2025 at 5:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Dippin' Chicken a new Korean fried chicken restaurant at 236 East Avenue in East Norwalk a new Korean fried chicken restaurant featuring bold and unique house-made dipping sauces Founder Robert Lee said the new restaurant will look to bring crispy double-fried chicken and unique dipping sauce experiences to food lovers in the area searching for something different "After years of testing recipes and developing a brand that reflects what we love about Korean cuisine we found that Norwalk was a perfect place to launch," Lee said to Patch the idea for Dippin' Chicken has been a few years in the making "It all began with a desire to bring high-quality crave-worthy Korean fried chicken to the space "a unique selection of sauces that you won't find anywhere else We saw an opportunity to blend bold flavors with an exciting The restaurant's soft opening is currently scheduled to begin March 1 Lee said he felt March was the perfect time to open Dippin' Chicken as it is usually when the city sees hints of warmer weather It is also typically when residents start to get outside more often and look for new places to try Starting in the spring also gives Lee and his team the opportunity to ramp up before East Norwalk gets even busier in the summer as more people visit the area for beach days and local events "We're looking forward to welcoming both locals and beach-goers who are eager to enjoy great food after a day in the sun," Lee said "and we're planning a few special summer promotions to make it even more exciting for people to stop by." Lee said he loves the beautiful beaches and vibrant community found in East Norwalk "East Norwalk is a growing community with a vibrant mix of both locals and visitors," Lee said "which makes it an ideal location for a fast-casual restaurant like us." the East Avenue location offers excellent visibility and access to commuters coming from the nearby train station making it easy for customers to pop in during their daily routine fresh and exciting food options," Lee said "With its mix of residential and commercial spaces East Norwalk is a perfect neighborhood to launch a restaurant that offers something unique and Dippin' Chicken fits right into that vision." Dippin' Chicken customers will be able to enjoy a number of tempting menu items however Lee and his team hope their signature fried chicken will be the star of the show "The crispy texture combined with our bold unique sauces is what makes our chicken addictive," Lee said Guests will be able to mix and match their choice of chicken ensuring every visit is a new taste adventure Lee is also excited for customers to try the Korean-style boneless pieces with a side of kimchi a flavor combination he notes is "out of this world." "our crispy chicken sandwich offers a great balance of flavors and textures with a blend of fresh veggies and savory goodness." While East Norwalk features a number of popular dining options that see heavy traffic during the warmer spring and summer months Lee said Dippin' Chicken's unique Korean-inspired flavors will help set them apart from other area restaurants "We offer something that's not available in the typical fast-casual fried chicken scene," Lee said our commitment to quality ingredients and creating a fun dining experience makes us different." Dippin' Chicken will feature grand opening specials including 25 percent off every order during the first two weeks and free Dalgona sweets for the first 100 customers The restaurant will also feature loyalty programs and limited-time sauces Lee said he is thrilled to bring something fresh and fun to East Norwalk "We want Dippin' Chicken to be an exciting place to enjoy Korean fried chicken whether it's through our bold flavors or creative sauces," Lee said "We can't wait to see everyone enjoy the experience." 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Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 6:35 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A real estate portfolio consisting of three commercial properties on Van Zant Street in East Norwalk recently sold for $1.8 million​ according to a commercial real estate firm​ CT — A real estate portfolio consisting of three commercial properties in East Norwalk recently sold for $1.8 million According to a news release provided by Southport-based Angel Commercial the Van Zant Street portfolio included three commercial properties totaling 0.72 acres formerly occupied by an auto body shop that had expanded over the years were marketed as a redevelopment or owner-user opportunity and attracted interest due to their prime location and flexible zoning owner-operators of the former Casale's Autobody business was represented by DVB Commercial Realty LLC "The Van Zant Street portfolio presented a rare opportunity for buyers seeking to reposition or redevelop commercial assets in a highly accessible and growing area of Norwalk," Angel said in a news release the East Norwalk Metro-North Station and vibrant local amenities made it especially appealing." LLC is a full-service commercial real estate firm specializing in selling and leasing commercial properties More information is available at angelcommercial.com 4 baths and 3,768-square-feet of living space "Perfectly situated on a quiet one-way street in one of East Norwalk's most desirable neighborhoods this gracious Georgian Colonial offers the best of coastal living-with a short walk to Shorehaven Country Club marinas and nearby beaches," according to Zillow.com Read more and view photos here. 2024 at 1:33 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Kids have several chances to see Santa Clause in person this holiday season CT — Visits and pictures with Santa Claus are treasured traditions for many Norwalk families kids have several chances to see jolly old St Meet Santa Claus at Stew Leonard's (Norwalk) Snap a Santa Selfie (Norwalk) Third Taxing District Christmas Tree Lighting (Norwalk) Shark Diving Santa (Norwalk) Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum Holiday Events at City Hall (Norwalk) Here are some other area opportunities to see Santa Claus across the state: stands in front of her annual Easter egg tree display at her home (RJ Scofield/Patch Staff)Jalna Jaeger's annual Easter egg tree display at her home places plastic eggs on her annual Easter egg tree display at her home CT — For nearly two decades Norwalk residents have come to expect a beloved