In the
late 1970s, South Norwalk’s downtown
business section, including the historic
buildings centered on Washington Street,
had been slated for demolition. But
starting in 1977, a group of progressive
minded citizens, including newly elected
mayor Bill Collins, turned South
Norwalk’s fortunes around and created
Historic SoNo. Now, well into to
twenty-first century, SoNo thrives in a
way that no one could have imagined,
truly a lesson and legend in what far
sighted thinking will bring.
SoNo,
with its delightful mixture of classy
and tasteful or just plain homey
restaurants, shops, and clubs, combined
with museums and galleries, has become
integrated with greater Norwalk as well
as the harbor and Long Island Sound
beyond. SoNo is anchored by the Maritime
Center, which invites visitors of all
ages to become immersed in sea life.
Exhibits, educational programs, research
cruises, and a boat building shop, are
topped off by the spectacular IMAX
Theatre.
The
Norwalk Museum on North Main brings
Norwalk’s past into a very sharp focus:
The Norwalk Hat Factory comes back to
life along with locks, 19th century
pottery and a traditional hardware
store. On the corner of Main and
Washington, climb up a flight of stairs
to the SoNo Switch Tower Museum, also of
19th century vintage.
Adjacent
to the Aquarium, on a bluff overlooking
the Norwalk River, is Oyster Shell Park
(originally named Oyster Shell Point for
the thousands of oyster shells discarded
there by Native Americans making Wampum)
where trails and walkways wind through
marsh grasses, reeds and wildflowers.
The park abounds with migratory birds,
fiddler crabs and other aquatic life.
From this bluff is a view of Norwalk
Harbor, “The Jewel of Long Island
Sound,” where, besides fifteen marinas,
there are 2,700 commercial vessel trips
to and fro every year including those of
the thriving oyster businesses.
And then
there are the festivals.
In June,
the festival season kicks in with a
bang, or rather a splash. The Norwalk
Harbor Splash emphasizes fun in and
around the water with an accent on
family and youth with a capital Y. A
few sparkling examples: Have your face
painted and join in the Cub Club
activities at Black Bear Saloon; Help
assemble a life-size humpback whale,
great white shark or harbor seal at the
Aquarium; Come face-to-face with
life-like dinosaurs then board an
amazing 3-D simulated adventure ride on
Dinosaur Island; For a celebration of
seafood, there’s the Annual Chowder
Cook-Of; For a celebration of sounds,
music acts with an emphasis on rhythm
and adventure. Then, to top it all off,
The Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Race!
Let the good times roll!
Also in
June, the Norwalk Jazz Festival features
the best in traditional, contemporary
and Latin jazz.
The
Annual Sono Arts Celebration
actually pre-visioned
SoNo in that bi-centennial year of
1976. Climaxing with a parade of giant
puppets, this feast of talent brings
together the creations of over 150 fine
artists and craftsmen surrounded by an
atmosphere of music and dance.
And
finally, the Norwalk Oyster Festival, as
venerable as SoNo itself, with
internationally known music acts as well
as hundreds of arts and crafts booths,
sky divers, environmental displays,
children's activities and rides,
oystering exhibits, vintage vessels,
harbor cruises, and food, food, food!
Not
to far from Sono is The
Lockwood-Matthews Mansion located on
West Ave. This beautiful Historical
Victorian Palace is open to the public.
The link for more info is below.
Here Are some Links And
Telephone Numbers for Sono
