Monthly Archives: August 2012

It’s Baaaaack!

Posted on August 7, 2012 | 9 comments

In June, alert reader Scott Witkin noticed some activity on the tiny patch of land adjacent to Mansion Clam House and Bridge Street.

He watched in amazement as a 4-person DOT crew methodically rolled out a 60-inch mower, 2 weed whackers and a backpack blower — all to cut what Scott figures is less than 100 square feet of grass.

We shouldn’t have laughed.

Another alert reader — one who prefers to remain anonymous — says the plot has not been touched since June.

It used to be nicely maintained, with the old boat planting bed and grass cut regularly. It now seems to be going to rot. I’m guessing by your earlier post that it’s state property, since the crew that opens the bridge were spotted cutting it. It’s almost a little bit like a town green down in Saugatuck.

Perhaps you could raise a little awareness and see if local merchants would maintain it? I thought I had heard that the guys at Westport Wash and Wax are responsible for cutting the median grass on Post Rd East in front of their shop to keep things looking good.

Any takers?

9 Comments

Posted in Local business, Restaurants, Saugatuck

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Trashing Downtown

Posted on August 7, 2012 | 24 comments

The Downtown Merchants Association can’t do much about the same-old, same-old mix of (mostly women’s clothing) chain stores. It can’t instantly turn Main Street into a hip, cool destination.

But it can clean up garbage.

There are already trash receptacles downtown. Some people find it easier to dump garbage right next to them.

According to Westport Patch, the DMA recently purchased 5 new trash cans, and 2 cigarette receptacles, for the area. The total cost was $4,200.

They’ll be “strategically placed” downtown, in areas where people congregate. That includes Parker Harding Plaza by the river, and near benches.

That’s interesting — and necessary. Between workers on cigarette breaks and shoppers who casually leave coffee cups wherever they please, the supposedly high-end area often looks scruffy.

But the money quote belongs to Stephen R. Desloge, president of the DMA.

“It’s a challenge to find out who is supposed to clean up downtown,” he says.

A challenge? The answer is simple:

All of us.

24 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Organizations, People

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Staples Junior Part Of World Record At London Olympics

Posted on August 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Staples Junior Part Of World Record At London Olympics

Okay, so Knox McKay wasn’t exactly in the pool in the 200 meter breaststroke. Rebecca Soni is the one who lowered her own world mark.

Still, the Staples rising junior starred in an AT&T commercial celebrating the feat.

According to Business Insider, much of the commercial had to be filmed after the race, such as Knox writing Soni’s world record time on a white board (as inspiration). With the tape-delayed broadcast, AT&T had just 9 hours to create the commercial and get it on the air.

Knox’s commercial is one of several in AT&T’s “The New Possible” campaign. The idea is for actual Olympians’ achievements to inspire younger athletes. The innovation — and challenge — is that actual award-winning performances are integrated into the ad.  To read more about how the ads were created, click here.

Click here to see the rec0rd-setting performance. And the commercial that is sure to be watched by millions too.

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Posted in Entertainment, Sports, Staples HS, technology

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Arrow Points To An Amazing Reunion

Posted on August 6, 2012 | 22 comments

Two years ago, someone started an “Arrow Restaurant” page on Facebook. It was a place for fans of the famed Saugatuck eatery to gather virtually, and share very real memories of the food and folks they loved so long and so well.

Lou Nistico, son of the founders of the Arrow.

Tom Nistico — grandson of the founders — still does not know who created the page. But he loves it.

He’s even more excited about an event it spawned.

On Saturday, August 18 (6 p.m.), there’s an Arrow reunion. It’s open to all former employees and customers — anyone, really. It promises to be one of the highlights of the year.

It’s at the Red Barn, naturally — the restaurant Tom and his family saved and restored in 1983. The Wilton Road location is gorgeous — but on August 11, all eyes will be a few miles south.

The original location. The restaurant got its name from the “arrow” shape of the Saugatuck Avenue/Franklin Street intersection.

The original Arrow — started in 1932 — was located on the corner of Saugatuck Avenue and Franklin Street (there’s a Chinese takeout place there now).

