In yesterday’s story on a new movie shot in Westport, I casually mentioned that Barnes & Noble is moving.
I did not mention where.
Its new home will be the former Restoration Hardware (and before that, Fine Arts I and II theater). Looks like the bookstore-and-more will be downsizing — after enlarging from its first Westport location (the old Pier One, just east of its current Post Road site — soon to be the new Saugatuck Grain & Grape).
So what will replace the current Barnes & Noble?
Word on the street is it’s a grocery store — possibly Amazon Go.
That would be fascinating — and not just because Westport is ripe for advanced shopping technology.
The other reason: The previous tenant, before Barnes & Noble, was Waldbaum’s.
Changes coming soon
There’s not much wonderful about 2020. But “It’s a Wonderful Life” was a wonderful 1946 film. And this Sunday (November 22, 6 p.m.) it will be a wonderful radio show, courtesy of Staples Players.
Though the high school is closed, dozens of students — actors, the tech crew, sound effects people — have been working remotely.
Which is exactly how audiences around the globe will experience the old-time, very cool show on Sunday. They’ll gather around their radios — and devices — to enjoy a wonderful experience.
In true “show must go on” fashion, directors David Roth and Kerry Long are devising ways for actors to multi-task, and come up with sound effects on their own. At the same time, they’re solving complicated technical problems.
“As always, they’re rising to the occasion,” Long reports.
To join the (free!) livestream fun, click on www.wwwptfm.org. Westport-area residents can tune in to WWPT, 90.3 FM.
Colin Konstanty rehearses his George Bailey role, in “It’s a Wonderful Life,” before Staples High School went to full remote learning. (Photo/Kerry Long)
Sustainable Westport Advisory Team — a town body — will become simply Sustainable Westport. The new non-profit organization becomes a partner with Earthplace.
The group — which educates Westport residents and businesses to become a Net Zero community by 2050 — will continue to work with town officials.
Public Works director Peter Ratkiewich and operations director Sara Harris will be “sustainability coordinators” (aka “liaisons”).
If you think Net Zero by 2050 is far off — it’s not. It’s just as near to us as 1990.
COVID knocked out last spring’s high school sports season. Fall athletes played modified schedules. Now the virus has taken a toll on winter sports.
This morning, the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference postponed the start date for tryouts and conditioning to January 19. Hundreds of Staples students had been slated to start basketball, gymnastics, ice hockey, indoor track, skiing, squash, swimming, wrestling and cheerleading around Thanksgiving.
Earlier this month, the state issued new rules for youth sports — those run by outside (non-high school) organizations.
High-risk sports — wrestling, tackle football, boys lacrosse, competitive cheer, dance, boxing, rugby and martial arts — were halted through the end of the calendar year.
Participants in medium-risk sports like basketball, gymnastics and ice — hockey — are required to wear face coverings.
In addition, youth teams can no longer travel out of state. Regional tournaments and competitions in high- or medium-risk sports cannot be hosted in Connecticut. Venues were urged to limit spectators, and devise contact tracing protocols for players and fans.
And finally … did you know this is International Drum Month?
Great news for downtown
Barnes and Noble is the type of store that gives people a reason to go downtown. I think this is great news! Maybe this is the start of something big? Before you know it, perhaps we’ll see pharmacies, movie theaters– maybe even department stores and movie theaters!
It’s also gratifying to see WWPT going strong– The experience there was formative for me when I was involved 30 years ago!
Hopefully a win-win, drawing people to downtown, keeping a bookstore in town, while giving B&N (which has suffered mightily in recent years) a more sustainable Westport location.