The Great Table Debate continues.
Following up on Sunday’s “06880” post about the tables outside the new Nômade restaurant — including a photo of only 3, when it was Tavern on Main — owner Ciara Webster sent this undated shot, of 6 tables:
She adds: “We use smaller tables in order to give a safe walkway and clear access, and to support our neighboring business.
“Our umbrellas are the exact same height. They may appear bigger because they are vented so they don’t cause injury on a windy day by turning inside out. We made sure that they do not block any signs.
“That being said, I love the suggestion to keep them closed until people sit. That was a super idea, and we plan on doing this going forward.”
It’s unclear when Tavern on Main first put tables on Main Street. Here’s a shot from 2014, without them:
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Opioids and counterfeit drugs are everywhere.
Including Westport. The more we know about them — and the potential for overdoses — the better equipped we are to help.
In conjunction with International Overdose Awareness Day, Positive Directions is sponsoring free life-saving naloxone-Narcan training for interested residents. It’s at the Westport Library (August 31, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.).
Training will include how to recognize an overdose, and administer the drugs. Each participant will receive a free Narcan kit.
Space is limited. Click here to register. For more information on the Westport Prevention Coalition, cljck here.
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Schlaet’s Point — the waters between the Compo Beach Soundview/Hillspoint jetty, and Old Mill Beach — is known for many things: gorgeous views, fishing and disappearing islands, to name three.
Swimming and water sports — not so much.
But the Staples High School water polo team is set up a portable training court there. As they’ve done in past years, they use it for pre-season training.
(Photo/Karen Como)
We’re not sure how treacherous that part of the Sound is. We do know this, though: The Wreckers will rock this season!
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Speaking of sports:
Last month, Oscar Edelman was part of the US U-18 basketball team that finished first at the Maccabi Games in Israel. More than 600 players from across the country tried out for the American squad, which went undefeated at the “Jewish Olympics.”
It was quite a trip. Edelman had a bar mitzvah ceremony there (along with over 100 other athletes), while the opening ceremony was attended by President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Naftali Bennet.
Yesterday, the 6-7 Greens Farms Academy rising senior was honored by his hometown.
RTM District 1 representative Matthew Mandell arranged the ceremony. Local and state dignitaries presented certificates.
Oscar Edelman, with state and town officials, yesterday at Town Hall. He’s the tall basketball player.
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Still speaking of sports (of sorts):
Earlier this month, “06880” reported on Chris Kelly’s training regimen. In preparation for the upcoming Leadville Trail 100 — a 100-miler in the Colorado Rockies, climbing and dipping through nearly 16,000 feet of elevation — he ran up and down Compo Hill.
Fifty times.
The race was last Sunday. Chris’ goal was 25 hours.
He did it — with 8 minutes to spare.
Congratulations, Chris! You earned your prize: a large belt buckle.
PS: Because this is “06880: Where Westport meets the world,” there is of course another connection. Local resident Chris Barnett also finished the great, grueling event.
Chris Kelly (2nd from left) with his crew, after finishing the Leadville Trail 100. He doesn’t even look tired!
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An “06880” reader is worried that Westporters are not worried enough about the current drought. Fairfield County is currently in Stage 2 — not as severe as eastern Connecticut, but our cup is not exactly running over either.
I’ve posted a few “water conservation” stories, including last month’s mandatory twice-weekly irrigation schedule from Eversource.
In an attempt to keep the dry conditions front and center: If you’ve got any photos to serve as visual reminders of what’s going on, please email them to 06880blog@gmail.com.
Shriveled shrubs? Shallow streams? Send pics along!
Low tide at Deadman Brook in 2019. It’s even lower these days. (Photo/Johanna Rossi)
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It’s almost back to school time. (Cue the applause/groans/forehead slaps).
That means it’s look-for-good-kids’-programs time too. Wakeman Town farm offers hands-on activities for ages “0 to 14.” They include “learning about our furry friends, planting and eating fresh veggies, pollinators, compost, and other activities.” Click here for details.
Eager students in Wakeman Town Farm’s “Cooking Around the Globe” class.
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Speaking of back to school: Staples High School rising freshman Paige Foran is getting ready by running a pet supply/food drive. It’s tomorrow (Thursday, August 25, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., PetSmart, 525 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk).
The drive benefits the Connecticut Humane Society.
Donors can leave these items: newspapers (without inserts), paper towels, large garbage and Ziploc bags, Bounce dryer sheets, new or like-new machine-washable towels and blankets, HE laundry detergent, new or like-new pet beds, sound machines, clay cat litters, cat toys (no catnip!), cat carriers, wand toys, new litter boxes, laser pointers, new cardboard cat scratchers and litter scoops, Kong toys, slow feeder bowls, Nylabones, soft training treats, dog toys, collars and leashes, Pupperoni, Beggin’ STrips, Carefresh bedding, Yesterday’s news litter, small animal and bird toys, Oxbow small animal food, Snuggle safe heat discs, miracle nipples, 4 Paws Easy Feeder, Royal Canin baby cat food, Breeder’s Edge kitten formula, kitten bottles, adult dog and cat food, soft dog treats, cat treats, bird and small animal food.
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Speaking of cats:
This hungry-looking bobcat was prowling around Evergreen Parkway yesterday afternoon.