The 2nd site — remembered by most Westporters — was around the corner on Charles Street. When the Arrow closed in 1991, Jasmine took over the site. Soon it will reopen as the Blu Parrot, featuring live music.

That’s a welcome addition to the revitalized Saugatuck community. But the old Arrow was old school — just like the neighborhood it served. The rest of Westport came along for the ride.

The longtime location on Charles Street.

The Facebook page brings the old Arrow back to life. “It’s amazing to see what it still means to everyone,” Tom Nistico marvels.

“I wish I had a video of a weekend night, so I could see again all the families and customers pouring through the doors. If you lived in Fairfield County, you probably became part of the fabric of the Arrow.”

Tom reels off the names of families that were customers for generations: Gargiulo, Cantor, Nevas, Sawch, Kaelin, Romano, Santella, Palizzio, Buccieri, Pascarelli, Massiello, Strauss, Caiati, Carbone, Luczkowski, McMahon, Spinola, Backus.

Many will be back for the reunion. “People are coming from everywhere,” Tom says proudly. “Eddie Gargiulo from Atlanta, and his brother Steve from Florida. Eddie and Sara Fuchs from Dallas. Billy Murphy from Boston. Cal Neff delayed his return to Thailand to be there.”

Tom Nistico, back in the day.

Corrado Nebel — son of longtime employee Dino, and a recording singer and guitarist — will perform.

As the music plays, dinner is eaten and drinks downed, the stories will flow. Former cooks, waiters, busboys, dishwashers — and the many customers who loved them — will trade tales of the Nistico family’s legendary generosity to (it seemed) every kid in town.

They’ll talk about 4th of July parties, and recall the countless celebrities (including most of the New York Giants) and regular Westporters who enjoyed good times and great meals.

Like sausage and peppers. Chicken picatta, francaise and cacciatore. Lasagna with baked egg. “Tommy toss.” Pork chops with cherry peppers. Clams casino. Eggplant parm. Fried mozzarella. Meatballs…

(In typical Arrow fashion, the August 18 reunion is a steal for good food and good times. The $45 cost includes a full meal — appetizers, dinner, dessert, tax and tip. There’s also a cash bar. Call the Red Barn at 203-222-9549, or email Tom Nistico at tomnissr@yahoo.com for a reservation.)

22 Comments

Posted in Looking back, People, Restaurants, Saugatuck

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Not Our Finest Moments

Posted on August 5, 2012 | 13 comments

An alert (and relatively new)  reader writes:

I really enjoy “06880.” I love seeing slices of Westport I otherwise would not.

I liked the sweet articles of late about the beach, especially because I had 2 really negative experiences the past couple of days.

First, I was walking near the beach, with 2 friend and 3 dogs. In general I find people very friendly down by the beach, happy to see people out and about. Drivers are usually patient about sharing the road with people and dogs.

Yesterday, a car behind us honked 4 times. We thought it was someone we knew saying hello.

Nope. It was an older woman (blue BMW), outraged, throwing her arms in the air and yelling how rude we were.

There was no traffic, and plenty of room to pass us. Nasty woman with road rage.

Can’t we all just chill, and enjoy the beach?

The 2nd incident was at Longshore — a truly appalling scene.

Parks & Rec wonderfully employs a special needs gentleman to take garbage from tables and pick up the grounds. A sweet man.

He is a little bit zealous, and may at times try to clean up tables while people are still eating. A simple “we’re not quite finished yet,” and he walks away to another area, then comes back later.

A woman went up to the girls working at Joey’s and complained for 5 minutes, while her kids (13 and 10-ish) stood next to her. She was up in arms that this man should ruin her meal, make her feel rushed and uncomfortable.

The young girl from Joey’s told her she would need to speak to someone at Parks & Rec to complain.

Afterwards, I went up to the window and asked if people often complain about the man. She said “never!”

What a teachable moment to have with your kids. Instead she showed them intolerance, unkindness, and just plain meanness.

I spoke to other moms in the area. They were all equally appalled that this woman would complain, instead of showing humanity.

Thankfully these moments are few and far between.

PS: I would love to publicly thank the kind couple on Soundview who leave clean water out for dogs, every day.

13 Comments

Posted in Beach, Longshore, Westport life

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Well, Where Else Would You Park This Car?

