Chamber of Commerce Rooftop Summer Social Tuesday 

NORWALK, Conn. — A packed house is expected when the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce wraps up the season with its Rooftop Summer Social at The Watershed Hotel next Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The event, which will take place on the rooftop of the hotel, located at 353 Main Ave., will feature light bites from the on-site Siena Ristorante, and plenty of opportunity to network.

Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to purchase their tickets, which are $40 for chamber members and $55 for nonmembers, as soon as possible, since capacity is limited. 

“We consistently have 100 people attend, which is a sold-out event,” said Shannon O’Toole Giandurco, president and CEO of the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce.

“Watershed is great … it’s a beautiful space and the food from Siena, the restaurant on property, is outstanding,” added O’Toole Giandurco. 

While the event is “the perfect opportunity to make new connections, catch up with familiar faces, and celebrate summer in style,” according to the chamber’s website, it will also feature brief remarks from O’Toole Giandurco.

“I’ll do a brief five-minute, ‘Here is the upcoming calendar,’ because we do have a lot of exciting events coming up in September, so we want to make sure everybody has everything on their schedule,” she explained.

Those events include a “Norwalk Meet-Up” with the chamber, Women’s Business Development Council, and the City of Norwalk on Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Coals, 9 Wall St., “to meet and mingle with business professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders,” according to the chamber’s website. 

“On Thursday, Sept. 18, we are going to be working in conjunction with the emergency management office in Norwalk to do a hurricane awareness and preparation event,” said O’Toole Giandurco.

That event will take place at 8 a.m. at Fire Department headquarters, 121 Connecticut Ave.

Both September events are free to attend, according to the chamber president and CEO.

Though the summer can be a “quieter” time for the chamber, all its events this season “have had outstanding attendance,” said O’Toole Giandurco.

“We have new people coming every single time, so even if you’ve been to an event before, you might make a new connection [on Aug. 26]; somebody you haven’t met in the past,” she added. 

“And we are doing our best to make sure people are given an opportunity to get together, and connect, and make new connections. So that’s our goal, and I think we have been doing a pretty good job. We plan to continue doing that into the next season,” O’Toole Giandurco concluded. 

Tickets for Tuesday’s event at the Watershed include a complimentary drink as well as food from Siena, which “blends classic Italian tradition with modern flair, using fresh, seasonal ingredients to create inspired dishes,” according to the chamber’s website.

“We are thrilled to host this event for the second consecutive year, following the tremendous success of our inaugural one,” said Brandon Wagner, director of events at Siena Ristorante Norwalk.

“We are confident that we’ve finetuned our processes to provide exceptional service—whether it’s offering outstanding food, accommodating guests in our hotel, or delivering top-notch event experiences. From corporate meetings to wedding celebrations, our portfolio has expanded significantly during my three years as director,” he added. “We are excited to deepen our ties with the community and local businesses, striving to bring the very best to Norwalk. Even now, many pass by unaware of our establishment. We’d love for them to stop in and say hello!”

This coming Tuesday, Siena will serve up a new menu item as well as some classic fare. 

“We’re excited to introduce our new seasonal arancini featuring sweet corn, a fresh summer twist on this classic Italian favorite,” said Wagner. “Of course, don’t miss our signature pizzas, hand-rolled and baked directly in our wood-fired oven. I highly recommend the spicy calabrese salami; it’s like a classic pepperoni, only better!”

There will also be adult beverage options, including local craft beer.

“To complement your meal, our bartenders will be ready to quench your thirst! Try Siena’s Rosé Sangria or a house classic (which we will be keeping a surprise until the big night)! Additionally, we’re proud to feature beer selections from fantastic local breweries like Spacecat Brewing Co. and Nod Hill Brewery,” said Wagner.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.greaternorwalkchamber.com/.