Great review of Ralph ‘n’ Rich’s

Ralph ‘n’ Rich’s has been my favorite restaurant for decades.--TG

Not terribly long ago every big city had a place where men in business suits went for lunch, downed a martini or two and took a break from whatever was in their stuffed briefcases.

I am not a man, I do not wear a suit or carry a bulging briefcase and I do not especially like martinis, but I always loved to have a meal at these “Mad Men” style joints. My favorites were the late lamented Caucus Club in Cleveland and the still thriving Army Navy Club in Washington, D.C., that serves the best crab cakes in the world and instead of pinstripe suits the clientele wear high-ranking military uniforms festooned with medals. If they have a briefcase, it probably contains the code to launch a nuke.

So it was a happy find that I found myself at Ralph ’n’ Rich’s, a wonderful restaurant located directly across the street from the P.T. Barnum museum building, possibly the coolest piece of architecture in the state. I had never heard of Ralph or Rich and stumbled upon their downtown Bridgeport restaurant by accident after a disastrous day of reviewing that went from bad to unspeakable. By the time I lurched through the door at Ralph ‘n’ Rich’s, I was frazzled and cranky and did not care if I could review the place or not, I just wanted to sit down and order something to eat.

And what a great surprise it was. I walked into a large gracious eatery, padded and upholstered chairs, crisp linen on the tables, veteran waiters and waitresses who looked like they had written the book on correct service. I was dining alone (yes, the dreaded single customer), but I was not brought to a back table in “Siberia,” but swept with consummate grace smack dab in the center of the dining room. A linen napkin was unfurled on my lap and a menu came right away.

Although Ralph ’n’ Rich’s is what I might have referred to as a “man’s club” it is far more democratic. This is not a Peter Lugar wannabe steakhouse; the menu and clientele are not as limited. Yes, there were tables of guys discussing what happened in court that morning, but also plenty of business women and a family or two. Ralph ’n’ Rich’s is very much a neighborhood cornerstone designed to suit all tastes.

One of the unusual things is that they have menus designed for groups, the feasts are family style, meaning big platters of food comes from the kitchen, and people share. The cuisine is Italian: the unparalleled kind of Italian food our state is best at. Even though this is a pretty upscale restaurant, it still feels like Mama’s dining room.

If you are a group of four you can expect four family style courses, all designed to be shared. The starter is a generous antipasto platter, filled with salami and other charcuterie, olives, cheeses, carrot sticks, peppers and a selection of Italian cheeses. Contine reading at the CT Post by clicking here

Free State-Sponsored Forum on Long-Term Care Insurance and Retirement Planning

 If you are seeking information on how to plan for future long-term care costs, you will want to attend the public forum, “The Missing Link in Retirement Planning - Why and When to Consider Long-Term Care Insurance.”  The forum will be held onApril 17^th, at the Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Road, Litchfield.

The program will start at 6:00 P.M.  (Doors will open at 5:30 P.M.)  The State of Connecticut, in conjunction with the Litchfield Community Center, will present this free, two-hour session.  The program is open to the general public.  No insurance sales will take place.

You will benefit from this forum if you are between 40 and 65 years of age and have (or plan to have) assets of at least $75,000 (excluding car and home).

By attending this forum, you will gain a better understanding of: 

(1)the State’s innovative program, The Connecticut Partnership for Long-Term Care, and how it can add to your long-range financial security;

(2)the risks and costs associated with nursing home and home care use and why it’s important to consider these long-term care factors in retirement planning; and

(3)what you need to know before buying long-term care insurance.

To register for the program, please call 1-800-547-3443or register online at www.ctpartnership.organd click on the Public Forum link. To set up an interview with David Guttchen, the Director of the Connecticut Partnership, please call (860) 418-6318.

Where‘s Your Teddy Bear Domiciled?

High net worth folks with several homes often strive to avoid being counted as a resident of a high-tax state. Traditionally, that's meant keeping careful count of how many days are spent in said state, and there are apps for that. But as Paul Sullivan reports in his Wealth Matters column, states such as New York and California have become more sophisticated in their efforts to tax the rich.

in New York, at the Public Library.
Days spent in state represent only one of five tests New York applies. "The state also looks at the size and cost of the New York home compared with those in other states, a person’s business and family ties to the state, and a category that looks at where 'near and dear' items are kept." 

That last category is popularly known as the teddy bear test.

The new federal income tax cap on SALT deductions has further motivated the rich to flee their domiciles in high tax states. It has also motivated the high-tax states to fight back. In addition to checking for stuffed animals, New York may examine cell phone records and Facebook posts.

From a revenue standpoint the stakes are high. New York gets 46 percent of its income tax take from the top one percent of taxpayers.

Even top one percent New Yorkers who establish domicile elsewhere could be snared by a new proposed revenue raiser: a pied-à-terre tax on second homes worth over $5 million.

