
Reservation Road (2007) started shooting in October 2006. Locations include Cove Island Park, Weed Avenue, Stamford Academy, Long Ridge Church, Black Bear Saloon,[1] and Dolan Middle School[4] Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly, Mark Ruffalo and Mira Sorvino act in the film, Terry George directed. The movie is based on a 1999 novel by John Burnham Schwartz. The story involves two families — the father in one kills the son of the other in a hit and run accident.[5][1]
Saving Grace (2007)[citation needed]
Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007)[citation needed]
College Road Trip (2008), with Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symoné, had plans to film in July 2007 at the E. Gaynor Brennan Municipal Golf Course on Stillwater Road.[6] A scene was shot July 30, 2007 at the Lakeside Diner in Stamford.[7]
In Bloom (2008), currently in production. Starting in August 2006, the movie became the first major, full-length film since “The Ice Storm” to be shot entirely in Connecticut. Locations in Waterside, Springdale, Glenbrook and the West Side were being used as filming locations. “St. Basil College, Victory Deli, Pellicci’s Restaurant, Stamford Hospital and private homes on Scott Place and Apple Tree Drive will be used to portray the fictitious town of Briarhill, Conn.,” as well as the Palace Theater, according to The Advocate of Stamford.[8][1]
Marker (2008), with Steven Seagal, filmed scenes in the area of Columbus Park in the spring of 2007.[9]
Righteous Kill (September 2008), starring Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, scene filmed at a model unit of the Trump Parc apartment building, representing a scene in New York City (with a New York City skyline added through special effects).[2]
Revolutionary Road (December 2008), directed by Sam Mendes
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 (2008)[10]
What Just Happened? (scheduled for release 2008) - filming in multiple locations in Stamford including Canal Street and Tresser Boulevard. One block in front of Stamford Mall was shut down on April 27 for a scene.”
And there are many more great things about Stamford, CT. So why did I move my butt to Raleigh, NC twelve years ago? It sucks being considered lower middle class in an elitist area.