Posted on August 4, 2012 | 7 comments

7 Comments

Posted in Beach, Totally random

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Art By The Beach

Posted on August 4, 2012 | 1 comment

Sure, this is the weekend of the Sono Arts Celebration. It’s a great festival — but with 95-degree heat and 100% humidity, who needs the crowds and concrete?

You can still get your art fix — and add a few sea breezes — at Clark Hanford’s special art show. Set in the shaded front lawn of his Old Mill home, it’s a fun, stressless — and very professional — alternative to the much bigger South Norwalk event.

Clark’s show (at the end of the Old Mill parking lot) runs today until 5 p.m. Tomorrow (Sunday), it’s 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Several other artists are represented. In addition to paintings, there are sculptures and other artwork.

Clark Hanford, his artwork, and his Old Mill home.

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Posted in Arts, Beach, People

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Ann Marie Flynn: Westport’s Own Olympian

Posted on August 4, 2012 | 8 comments

When Ann Marie Flynn was an Olympic high jumper, she received the same perks as every other American athlete. A uniform. Housing. And a spending allowance: $2 a day.

Sure, that was the Melbourne games — back in 1956. But still…

Ann Marie — a longtime Westporter who, among other things, is a former Representative Town Meeting (RTM) member — is no longer a high jumper.

Ann Marie Flynn, throwing the hammer.

No, she’s not too old. She’s only 73.

She’s just moved on to other things.

Like discus and shot put. And hammer throwing. Just one year into that new sport last year, she ranked 4th in the nation. Okay, in her age group. But still…

Ann Marie was just 18 when she represented the US at the Melbourne Olympics. A year earlier, competing for New York’s German-American Athletic Club, she’d won the national AAU championship.

Facilities for female athletes back then were almost non-existent. She trained in Brooklyn — squeezing workouts around schoolwork, plus a 5-day-a-week, 3-hour-a-day job. She competed on weekends.

But Ann Marie qualified for the Olympics. The US held strictly to the IOC’s amateur standards. Other countries (Russia, East Germany, ahem) did not.

Ann Marie did not win a medal in Melbourne (She did earn a gold the following year, at the Pan American Games). Still, the Olympic Games were a defining moment in her life.

She realized the importance of friendships forged through international competition. She also made life-long friends on the US team.

In 2006, the squad held a reunion in Indianapolis. “We walked in like we’d seen each other yesterday,” Ann Marie says. “That’s the kind of camaraderie that comes from the games.”

She’s following the 2012 London Olympics avidly. “There are so many changes,” she says. For athletes, coaches and television viewers, she says, “It’s like leaving the dark ages, and coming into the light.”

But one thing hasn’t changed. “The spirit of the games still prevails,” Ann Marie says. “I saw it when everyone walked in for the opening ceremonies, and I know they’ll all feel it when they walk out. Everyone there will have memories they’ll never forget.

“Just like I do.”

Yesterday, as part of the Westport Library’s ongoing airing of the London Olympics, Ann Marie Flynn stopped by to watch — and answer questions. (Photo/Marcia Logan)

8 Comments

Posted in Looking back, People, Sports

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Dead Letters: The Sequel

Posted on August 3, 2012 | 3 comments

The renovation of the old post office — noted here a couple of hours ago — may not be what it seems.

The word on the street is that official approval has not yet been given for construction.

Already gone are windows that some consider “historic.”

I called Westport’s Planning and Zoning office for comment. Unfortunately, it was 3:22 p.m. On Fridays, the office closes at 3.

The circa-1935 windows are already gone.

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Posted in Downtown

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Dead Letters

Posted on August 3, 2012 | 7 comments

A few months after the post office decamped for muchmorecramped quarters in Playhouse Square, work has begun on the stately old building.

It’s being transformed into a restaurant. The cuisine and name have not been announced, but it will feature 14-foot ceilings, a large bar, and outdoor dining.

A view from Bay Street shows the door to the (former) postmaster’s office is wide open.

Meanwhile, removal of planting in front of the building reveals a cornerstone. Let’s hope the renovation spares this little piece of local history.

7 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Local business, Looking back, Restaurants

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