sight while traveling down East Avenue early each spring: a tree covered in hundreds of colorful plastic eggs whose festive Easter display outside her home has been enchanting residents for 18 years the tree's origins are somewhat tied to her hometown of Westport "I don't know what inspired me," Jaeger said speaking outside her home days before Easter "There used to be a really nice tree in Westport that they would put up just on Easter but I tried real eggs and they fade out with the sun." Her original display featured about 200 eggs however Jaeger quickly found it still somehow looked minuscule "I decided I really had to up this," Jaeger said who has lived at 3 East Avenue for 44 years said she was unsure how many eggs grace her tree now but it is enough that it would take her about eight hours to set up alone "I used to do it by myself and it took me all day," Jaeger said She now makes sure to have a group help her set it up it took a group of about five people only a couple of hours to finish "I try to do it six weeks ahead of Easter so people have plenty of time to see it," Jaeger said The Easter tree was initially just something Jaeger did to celebrate the upcoming holiday with a hope that it might also bring a smile to a few passersby however she soon started receiving cards from residents letting her know how much they loved seeing it "One woman wrote me a letter and said she goes by it every day on her way to work and it's so pretty I thought that was pretty neat," Jaeger said "Then when we started putting it up again people would honk or wave Now Jaeger often sees people stop their car to take photos with their family in front of the tree "parents will drive by especially so the kids can see it My daughter says it's the only thing in Norwalk that everyone can agree on One woman even told Jaeger she sends pictures of the tree to her mother in Switzerland who now loves it even more than her and looks forward to seeing it every year Aside from a recent section of blue and yellow eggs toward the front of the tree meant to honor Ukraine Jaeger said there is no real method to the way she hangs the rest of her eggs She often will just go by what feels right in the moment "I used to go up on a ladder and do the top of the tree," Jaeger said "but I'm 71 and it's not really worth falling off a ladder Jaeger said she does not use any specific type of plastic eggs however she does make a point to replace any eggs that have become faded by the weather each year though Jaeger noted she is not sure exactly how old "I remember this tree from when I was a kid," Jaeger said "My mom grew up in Norwalk and we'd go up this road and I noticed them when I was a little kid because they're so unusual." While the tree is completely free for all to view and take photos with, Jaeger noted anyone who wishes to show their gratitude for it can make a donation, either food or monetary, to Person to Person The Norwalk-based nonprofit organization works to provide food assistance emergency financial assistance and more to those in need and Jaeger volunteers at the organization's food pantry on South Main Street Though she owns the ultimate Easter display sitting right outside her home Jaeger said her family now typically celebrates the holiday at her daughter's house on the other side of town Jaeger takes pride in knowing something she puts up each year has become part of many residents' Easter traditions so much so they will stop what they are doing to capture a photo of them and their loved ones in front of it 2025 at 7:09 pm ETAn affogato at Sweet Ashley's Handcrafted Ice Cream (RJ Scofield/Patch Staff)A new coffee bar at Sweet Ashley's Handcrafted Ice Cream (RJ Scofield/Patch Staff)An affogato at Sweet Ashley's Handcrafted Ice Cream reopened for its 2025 season this week with some brand new menu items for customers to try Owner Frank Lanzo, who took over the 33-year-old business with his wife said the popular ice cream shop now also features a coffee bar with coffee and espresso items available "We're using a company called Tostini from Italy," Lanzo said to Patch We always have a light roast and a dark roast We've also been doing some espresso as well." a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a shot of espresso with whipped cream and a biscotti a product Lanzo said "just had to be done" once they introduced coffee and espresso to the store "Affogatos are kind of the next up and coming thing," Lanzo said and with a premium espresso it'd be great." He also noted the popular ice cream and espresso combination should be especially great for customers to enjoy during the chillier early spring and late fall months Sweet Ashely's is currently open from mid-March to late November each year a lot of effort and a lot of money into bringing [the store] back [each year]," Lanzo said "and we're very excited...you just kind of have to go with the flow." Lanzo also emphasized that all of Sweet Ashley's ice cream is still made in small batches in house Customers can also enjoy custom cakes and make flavor requests any time they wish In addition to many returning favorite flavors Lanzo teased a new flavor developed with the team at Sunset Grille in East Norwalk: Butterfudge Crunch a vanilla-based ice cream with swirls of waffle cone chips Customers who wish to sample this new flavor can currently enjoy it at Sweet Ashley's "We're looking forward to a great year," Lanzo said 2024 at 11:06 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Alma Abdulkareem has been reported missing from Norwalk since Nov Anyone with information is asked to contact the department CT — Police are asking for the public's help finding a 30-year-old woman missing from Norwalk since Thursday Alma Abdulkareem left her East Norwalk home around 8 p.m on Thanksgiving Day and boarded a train to Grand Central Terminal in New York City 6 inches tall and approximately 158 pounds She currently has short blonde hair and was last seen wearing a red jacket and white pants Evarts also noted she is "an active Silver Alert and is without her necessary medications." Anyone with information is asked to contact the Norwalk Police Department at 203-854-3011 Information can also be sent to the Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111. Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to www.norwalkpd.com Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing "NORWALKPD" into the text field Details: cache-fra-eddf8230114-FRA 1746501643 1471460235