Columbus Day, observed on the second Monday in October (Oct. 8 this year), honors Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World in October of 1492.
Here's the list of what is open and closed in Darien, in Connecticut and in some cases across the United States:
Closed Saturday:
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles closed at 12:30 p.m. Friday and won't open again until 7:45 a.m. Tuesday
Open Monday:
- TDBank in Darien and all other branches.
- New York Stock Exchange is open
- Darien Library is open (Rowayton Library is closed)
- Retail stores
- Supermarkets
- Restaurants
- Convenience Stores
- Bars/Taverns
- Gyms/Health Clubs
- The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk is open (but the IMAX theater is closed for renovations)
- You may want to call ahead before heading to any of the above establishments to confirm they are open. Some retail stores or gyms/health clubs may be operating on a Sunday schedule or with limited hours.
Closed Monday:
- Some banks
- No mail delivery – all U.S post offices are closed
- Federal offices
- State offices
- Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles closed at 12:30 p.m. Friday and won't open again until 7:45 a.m. Tuesday
- AAA offices in Stamford, Westport and elsewhere will be closed on Monday.
- Darien Town Hall and municipal offices
- Darien Public Schools (officially a staff development day; but there is a 7 p.m meeting for parents to learn about the math curriculum)
According to the History Channel website, "[Columbus] intended to chart a western sea route to China, India and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia; instead, he landed in the Bahamas, becoming the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings set up colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland during the 10th century."
Read more about his journey here.
