May is National Bike Month! Celebrate with the City of Norwalk and the Bike/Walk Commission!

The City and the Bike/Walk commission support walking and cycling as safe, accessible, and sustainable forms of transportation and recreation. Explore opportunities of alternative modes of transportation this month like cycling, taking public modes of transportation, and walking.

The Bike/Walk Commission will be tabling at the South Norwalk Train Station on National Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 16, from 6:30-9:00 AM. Stop by on your way to work to learn about commuting by bike and be a part of a nationwide movement for safer streets and healthier communities. Cyclists and commuters can get free giveaways, make community connections with fellow riders, and learn more about how to make biking part of your everyday life.

@cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct #VisitNorwalk #NorwalkForBusiness #CityofNorwalk #NationalBikeMonth

Rowayton Gardeners’ Annual Spring Market on Saturday, May 10 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Potting Shed located behind the Rowayton Community Center, 33 Highland Ave. (rain or shine). It’s a splendid sale of over 400 locally-sourced perennials, tomato plants, herbs and dahlias grown from tubers by our members, as well as beautiful hanging baskets and fresh bouquets to go. There will also be a Second Hand Rose boutique with lightly used garden items and home accessories. Plus, don’t miss the Spring Market Café, where whole breads, pies and cakes will be available for purchase, all wrapped and ready to take home. Master Gardeners will be on hand to help answer your garden questions and arborists from Davey Tree to answer tree and yard questions. Come support the club’s mission of conservation, sharing gardening knowledge and maintaining eight community gardens in Rowayton. For more information, visit www.rowaytongardeners.org. @rowaytongardeners @therowaytongardeners @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct
#visitnorwalk #norwalk #norwalkct #rowaytongardeners #therowaytongardeners #annualspringmarket #over400locallysourced #secondhandroseboutique #springmarketcafe #shoplocal #conservation #sharinggardenknowledge

APPLY BY MAY 15 FOR GRANTS UP TO $15,000 TO LAUNCH OR GROW YOUR COMPANY!

Calling all Norwalk entrepreneurs, startups, and existing businesses!

Norwalk Business Development Center Announces Innovation Initiative Grants Program

The Innovation Initiative is a financial assistance program that provides grants to entrepreneurs, startups, and existing businesses located in Norwalk. The recipients will receive grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. In 2024, the City awarded grants to a total of 12 recipients.

The Norwalk Innovations program aims to support new businesses and entrepreneurs in Norwalk both financially and through education. This program is in partnership with business education and support organizations. Participants must complete a business education program and submit an application detailing their business and planned use for the funds.

Those businesses who are selected to continue through the process will be entered into a ‘Shark Tank”-style competition to pitch to Norwalk-based “sharks” and potentially be awarded start-up grant funds between $5,000 and $15,000 to support their business growth, including initial establishments and expansion efforts. All Norwalk entrepreneurs, start-ups, and existing businesses that employ or plan to employ between 2 and 50 individuals are encouraged to apply.

For complete program guidelines, visit https://bit.ly/41RTfGR.

To submit an application, visit https://bit.ly/3FJ535v.

Key dates
• Phase 1, Application Closes: May 15, 2025
• Phase 2, Pitch Competition: July/August 2025
• Winners Announced: Late Summer 2025

For questions or application assistance, please contact Alex Cross, Business Development Manager, at across@norwalkct.gov or 475-291-2745. To learn more about the City of Norwalk’s Business Development Center and financial assistance programs, visit www.norwalkforbusiness.org or @norwalkforbusiness.

@norwalkforbusiness @visitnorwalk @norwalk_ct @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct
#norwalkct #norwalkbusiness #newbusiness #startupbusiness #businessdevelopment #businessloan #smallbusinessloan #smallbusinessfinancing #financialsupport #technicalsupport #financialincentives #entrepreneur #microfinance

Del McCoury Band at District Music Hall, 71 Wall St. (with easy parking in the Yankee Doodle Garage), on Friday, May 9 at 8:00 p.m. From the nascent sound of bluegrass that charmed hardscrabble hillbilly honkytonks, rural schoolhouse stages, and the crowning glory of the Grand Ole Opry to the present-day culture-buzz of viral videos and digital streams, Del is the living link. Tickets at https://bit.ly/3PE0ISJ. @districtmusichall @delmccouryband @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct
#visitnorwalk #norwalk #norwalkct #delmccouryband #districtmusichall #bluegrass #liveperformance #entertainment

Join us for Dungeons & Dragons Game Night at The SoNo Collection (L2 across from H&M) — an epic evening full of adventure! Multiple DMs, unique campaigns, all skill levels welcome. Not ready to brave DnD? We’ve got board games too! 🎲✨ Free to attend — sign up now: tinyurl.com/dndnorwalk (linktree in our bio)

Factory Underground Studio Open House on Saturday, May 10 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. at 16 Isaacs St. Enjoy live music, refreshments, and get a unique behind-the-scenes look at a professional recording studio in action. Open to all local musicians, recording artists, students, parents, friends and neighbors. Learn about our upcoming summer camps for middle school and high school musicians, videographers, and beat makers. Free photographic headshots for all guests! Register at https://bit.ly/43badzl. @factoryundergroundstudio @factoryundergroundtech @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct #visitnorwalk #norwalkct #norwalk #factoryundergroundstudio #factoryundergroundtech #openhouse #professionalrecordingstudio #musicians #recordingartists #videographers #beatmakers #students #summercamps #middleschoolstudents #highschoolstudents #freephotoheadshots

