top of page
bkgd_home-page-hero.jpg
Debuting 2026statewide

You're invited!
Come hungry.

Join us at the table of Connecticut's most interesting restaurants and meeting places! For inspiring conversation with authors, artists, athletes and innovators. For delicious curated meals, book signings, beverage tastings ... & surprises!

The Experience

More Than a Meal.
A Creative Journey.

On the treadmill of daily life, where's the machine to exercise imagination? The innovators behind StarFare invite you to come engage with creativity — in a fun, delicious new way!

Grab your seat at StarFare events! We feature live interviews and interesting conversation over specially curated prix-fixe meals with exclusive chef's dishes. We add complimentary beverage tastings, signature drinks — and other delightful surprises — to bring books, arts, and ideas to life.

StarFare handpicks venue partners across the state, each a perfect spot for re-energizing dining & social experience. 

Set your routines aside and let StarFare feed your creativity. You'll leave with stories to tell! 

Menu Magic

Wine & Menu Tastings

Our restaurants treat guests to exciting food and beverage experiences. Each meal curated to express special aspects of StarFare’s authors and their books.

 

Eat, drink & get inspired!

Chef inspired events in Connecticut

The Unexpected

Author & Arts Talks

Fascinating interviews and book signings, coupled with the comfort and pleasure of restaurant dining.

 

Feel your own creativity rise!

Let's Talk

Art Mixers

Meet inspiring people! Make new connections in a community interested in creative dining adventure and friendly conversation.

Feel relaxed and re-energized!

don't miss

Featured Event

david-borges_main-event-image (1).jpg

9

JULY 2026

Huskies, Hops & History
Meet&Greet and Book Signing with Acclaimed Sports Journalist, Dave Borges

If you’re a UConn Men’s Basketball fan, how do you make the long summer between basketball seasons more bearable? StarFare is amped to present a super-fan-fun event in collaboration with the “top dog” of CT breweries: Two Roads Brewing Company in Stratford, CT!

We are excited to present an evening with acclaimed sports journalist, Dave Borges, who will officially launch his brand-new book: UConn Men’s Basketball: An Illustrated Timeline!

StarFare’s bringing extra sauce ... we welcome fans to show off their UConn Fan Memorabilia! Fans can show-and-tell – or trade and sell. To reserve a display table contact StarFare for details.

Thursday, July 9, 5 pm

$10 optional cover

portion of proceeds to UConn Fight On Fund

Two Roads Brewing Company Main Tap Room

1700 Stratford Ave, Stratford, CT (2 mins off I-95 Exit 31)

Advance Book Purchase Options — Click Below for Event Details

Learn More & Purchase Tickets
What's Coming

Mark Your Calendar

Secure your seat at Connecticut's most anticipated culinary & cultural gatherings.

No events at the moment

About Our Founder

Meet Host Michele Zommer

Michele Zommer, Founder of StarFare Events

Growing up in central Connecticut, 13-year-old Michele Zommer loved Mrs. Gregory's Home Economics class. She learned to cook a white roux, sew on a Singer machine, and set a proper table. But for many years she carried around her teacher's disapproval. The report card said Michele may be an excellent student but she's a "social butterfly."

Four decades later, turns out it's a gift to have people skills! Michele flipped that script and became an award-winning marketer who excels in integrated communications. Her curiosity, once cast as a liability, became the superpower behind entrepreneurial skills that led her to a career producing hundreds of events for thousands of people across an amazing broad spectrum: exchange students and host families ... condo owners ... trash haulers ... international bankers ... interior decorators ... gun safety and hunger activists, ALS fundraisers ... and more. It's been a life in service to others in pursuit of enrichment, growth, and connection.

Today, as founder of StarFare™, Michele is acting on a bold vision to unite restauranteurs and artists in a small business collaboration. Together we host the public for pop-up cultural events that explore the origin of creative work and seek to inspire it in each other. 

This is intentional gathering. Each event feels social, inspiring, and fun—and asks guests to engage our senses as we dine, discover new ideas, and connect.

Each StarFare Event is an occasion to re-energize!

"Nourish your creativity, the world needs your brilliance."

Creativity doesn't belong bottled up. StarFare events invite everyone to the party to explore creativity for what it really is: a practice grounded in curiosity, courage, discipline – and fun.

As a born host, you'll find Michele blogging on social at chez.chel. She shares content – ordinary to sublime. She blogs to remind herself to lean in – and hopes you will join her in her mission to champion creativity!

Before you meet Chel at the next StarFare

Start a new conversation!

Creativity begins with the first try! This getting-to-know-you exercise is part mixtape, part memoir. Capture your own highlights — and share with us! Delete categories that don't apply or substitute with your own prompts.

notecard background
  • PERSONALITY: Mama bear ... 3 children and 2 grandbabies 

  • PASSION: Gardening on a 20x100-foot hillside I call “Freedom Hill”

  • FAVE PARADE: TIE! Apple Harvest in Southington or Rose parade on new year's day

  • FASHION VIBE: J. Crew’s glam side

  • LIT GENRE: SciFi

  • ARTISTS: Wolf Kahn 

  • BAND: Green Day

  • MOVIE: TIE! Lucy (2014) with Scarlett Johansson or Overboard (1987) with Goldie Hawn 

  • FAVE TV: Ted Lasso

  • CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: toasted artisan rye bread with butter and hot Breakfast tea with cream

  • BEST ADVICE: from Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1908 “Every day is the best day in the year.” 

  • FAVE LYRIC: from “Juice” by Lizzo “If I’m shinin’ everybody gonna shine” (Yeah, I’m goals)

  • FAVE MUSIC: genre-defiant! Currently Kpop

  • FAVE FAN MOMENT: UConn’s first national Men’s Basketball Championship in 1999

  • FAVE CREATIVE PRACTICE: interior design

  • IF I HAD TIME: practice large-scale fiber art

  • LANGUAGES: rusty French and Italian — handy for next trip to the continent!

  • BEST CAREER MOMENT: gained recognition for back-office workers at my company's annual awards, invisible for the prior decade

in good company

Community & Collaboration

The power behind StarFare is collaboration. It's small business innovation-on-fire: shared resources and audiences to fuel collective success! Please show your support for our partners and sponsors! Click, link, visit, share!  

Fit to Flow Yoga, Southbury, CT
Hickory Stick Bookstore in Washington, CT
2road logo.png
OC Kitchen and Bar in Rocky Hill, CT
the-wix-doctor-logo+tagline.gif
sponsor our next event

Get your seat at the table!

Are you a locally-owned restaurant, or affinity business or organization looking to connect with Connecticut's most discerning audience? Join us and let's create something extraordinary.

 

Interest Level
background images.jpg
Stay Connected

Follow the Yellow Brick Road

Join the StarFare inner circle. Sign up for exclusive event announcements, early ticket access, and behind-the-scenes stories from our featured artists and authors.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your inbox.

Let's Connect

We'd Love to Hear From You

Whether you're an artist, author, restaurant owner, sponsor, or simply curious— we'd love to hear from you. Reach out and let's explore what's possible together.

Email: chel@starfare.org

Phone: 203-448-8911

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
bottom of page