Originally posted to the Merrill Anderson Co. Trust Marketing blog by James Mcdonald, Retired Senior Vice President, Merrill Anderson Co. Inc.

Our Favorite Day Trips in CT for Families

From fun coastal adventures to gardens and state parks, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about visiting Connecticut. You can plan and enjoy countless day trips in CT for families, like hiking Bear Mountain (Connecticut’s highest peak), enjoying the outdoors at Brownstone Exploration & Discovery Park, or traveling back in time at Connecticut’s Dinosaur State Park. You can even spend the day floating down the Farmington River.

Whether you’re looking for discovery or a day of relaxation, there’s a variety of fun day trips in CT for any kind of adventure. Below are three of our favorite attractions for day trips in the Nutmeg State. Want to lengthen your stay? Find lodging options below.

Take a walk on the wild side

When it comes to fun and educational day trips in CT, exploring nature’s little (and big!) critters is always a great way to spend a few hours. No matter what kind of wildlife you’re looking for, you can find it at one of the state’s many zoos, rehabilitation centers and aquariums. The list below is sure to get you in touch with your wild side.

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo
1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport

From two-toed sloths to maned wolves and marmosets, there’s so much to see at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. With over 300 animals to boast of (primarily North and South American species), this zoo is one of the state’s top family attractions. And it’s open year-round! Spend an hour or the whole day visiting some of nature’s endangered and threatened species. The zoo recently welcomed its two newest additions in December – a pair of adorable Amur tigers. They’re still in a special nursery, but zoo staffers want to set up a webcam so folks can get a glimpse of them. The zoo hopes to have them on display in the spring.

If you have two hours…

Trying to get through an entire zoo can be a little difficult. Instead, make the most of your time with some of these cool scavenger hunts. You can try to match animals to their descriptions and characteristics with the “Who Am I” Scavenger Hunt  or participate in the Endangered Species and Habitats hunt to learn about animals and places that need our help. No matter which one you choose, a scavenger hunt is a great way to give your trip a little direction and help the kids stay entertained. Print out a sheet before you head to the zoo.

If you have four hours…

Print a map and stroll through the zoo at your own pace. You can visit the walk-through aviary, check out the New England farmyard, or explore the rain forest building. And after all that walking, you and the kids are bound to get a little hungry. So stop by the Peacock Cafe for some hot food or enjoy an outdoor lunch in the Picnic Grove. Afterward, make a quick stop at the gift shop and carousel before heading out.

If you have six to eight hours…

Spending all day at the zoo might get a little tiring, especially with smaller children. You might want to consider breaking the day into separate activities. After a fun morning at the zoo, head out for lunch and then to a nearby attraction. Less than 15 minutes away, The Discovery Museum and Planetarium is another great place with hands-on activities that the kids will love exploring. Click here to continue reading.

The 7 Worst Exercises for Older Adults

Every human body ages at its own pace, leaving us with vastly different abilities and limitations. But some exercises are unsafe for almost everyone over 60. Here are the ones to avoid—and what to do instead.

I see George around the gym all the time. We’re both lunchtime regulars and typically acknowledge each other with a customary nod. But I’d never started a conversation until the other day, when I noticed he was limping. I asked what happened.

That launched us into a long and winding conversation, which is how it goes with workout injuries. The older you get, the harder it is to describe any single problem in a straightforward way. Each new one is linked to an older one, and each older one has its own history.

George told me his limp was caused by back problems, which in turn were linked to a hip replacement. After that surgery, he saw a physical therapist whose program included an exercise called the leg press.

The first time he did leg presses, he felt uncomfortable. The second time, he felt shooting pains down both legs. Soon his sciatica was so severe he needed a series of pain-numbing epidural injections just to move around again. Months later, like I said, he was still limping.

I told him I was surprised his therapist had put leg presses into his program. Even more surprising: George’s therapist also had him doing crunches. Back specialist Stuart McGill, Ph.D., warned about the dangers of both exercises in Low Back Disorders, a book he published in 2002. How could a rehab specialist not know this in 2017?

When I told this story to Alexandra Smith, a trainer in Los Angeles who works primarily with older clients, she said it happens a lot.

“I’ve had many clients whose doctors and therapists gave them things that are completely detrimental to their well-being,” she says.

It even happened to her: She saw seven different physical therapists for a shoulder injury, and only two of them helped her. Several gave her exercises that made the problem worse.

That brought us to an important question: Are there some exercises that older adults should never do—or at least use with extreme caution? It’s not an easy question to answer, but there are three types of exercises that often present more risk than reward.

Exercises That Can Create New Problems

Leg press: Smith puts this at the top of the list for multiple reasons. To do the exercise, you straighten your legs by pushing with your feet against a weighted platform. Because your upper body is supported by a padded bench, you have the illusion that your lower back is protected. Click here to continue reading.