It’s a first for that neighborhood, says Yvonne Claveloux.
(Photo/Yvonne Claveloux)
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Tomorrow night’s Jazz @ The Post (Thursday, August 25, sets at 7 and 8:30 p.m.) features the Ben Williams Jazz All-Stars. The band includes Brian Glassman, Mitch Schecter, Aaron Alexander and “Jazz Rabbi” Greg Wall.
Williams and Wall first met in 1978. They became close friends and even closer musical comrades, playing all styles and at all available venues. At the New England Conservatory of Music they started a roots jazz project that evolved into the Bourbon Street Bass Band, and jump-started their national touring career.
Later, as the Hi-Tops, Williams and Wall worked together in hard bop and avant garde.
Glassman, Schecter and Alexander have also played with Wall and Williams, over several decades.
There’s a $10 cover, and dinner from 6:30 on from chef Derek Furino. Reservations are strongly suggested: JazzatthePost@gmail.com.
Ben Williams
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Spam email I stopped reading after the first couple of lines:
“Hi Dan, I hope this finds you well! I’ve stumbled across a few of your past articles, and I think you’d be very interested in hearing about our upcoming eBike conversion kit launch.”
Um … no.
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Today’s “Westport … Naturally” feature finds Frank and Winston — brothers from the same litter — enjoying low tide yesterday at Old Mill Beach.
(Photo/Nicola Sharian)
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And finally … combining two stories above — Jazz at the Post, and Westport’s drought — we bring you:
(“06880” is fully reader-funded. Please click here to help.)
I wish the new restaurant great success but it sounds like there is some ruffled feathers between the owner and the store downstairs, whom Ms. Webster
won’t even mention by name.
How about the 2 establishments sit down and talk things through so that this topic doesn’t need to be mentioned again!
The table setup blocks the stores and windows below the restaurant and obstructs the view imposed out of sheer inconsideration for stores that also try to earn an income. It’s pure selfishness, especially considering the restaurant has an open air patio above. And what about pedestrians who have squeeze by?
Completely agree with David Meth. This is an inappropriate encroachment on public space. Using COVID as an excuse to increase profitability is exploitive, inappropriate, and unkind.
Per a comment in the prior post on the topic, the space in question is included in the restaurant’s lease, as it was in Tavern on Main’s, so not exactly encroachment on public space.
However, while we are on that topic, how do you feel about the closing of Church Street and encroachment on actual town roads/public space by the restaurants there?
It is loony.
In the hour I enjoyed over coffee and brunch at Mrs. London’s this late morning/early afternoon, two diners occupied one table at Manna Toast. Period. There was almost zero activity on Church Lane.
But a constant stream of cars (shoppers, nursery school pick-ups, delivery vehicles, and a fire truck piled into a stop and go flow from Main Street to the clogged Myrtle Ave rotary.
Does weekend merriment justify stopping up a public road 24/7?
Rather than finding every reason imaginable to complain. How about embracing the fact that high quality restaurants, retailers, etc. choose to be in our community. There’s no question in my mind that Savvy & Grace will benefit from having Nomade as a neighbor. Wouldn’t it be fair to assume that the increased foot traffic of well-healed shoppers & diners might stop in and patronize each other’s business? Sure beats the alternative of having dusty, empty spaces. My advice: Go get a cocktail and dinner at Nomade and go by yourself some great Savvy & Grace merchandise and quit yer bellyaching.
I agree with Rich. Thank you for your investment in Westport, Ms. Webster. You’ve done an incredible job in renovating this site. We’ll be there tonight.
I was glad to see David Meth’s mention of Nômade’s open-air patio (quite large) upstairs. A sign indicating “outdoor dining upstairs” might obviate the need for street-level tables. Not that we don’t all want more outdoor seating and dining, and yes, it’s wonderful to feel we’re in a European pedestrian mall… but I still don’t understand why Ms. Webster believes that she owns the sidewalk there, right in front of someone else’s establishment. Perhaps she would consider moving her tables and umbrellas up toward Avery place — closer to Nômade’s stairs — so that it’s her signage and entry that is obscured?
It’s perfectly understandable why Ms Webster believes she is entitled to use that space for tables. Per comments from previous post on the subject, her landlord apparently owns that sidewalk and leases the space to Nomade like they previously leased it to Tavern on Main.
I imagine if Savvy & Grace wanted to keep that space clear, they could have asked to lease it from the landlord though it’s possible the landlord would have wanted to keep it available for the restaurant.
The “Great Table Debate” is anything but great. Mostly bellyaching. Restaurant additions are great for downtown. If someone really wants to go to the other store, appears as if there is plenty of room to make that journey. Restaurant patrons may even drive some incremental business. Looks like the tables & umbrellas are fine. Now let’s have some more bad parking pics to brighten everyone’s day!
Regarding the bobcat sighting — please be careful of letting your dogs out alone at night . . .
Regarding the local water (or lack thereof) situation, I walk daily around my neighborhood and, unfortunately, I see homes on Woodside Ave and Stonybrook Rd who are not complying with the sprinkling requests from Aquarion. They sprinkle regardless of rain or day of the week – all so that they can have the greenest lawn. It is very disappointing.