On Our Radar

The latest and greatest around New Canaan and Darien

Shoe Fetish

Darien ladies no longer have to travel out of town to find a great selection of evening shoes. Helen Ainson has a new section of sexy heels for a big night out. Brands include Badgley Mischka, Pella Moda, Enzo Angiolini, Sacha London and Caparros. For evenings at home, there’s also a new selection of European lingerie from Le Mystere, Va Bien, Simone Perele and many more. helenainson.com

Game On

Olympic hopeful Charlie Cole of USA Rowing calls New Canaan home, and his fans here will be pulling for the world-class athlete when his oars hit the water in London this summer. The graduate of New Canaan High School—who in his teens was coached by Yan Vengerovskiy of the Maritime Rowing Club in Norwalk—finished fourth with the U.S. men’s four in the 2011 World Rowing Championships, helping the crew qualify for the Summer Olympics. Last summer, the Yale University graduate won bronze in the four at the 2011 Samsung World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland

Word Party

Kelly Coveny is bringing the literary salon to Fairfield County. “Think of it as cocktail party meets book club meets metaphysical therapy,” says the Rowayton resident and founder of Evolve the Conversation. Her mission: To shift the focus of meaningful discussion from our everyday lives—home, career, family—to the topics that connect us all. “We want to honor the power of conversation,” says Coveny. The poet, screenwriter and book author coordinates salons featuring artists who speak on topics ranging from the definition of liminality to the true meaning of home. evolvetheconversation.com

Bling Bling

Christie’s recently handled the sale of what’s been dubbed a “fairytale collection” of jewelry from the estate of Huguette M. Clark, one of the last great heiresses of America’s Gilded Age who owned an estate in New Canaan. The collection of seventeen sparkling pieces, which was stored in a vault since the 1940s, includes signed Art Deco gems from Cartier and Tiffany & Co. and is expected to fetch as much as $12 million at auction.