Center for Contemporary Printmaking 30th Anniversary Celebration. Just what is printmaking? This artistic practice transfers ink from a matrix onto material — typically paper — making multiple impressions of the same image. The Center for Contemporary Printmaking (CCCP) at 299 West Ave. includes an exhibition gallery, printmaking studios, and a resource center dedicated to supporting, preserving and advancing the art of original prints, both traditional and contemporary. Founded in 1995, the non-profit organization is planning some fantastic 30th anniversary celebration events:
Anniversary Gala, Friday, May 9 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Ticketed event at the exclusive “House up on the Hill” (HMTX headquarters) at 15 Oakwood Ave., including a VIP Tour of HMTX’s private art collection, a limited-edition commissioned 30th anniversary print, food, beverages, music, and more.
Birthday Open House, Saturday, May 10 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at CCCP. Free and open to the public, with live printmaking in every studio and a birthday cake celebration at 1:00 p.m. The 30th anniversary poster, a commemorative art book, and enamel pins will also be available for sale.
Learn more at https://bit.ly/3EgKi0h. @contemprints @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct
#visitnorwalk #norwalk #norwalkct #contemprints #30thanniversarycelebration #exhibitiongallery #printmakingstudios #supportingandpreservingoriginalprints #traditional #contemporary

Manresa Island Park - Community Engagement Session #2 on Thursday, May 8 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Brien McMahon High School, 300 Highland Ave. All are welcome! We will reintroduce the project team, provide a project overview, share an update on the status of the community engagement process, and present the feedback from our first meeting. Speakers include project team members from Manresa Island Corp, the nonprofit managing and funding Manresa Island Park; SCAPE, the landscape architecture firm leading the park’s design; and Bjarke Ingles Group (“BIG”), the architecture firm leading the building construction. There will be a mix of informative and interactive tables for community members, with many opportunities to learn more about the project. Each table will highlight a key aspect of the project, focusing on Manresa Island Park as a place for gathering, play, and exploration. We will also host an activity table where children are invited to draw their dream playground, in addition to a digital oral history booth that allows guests to share their personal stories about Manresa Island. RSVP at https://bit.ly/4joa8iE. Learn more at www.manresaislandpark.org. @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct
#visitnorwalk #norwalk #norwalkct #manresaislandpark #communityengagementsession2 #projectoverview #projectforthecommunity

Drawing Mixed Media for Ages 5-8. Wednesdays, May 7 through June 11, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. at the Senior Center Classroom, 11 Allen Rd. Taught by Agata Tria, in partnership with the City of Norwalk Department of Recreation & Parks, at the Senior Center Classroom. All materials included. Students will: Learn to draw what they see in a noncompetitive, creative environment, using markers, watercolors, pastels and other mediums. Register at https://bit.ly/4iWGHnH. @norwalkrecreation @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct
#visitnorwalk #norwalk #norwalkct #drawingmixedmedia #ages5-8 #norwalkrecreation #learntodraw #creativeenvironment #showoffyourskills

Happy Cinco de Mayo from Visit Norwalk! Molé Poblano is the official dish of Cinco de Mayo because the day commemorates Mexico`s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Other traditional Mexican dishes include Chilaquiles, Tamales, Carnitas, Barbacoa, Fish Tacos, Horchata, Mexican Street Corn, Pozole, Margaritas, and Guacamole. Hungry yet? Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at these Visit Norwalk restaurants: Bandido Mexican Restaurant, @bandidosono; Cantina Mexicana, @cantinamexicanasono; Capuli Cocina Latina, @capulicocinalatina; Don Carmelo’s Mexican Grill & Tequila Bar, @doncarmelosmexicangrill; Don Juan’s Tacos el Azteca, @tacoselazteca; El Segundo, @elsegundosono; Los Poblanos, @lospoblanosmexicangrill; Los Portales, @los_portales_norwalk; Mex Spot, @mexspotrestaurant; Restaurante El Peron, @elperonmexrest; Rincon Taqueria, @rincontaqueria; RIO Border Café, @riobordercafe; Sierra Grille, @sierra-grille-norwalk; Son D’licias, @sondeliciasnorwalk; Taco Guy, @tacoguy_ct; Tacos Mexico, @tacosmexiconorwalk; Taco Tequila Taqueria, @tacotequila1; Tio Agustin Mexican Cuisine, @tioagustinct. @cityofnorwalk @norwalk_ct
#visitnorwalk #norwalk #norwalkct #bandidosono #cantinamexicanasono #capulicocinalatina #doncarmelosmexicangril #tacoselazteca #elsegundosono #lospoblanosmexicangrill #los_portales_norwalk #mexspotrestaurant #elperonmexrest #rincontaqueria #riobordercafe #sierra-grille-norwalk #sondeliciasnorwalk #tacoguy_ct #tacosmexiconorwalk #tacotequila1 #tioagustinct #happycincodemayo #celebration