Sophie Sikaitis, founder of children’s swimwear line Pearl Street Swim, shares her move to suburbs story with us. She gives us a peek into her move from TriBeCa to Brooklyn to Fairfield, CT.
Tell me about your move from New York City to Fairfield, CT
My husband and I had been living in TriBeCa, then Red Hook, Brooklyn with our first daughter. We always thought we would be in Brooklyn a little while longer, but when we found out we were expecting our 2nd child and began the search for a 3-bedroom we were excited about, the reality set in that we were ready for a bigger space! Originally we started looking in Westchester to be closest to NYC and between our families in NJ and CT but as our search broadened into CT we decided to look farther away from NYC, to move to the beach and focused our search to Southport and Fairfield!
How old are your kids? What do you like to do with your kids in Fairfield or in the area?
We have 2 girls, Penelope (21 months) and a newborn, Everly (7 weeks). We try not to let the “newborn stage” prohibit us too much and are constantly at the beach, walking into town for a meal, visiting local farms, the farmer’s market, etc.
How would you describe Fairfield residents?
Everyone has been SO welcoming and friendly. We have family in the area (Fairfield & Westport) and have met a lot people through them – but I have also connected personally with residents through my company, Pearl Street Swim, and our daughter’s school and I have to say they have gone above and beyond to make us feel welcome in the neighborhood.
What are your favorite restaurants in Fairfield or in the area? Date night? Kid Friendly?
Our go-to, favorite restaurants for date-night are The Whelk (Westport) and Bodega (Fairfield). The Whelk NEVER disappoints, their food, drinks and atmosphere are on par with the restaurants we miss from Brooklyn and NYC – always inventive, and interesting. We love Bodega for its casual, fun vibe – you can never go wrong with Mexican! For a special meal we will head to The Tavern at Graybarns. For a kid-friendly meal Shake Shack is always a good option, but we also like to eat out on the patio at Centro Ristorante and Bar in Fairfield. The restaurant is very family friendly, love sitting out with a glass of wine (and maybe a cookie to go as well!)
Did you know anyone when you moved to Fairfield? Any tips for newcomers on how to meet people?
We only knew our family that lives locally. I am probably living my own best advice right now – be friendly to neighbors, folks in town, to start, you never know who you might meet! Look to get involved at your children’s school, through a network at your pediatrician’s office, attend local events, such as those at the FTC (Fairfield Theatre Company).
Can you describe your social life?
Having a 7-week old slightly changes our social life at the moment, but we definitely still try to get out for happy hour with friends and attend parties and events as we are able! We have good friends that live in the area (Darien, New Canaan) and so we meet up with them (with and without the kids) or get a babysitter for a date night out.
Are you a member of a country club/beach club/yacht club?
We are not a member of any clubs yet, but have just started to talk about it and do our research (check back with us on that one!)
What has your experience been so far with schools in Fairfield?
Our daughter Penelope attends Great Beginnings Montessori School and we are very happy with the school. Although we were interested in Great Beginnings from the get-go, we also found that our daughter didn’t meet the age cut-off for many 2s programs in town and we did not want to wait until 2019, so that influenced our decision as well.
What are some things you don’t like about Fairfield?
I honestly don’t have anything negative to say at this point – we’re brand new – have been here less than 6 months – so maybe we’re still in the “honeymoon” phase of the move, but I can tell we’re going to really love it here!
Do you or your spouse take the train into New York City? What has your experience been with the Metro-North train commute?
My husband is currently on paternity leave (so grateful for that!) but normally he takes the train into New York C
Any tips/advice you can give to someone who is looking to move to Fairfield?
If you are interested in moving to Fairfield I suggest finding a great realtor that can really show you the different areas – Fairfield is so big and each neighborhood has its charm! Try to do a few activities in the area – head to the beach, have lunch at a local restaurant, see a show at FTC to get a feel for if you really love the town, I am sure you will!
About Sophie Sikaitis
Sophie Sikaitis is the founder of Pearl Street Swim, a timeless, coastal-inspired children’s swimwear label that speaks to a parent’s desire for beautiful beach, swim and play moments. Sophie found herself as a new mother to her first daughter, excited for their first summer together in 2017, but disheartened by the lack of chic, quality and age appropriate swimwear on the market. Pearl Street Swim launched in March of 2018, offering suits designed for active children in unique, hand illustrated patterns and matching solids that are SPF 50, chlorine and sunscreen resistant.
Sophie grew up in England and later New Jersey and draws inspiration for work and life from both ‘coasts.’ She is a graduate of Denison University (BA) and Columbia University (MA) and worked most of her corporate years in Internal Events and Associate Recognition for Saks Fifth Avenue and Capital One. She recently moved with her family, her husband Jeff and daughters Penelope (21 months) and Everly (7 weeks) to Fairfield, CT.
Follow Sophie
@pearlstreetswim on instagram
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